What's your thermostat and humidistat settings in winter? (Energy saving ideas)

[oz388]

Hi guys I recently installed a programmable thermostat and hoping to save a little on my energy bills. My current thermostat setting for the weekdays is:

Sleeping Temp: 18C
Wake-up Temp: 20.5C
Away to work Temp: 18C
Back home before bed Temp: 21C

and humidistat always keep at 35%.

I have been running this setting for one month now and I used 11.71GJ Natural Gas (or $104.36) to heat up my 2000sft house. Do you guys think this is reasonable? Any better ideas?

[Tik-Tok]

23*C all the time, and humidistat at 35%, but it never gets up to that, most I've seen actual humidity is 25%

[revelations]

I run the same pretty much (condo) but I also run the humidity around the 40-50% level as bugs and dust do worse in that range.

Plus it "feels" warmer too since there is less skin water evaporating.

[masoncgy]

When I had a furnace, I would set the programmable to 20 degrees during the day and 18 degrees at night.

It's a bit different on the Island with baseboard heaters because every room has it's own thermostat. Most of them are turned off, except the ones in the girls' bedrooms. I use my electric fireplace in the living room to heat the rest of the house as it's way cheaper.

Still like that 18-20 degree range though.

[bart]

nest.com

[eblend]

11PM-5AM - 16 degrees
5AM-6AM - 23 degrees
6AM-5PM - 16 degrees
6AM-11PM-21 degrees

I think your sleeping and away from home temp is a little high personally, don't need it much higher than 14.5 really for most things like plants ect.

[AE92_TreunoSC]

Sleep 19
Wake 21
Away 18
Home 20-22

My upstairs ducts don't blow terribly warm, we had the ducts cleaned a month ago and a new filter so I'm thinking I need to tweak the duct flow or wrap the ducts with insulation so it stays warm till it gets upstairs.

I have a thin haired dog and a shivering girlfriend for my "away" times lol.

When I lived alone I'd set it to 16 away all the time.

[bookem]

I keep it set at 16 when away, doesn't need to be comfortable if nobody's home.

[stevelou]

I used to have mine at 17.5-19 all day, then we had our daughter that refuses to keep her blankets on while she sleeps so we now have it set at 22 from 8 pm to 5 am and 20 for the rest of the day. Humidity is set at 35%.

[botox]

Originally posted by Tik-Tok
23*C all the time, and humidistat at 35%, but it never gets up to that, most I've seen actual humidity is 25%

Ditto. Have kids who like to kick their blankets when sleeping and there is usually someone home during the day.

[oz388]

Originally posted by eblend
11PM-5AM - 16 degrees
5AM-6AM - 23 degrees
6AM-5PM - 16 degrees
6AM-11PM-21 degrees

I think your sleeping and away from home temp is a little high personally, don't need it much higher than 14.5 really for most things like plants ect.

Hi I remembered somewhere said Do Not Turn Down Temp By More Than 3 Degree, Or You Not Saving At All. Can someone confirm this?

[benyl]

Originally posted by oz388


Hi I remembered somewhere said Do Not Turn Down Temp By More Than 3 Degree, Or You Not Saving At All. Can someone confirm this?

Turn it down as much as you want.

[lilmira]

20C when someone is home.
18C when sleeping.
16C when nobody home.

Humidity ~ 35% won't go higher with the dryer air now. I have a standalone hygrometer, I found the humidifier control way off. It won't turn on until I crank it to ~45%.

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by oz388


Hi I remembered somewhere said Do Not Turn Down Temp By More Than 3 Degree, Or You Not Saving At All. Can someone confirm this?

I'll see if I can find a source...but that is a myth. Still cheaper to heat up air space than it is to maintain it. The "3 degree" figure comes from that being the most comfortable "difference".

I turn ours down to 16 at night and when away from the house. No more than 21 when at home. Summertime comes and I shut the furnace down completely.

[lilmira]

Originally posted by benyl




Turn it down as much as you want.

I think the problem is that it will take a while to heat it back up if the house is too cold. A good thermostat should take care of that and pre-heat the house for you.

[silvercivicsir]

17 all the time.. its cold, but meh, I am use to it

[oz388]

Guys, thanks for sharing your Temp setup, now please disclose your Monthly Gas usage (GJ or $) and the square footage of your house so we can figure out whose setting is the most cost effective while still maintaining a very comfortable room temp. in winter.

My gas usage for last month: 11.71GJ or $104.36 (includes all service fees)
My house size: 1960 sqf
Monthly Unit Cost: 0.006GJ/sqf or $0.053/sqf

[88CRX]

Originally posted by oz388
Guys, thanks for sharing your Temp setup, now please disclose your Monthly Gas usage (GJ or $) and the square footage of your house so we can figure out whose setting is the most cost effective while still maintaining a very comfortable room temp. in winter.

My gas usage for last month: 11.71GJ or $104.36 (includes all service fees)
My house size: 1960 sqf
Monthly Unit Cost: 0.006GJ/sqf or $0.053/sqf

There's a lot more variables then that. Any older house will have way higher heating demands then even a poorly built new house.

17c at bed time
19c when i get home from work

[project240]

Above 21C all the time.

Gas usage for last month - 4.65GJ / $57.76
House Size - 2455sq ft bungalow
Monthly Unit Cost - $0.0235/sqft

Damn my radiant heater, stove and hot water tanks use alot of gas.

[project240]

Originally posted by 88CRX


There's a lot more variables then that. Any older house will have way higher heating demands then even a poorly built new house.

You bet there is. Insulation and windows are probably top on that list.