Fujitsu Split AC System in Independence – What Is a Setback Thermostat?

A setback thermostat, also known as a programmable thermostat or a digital thermostat, is one way to promote energy efficiency in the home. The typical role of any thermostat is to regulate the indoor temperature by sensing changes and adjusting to the desired temperature. Users can program a setback thermostat with the specific times they want their heat or air conditioning to turn on and off. The term setback here also can refer to setting back the temperature to a lower one in winter or a higher one in summer. These adjustments can help conserve energy and save money.

If reducing heating costs and air conditioning costs is a high priority, then a setback thermostat might be a way to achieve that goal. Non-programmable thermostats usually remain on one temperature setting until they are manually changed. Many people think that maintaining a constant temperature by letting the heat or air conditioning run throughout the day is more economical than periodically changing the temperature setting. Yet most energy experts maintain that programmable thermostats often can save both money and energy by adjusting the temperature based on the time of day and who is at home.

Typically, new homes come with a setback thermostat already installed. Many of them include suggested settings programmed into the unit. These settings usually are intended to maximize energy efficiency and minimize costs by only heating or cooling the home at certain times. Consumers can follow the suggested time and temperature settings, or they can make adjustments to suit their own comfort levels. If someone has a non-programmable thermostat in his home and wants to upgrade, he could either do it himself or contact a trusted Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) consultant to install a digital thermostat.