Choose the right room temperature
Why
Keep people comfortable and reduce energy waste by choosing appropriate temperature settings. “Night setback” or turning the heat down in unoccupied spaces is an easy action, and can save 2% off your heating bill for every degree C the heat is down.
In spite of what some people believe, night setback really does save energy. Consider the metaphor of a leaky bucket. If you are trying to keep water in a leaky bucket, you have to be pouring water in as fast as it is leaking out.
- The bucket represents your building, and the leaks are all the ways heat escapes your building. A very leaky bucket represents a drafty or poorly insulated building. A bucket with only a few leaks represents a well insulated, well sealed building.
- The water represents heat.
- The tap represents your furnace, boiler, or other heaters.
- The level of water represents the thermostat setting.
When the water level is low, a bit of water leaks out and the tap has to run a bit to hold the level.
When the water level is high, a lot of water leaks out and the tap has to run a lot to hold the level. The higher the water level, the faster the tap has to run.
If you turn off the tap, the bucket will empty. At first, water will leak out quickly, then as the water level drops it will leak out more slowly. When you want to refill the bucket, you need to add the amount of water that leaked out. But overall you will have saved water because it leaked more slowly when it was less full.
How
Set thermostats in frequently used rooms to 24oC in summer, and 20oC in winter. Set thermostats in unoccupied areas to 29oC in summer and 17oC in winter. Make sure that your system is set so the heating can’t come on in the summer and the air conditioning can’t come on in the winter.
