The other day I discussed whether it is worthwhile to reduce the cooling or heating when no one is at home during the day, and I came to the conclusion that it is very worthwhile especially when it is extremely hot or cold outside.  David offered a comment that using a Digital Thermostat is a great way to control when the AC is running.  I agree.  I almost mentioned this in my article, but I thought I'd save it for another time.  That time is now.

About four years ago I purchased a Digital Thermostat for my house.  The builders had put a cheap, old-fashioned thermostat in and I wanted something that looked more modern -- and something that might save a few pennies!  I wasn't disappointed.

Since I'm a "numbers freak", I keep a record of each power bill in a spreadsheet that tracks my use of electricity.  So when you hear that a Digital Thermostat saves money, I have actual, real-life numbers to prove it.  When I compared the 12 months BEFORE I installed the thermostat to the 12 months AFTER, I found that I realized a 15% reduction in my electricity usage!  How much did I save in a year?  I went from an average of 33 kWH per day to only 28 kWH per day -- or, a reduction of 5kWH each day.  I pay about $0.10 per kWH, and there are 365 days in a year, so my annual savings is

5kWH/day * $0.10/kWH * 365 days = $182.50 saved in my first year with a Digital Thermostat

That's not bad, considering it didn't impede upon my living conditions any.  Actually, it made them better!  In the winter, you can have it set so the heat comes on just before you wake up, making it easier to get out of bed on those cold mornings! 

My thermostat cost about $90 four years ago, but (as David said), you can get them for as little as $60 now.  Either way, it can pay for itself in less than six months.  Of course, if there is almost always someone at home, then it's not going to be as large of a savings.  But it still may be worth considering.

I've noticed that I spend a lot of time thinking of ways to save money, and this has turned out to be one of my better strategies.  As Cousin Eddie in Christmas Vacation would say, "It's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year."