Just as you shut off lights and appliances when you're not using them, you can save energy by turning down the furnace and air conditioner when you leave the house or go to sleep.

By turning the furnace's thermostat down a few degrees in winter when you're not home or go to sleep can result in energy savings of five to fifteen percent. Also, setting the air conditioner thermostat a couple of degrees higher in the summer when the house is empty brings significant energy savings and helps control indoor humidity.

If your schedule is predictable, then a setback thermostat that automatically bumps the temperature up or down when you want it to may be right for you.

Personal schedule: A setback thermostat is ideal for people with predictable work and sleep patterns. If your schedule changes often, you probably won't find a setback thermostat as convenient.

Comfort: It can take up to an hour for the home's temperature to change. You may need to experiment with your setback thermostat to ensure that your home is at your ideal temperature by the time you wake up and by the time you return home.

Moisture and ventilation problems: A setback of four to six degrees can increase the possibility of high humidity, which can lead to condensation on windows and walls. Also, a setback thermostat causes a sustained lack of air circulation for forced air systems as the house cools down. For houses where bedroom doors are kept closed, this could lead to stuffiness in those rooms and a lack of fresh air.

If your house is in good condition, if you do not have excessive moisture problems and if you keep a fairly regular schedule, then a setback thermostat can offer convenience, comfort and may help reduce energy costs.

Source: CMHC