What's the best way to optimally control my home's heating and cooling?

You can control your preferred temperature range by entering specific temperature for time ranges during the day (such as 60 degrees when you'll be away and 68 degrees when you're at home for winter heating) with a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. According to www.energystar.gov, Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs. Basic thermostats will have just one cycle that will repeat that time range (or multiple ranges) each day. To decide which model is best for you, think about your schedule and how often you are away from home for regular periods of time—work, school, other activities—and then decide which of the three different models best fits your schedule: 5-2 programming: Allows you to set a schedule for 5 days (such as for work or school days) and then an alternate schedule for 2 weekend days. 5-1-1 programming: Same 5-day schedule as above, but with the option to program each weekend day individually. 7-day programming: Allows you to create an individual program for each day of the week.

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You can use the table below as a starting point for setting energy-saving temperatures, and then adjust the settings to fit your family’s schedule and stay comfortable.

http://www.energystar.gov

If you have a heat pump, you may require a special programmable thermostat to maximize your energy savings year-round. Talk to your retailer or contractor for details before selecting your thermostat.

If you have a manual thermostat, you can adjust the temperatures daily before you leave the house and when you go to sleep at night. Typically, adjusting temperatures 5 – 8 degrees (down in winter, up in summer) can help save energy if you are going to be away from home for several hours.