Dim Your Bill

07Smart thermostats

Thermostat setback calculator

Enter what you spend on heating and cooling, how far you set back, and for how long.

Checked

—saved per year

Share of heating and cooling
—

Uses the Department of Energy’s rule of thumb: about 1% per degree for each 8 hours, up to roughly 10% a year. Real savings depend on climate and how tight your house is.

Heating and cooling are close to half of a typical home’s energy bill, so if you don’t know your number, half your yearly utility bills is a fair start.

Setbacks save the most in houses that lose heat quickly and in climates with long winters. A deep setback in a house with a heat pump can backfire if recovery switches on the backup heat strips; use a thermostat with heat pump recovery settings, or a smaller setback.

Sources