Thermostats Energy-Saving Thermostats E nergy and money savings can be substantial in the winter by turning down your thermostat. A setback thermostat offers comfort and convenience since it can turn the heat on before you get out of bed or raise the temperature before you come home in the evening. A setback thermostat also offers dependability since it will automatically change the temperature day in and day out. There are two types of setback thermostat. Digital electronic models offer the greatest number of temperature settings and setback periods, but are complex.
Electromechanical thermostats are easier to set but have fewer features and less flexibility.
These descriptions and recommendations do NOT apply to heat pumps unless a special heat pump thermostat is used. Refer to the section on Heat Pumps . Thermostat makers routinely offer dozens of variations on a given model, to make the thermostat compatible with different central heating systems, central air-conditioners, or both. On Saturdays and Sundays, the thermostat might be set to keep the household temperature at 68 throughout the day. The most versatile setback thermostats allow different comfort and setback periods for each day of the week.