Patent ID: 7793510

Claim:
A programmable thermostat for controlling the operation of at least an air conditioner for conditioning a space, the thermostat comprising: a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of a temperature within the space; a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of a humidity within the space; a controller in communication with the first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat's operation; the controller being configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller initiates signals for controlling activation of the air conditioner system in response to a communication from the first sensor indicating that the sensed temperature in the space is above a temperature set, or in response to a communicate from the second sensor indicating that the sensed humidity in the space is above a humidity set point, and being configured to operate in a set-back mode in which the controller initiates signals for controlling activation of the air conditioner system in response to a communication from the first sensor indicating that the sensed temperature in the space is above a set-back temperature set point, the controller being configured to automatically set a set-back humidity set point of 100%, such that the sensed humidity can never be above the set back humidity set point so as to trigger air conditioning operation during the set-back mode, to thereby provide for reduction in air conditioner operation.