'Blessed Are The Peacemakers'. Working towards a solution.
What about Programmable thermostats? (I'm still looking to meet the person who has their programmable thermostat programmed.) Programmable thermostat manufacturers tend to exaggerate the savings you will get (Bet you're surprised).
Apparently studies show most people either don't program the setbacks, or override/defeat them with "Hold" settings. Based on this you will find articles saying they don't save money. Sort of like studies showing smoke detectors don't save many lives because most people don't replace the batteries, so they don't alarm. It just has to be true that if you don't use something it won't help you. So, if you don't intend to use it, don't buy one. I'm guessing people stop using them because they can be annoying and uncomfortable. If you program it to start the setback too early in the evening you will have to get ready for bed in the cold (or hot in the summer). If you program it to set back after your sure you'll be in bed, you must either get under too much cover and be too hot initially, or wake up freezing and cover up. If you have to get up in the night it will be cooooold.
It's something of an over simplification, but how much you save depends mostly on how much setback you use and how long your house stays at the target setback temperature. Thus, one long setback period will save more than two short ones totaling the same amount of setback time. Keep in mind, the worse your insulation, windows and doors are the more you will save, and vice versa. The greater your air leakage is through your windows, doors and insulation the faster you lose heat, and the quicker the temperature will reach the setback temperature. Thus, the more of the setback period it will be at the setback temperature.
Building a new 'Ultra Energy Efficient' home with everything sized, engineered and installed correctly creates TRUE comfort all year around. Just set the thermostat and forget it. However as you will learn through our blog, energy efficient home improvements always add comfort if they are done correctly.