December 8, 2014
Being energy-efficient at home is one of the easiest ways to protect the environment. You can do this, and save energy and money off your electric bill by using a programmable thermostat. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, you can get one at no charge from Pepco and Delmarva Power. Here are a few tips on how to use your programmable thermostat, and an idea for how to save even more energy through the Energy Wise RewardsTM program offered by Pepco and Delmarva Power.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), setting your thermostat to 68°F when you’re awake at home, and setting it back 10° to 15° for 8 hours while you're asleep or away from home, you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill In the summer, you can follow the same energy-saving strategy by setting your air conditioning to a higher temperature when you’re away, and lowering the thermostat setting to 78° when you’re home. Although thermostats can be adjusted manually, programmable thermostats will avoid any discomfort and instant energy demands, which increase energy costs, caused by adjusting the thermostat temperature several degrees at once. Programmable thermostats slowly adjust the temperature to the ideal set-point by returning temperatures to normal before you wake or return home.
Many people think that a furnace has to work harder to warm the space back to the desired temperature during colder months if the thermostat has been set lower. The DOE says that this is a common misperception, and, in fact, “as soon as your house drops below its normal temperature, it will lose energy to the surrounding environment more slowly. The lower the interior temperature, the slower the heat loss.” In other words, you’ll save more energy. And, the same concept applies to setting your thermostat higher during the warmer months -- a higher temperature inside your house actually slows the flow of heat into your house, again saving energy on air conditioning.
The Energy Wise Rewards program, offered by Pepco and Delmarva Power to its Maryland and Delaware customers, is one way to reduce energy use. Participation in this program helps residents save energy, save money, and understand their energy use. The Energy Wise Rewards program supports the Governor’s EmPOWER Maryland initiative to decrease energy use in Maryland 15 percent by 2015. Saving energy protects the environment by reducing the need to build new power plants.
Energy Wise Rewards is a voluntary peak-energy management program offered to Pepco and Delmarva Power customers at no charge. As part of this program, customers can choose a web-programmable thermostat – a $180 value – or an outdoor switch, either of which Pepco or Delmarva Power provides and installs no charge. With the programmable thermostat you can set the temperature to your schedule and save money on your annual heating and cooling costs.
Those who sign up for Energy Wise Rewards receive up to $80 in credits off their electricity bill after the web-programmable thermostat or outdoor switch is installed. Customers also receive up to $80 in credits off their June through October bills each year they participate. In turn, during select summer weekdays, Energy Wise Rewards uses the devices to reduce
electricity use by cycling central air conditioners or heat pumps off and on for short periods of time.
The fan will continue to run, which keeps the cool air circulating in the home. Customers can choose their cycling level -- 50 percent, 75 percent or 100 percent – based on their comfort level. Many who start at 50 percent cycling say they don’t notice when the cycling happens, and there is only a 1- to 3-degree temperature change.
Delmarva Power’s Energy Wise Rewards program saves customers energy and money, and protects the environment. To learn more and sign up today, call 866-353-5799 or go online to www.delmarva.com/rewards. For Pepco’s Energy Wise Rewards program call 1-866-353-5798 or go online to www.pepco.com/rewards.
More information about the energy savings programs under Empower Maryland can be found on www.energy.maryland.gov/facts/empower.
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This post was written by Robin Lewis, member of the MD Sierra Club's Energy Committee. You can contact her at robin.4800@gmail.com.