Quote:
Originally Posted by theruizs
Want to know for sure? Keep doing what your doing for a month or a billing cycle, then leave it at a set temp for the next month/cycle.
On a different note, we monitor different areas of our house with thermometers and it is never a constant temp everywhere in the house. Our termostat (next to the Master BR) is set to 77 all the time. The temp in our main living area where we spend most of our time is then 75, and at the far end of the house it is 73. The Master BR is 75 or 76. So nowhere is it actually 77. No, I have no real point, just an observation.
|
That, unfortunately, is not sufficiently revealing (too many variables). The temperatures and humidity levels, to name two factors, will change in the subsequent month, as will other factors, e.g. oven cooking vs dining out, thus, raising the internal home temps, etc. I believe, to be useful, the test would need to be done under a more strictly controlled environment. Some of these "helpful" energy-saving devices come at a hefty price, as well (while we're on the discussion), necessitating a lengthy period to amortize the cost. Most folks are very familiar with what increases the cost of energy in the home; one of the biggest is hot water ---> raise the temp a bit and you'll save, likewise, for heating/cooling. What good does it do to spend $9.00, for example, on a sophisticated LED light fixture that illuminates an area that is being used for 30 mins total during a day/night. On the other hand, if the usage is such that the initial cost can be amortized in a short period = probably worthwhile. I don't believe it's any more complicated or requiring sophisticated monitoring devices than that, IMHO and, to be clear, I do love and appreciate technology but only for the convenience and value it supplies - not just for the sake of it.
Fred