When to Set Your Heat to Cut Winter Energy Costs

As colder weather arrives, few things feel worse than waking up to a house that’s too chilly. Heating bills can be just as unpleasant. In many homes, heating is the largest energy expense during winter, accounting for about 43% of residential energy use on average, with water heating a distant second at 19%. That makes it worthwhile to pay close attention to how you heat your home, especially if you rely on fuel such as oil, propane, or natural gas. One simple way to lower your energy costs is to change your thermostat settings each day. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this can reduce heating bills by as much as 10%. To save money and still wake up to a warm house, lower the heat 30 minutes before bed, then set it to rise again 30 minutes before you get up.

A programmable thermostat makes this easier by letting you preset temperatures and adjust them whenever needed. A good starting point is 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, then dropping the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit while you sleep. If you leave for work, you can also program the thermostat to reduce the heat about 30 minutes before you go and raise it again 30 minutes before you return.

What if your home is heated with electricity?

One downside of a fuel-based heating system, including gas, is the cost each time the furnace cycles on and off. Electric heating is not always more economical. In warmer regions, many homes use resistance heating, such as electric baseboards, wall heaters, electric furnaces, or plug-in space heaters. On a per-unit basis, resistance heating is often the most expensive way to warm a home. Still, if you only need heat a few times a year, buying a furnace may not make sense. In that case, the same thermostat advice applies: lower the temperature when you do not need as much heat and raise it again before you want the home warm.

Heat pumps have become the most commonly installed new home heating systems. Although 46% of U.S. homes use natural gas for heat and 43% use electricity, new heat pump installations now exceed natural gas installations by 21%. If you are looking for a new system, heat pumps have an important advantage beyond also serving as air conditioners: they work best when left running rather than switched on and off repeatedly. The U.S. Department of Energy says there is no need to keep adjusting them. Compared with electric resistance systems, an air-source heat pump can save around $459 a year. With a ducted or ductless heat pump, there is no need to wonder when the best time is to turn on the heat to save money.