Reduce Energy Costs With Programmable Thermostats

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The average commercial building spends half it’s operating costs on energy. Installing a building automation system that uses programmable thermostats is one of the simplest ways to dramatically reduce those costs. Building automation systems integrate HVAC components in order to optimize the comfort levels of occupants and minimize the use of energy. Along with programmable thermostats they are designed to save money while maintaining the comfort level your building occupants have come to expect. 7-day programmable thermostats are also a great way to help green your building by cutting down your carbon footprint and the greenhouse gas emissions you produce. Because they increase the energy efficiency of commercial buildings, programmable thermostats are recommended by hygreen, a south Florida performance group dedicated to providing strategic energy-saving solutions to new and existing buildings.

Building Automation Systems

Building automation systems are also referred to as energy management and control systems [EMCS]. They integrate building components like fans, pumps, and heating and air conditioning ...
... equipment. A building automation system will monitor and optimize temperature, pressure, humidity, and flow rates throughout the entire space. Building automation systems have evolved dramatically over the last twenty to thirty years from mechanical devices to digital and computer based systems. A building owner can now monitor and control a buildings HVAC system remotely using a building automation system. Programmable thermostats are part of a well-designed building automation system.

7-day programmable thermostats

7-day programmable thermostats allow you to customize temperature settings to suit the specific needs of your building. 7-day programmable thermostats are a great deal more flexible than more common programmable thermostats found in many homes. Most programmable thermostats only have a few settings like weekend and weekday. With a 7-day programmable thermostat you can divide each day of the week into four sections. For each section of the day you can choose either; comfort mode, economy mode or away mode. There’s also usually a one-button “away” or “vacation” mode that allows you to reduce your energy use to a cost saving level if the building is unoccupied for an extended period like during the holidays. 7-Day Programmable thermostats work with conventional gas or electrical systems but not with heat pumps or electric baseboard heaters. Programmable thermostats should be installed on interior walls, away from vents and other sources of drafts.

7-Day programmable thermostats can have other convenient features including:

• Indicators which tell you when filters need to be changed
• Indicators that signal heating or cooling components are malfunctioning
• Digital displays
• Touch pad programming
• Phone programming

The benefits of installing programmable thermostats

• Save energyâ€by adjusting temperature to save energy when the building is less occupied
• Save moneyâ€you’ll quickly recoup your initial purchase and installation cost in energy savings
• Save the planetâ€you’ll help reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels at electrical power plants
• Save timeâ€they are easier to use and more automated compared to mechanical thermostats