November Task of the Month

November's Task:  Set your thermostat at least 2 degrees cooler in winter.

This task is a particularly fun one to promote: it's easy, it costs nothing, and the energy savings are instantaneous! For those concerned about comfort, suggest changing by just 1 degree at a time. Other "tricks" can help too: for instance, wearing a scarf or gaiter goes a long way to keep a person feeling warm, without a lot of bulk. These items are one-size-fits-all, making them great items to give away as prizes or incentives. They're also simple to make: fleece versions could easily be made by youth groups or others as a fun way to promote participation in the program.

Of course, the more you set back your thermostat, the more you will save. In addition to adjusting to a slightly lower regular temperature, encourage people to turn their thermostats down to 55 degrees at night and during any daytime hours that the home will be unoccupied.

Unfortunately, there is a popular misconception that savings from turning the thermostat down are lost when the furnace has to "work harder" to bring the air back to a comfortable temperature. Here's how the US Dept of Energy explains it: "The fuel required to reheat a building to a comfortable temperature is roughly equal to the fuel saved as the building drops to the lower temperature. You save fuel between the time that the temperature stabilizes at the lower level and the next time heat is needed. So, the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save."