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The first thing to remember when setting the thermostat in the home to be more energy efficient is that there is more than one type of thermostat. The majority probably hears the word thermostat and automatically thinks of the air conditioning unit in the home; however the dryer, hot water heater, washing machine and dishwasher also have thermostats.

The first thing to remember when it comes to the thermostat for an air conditioning unit in the home is that it is better to have it installed away from heat producing appliances. Heat producing appliances cause the thermostat to register higher temperatures than it would in another part of the home. This in turn forces the unit to kick on more often than it other wise would putting the unit under strain.

The recommended setting in the summer is no lower than 78 degrees Fahrenheit and for the winter it is 68 degrees Fahrenheit; adjust the thermostat during periods the home is unoccupied and at night will help save energy as well.

Leaving the thermostat alone when at home is also good practice to save energy; it prevents the thermostat from playing catch up. The increase or decrease of just one degree will save energy, the more the setting is raised or lowered as the case may be will increase the energy savings.

Thermostat setting recommendations vary for homes with infants and elderly people as their body temperatures are different from ours.

Hot water heats have thermostats that control the water temperature in the home. A setting of 120 degrees should be sufficient for most household water needs.

The washing machine has a thermostat on it to adjust the water temperature that clothes are being washed in. Turning this setting to warm or cold instead of hot will help to save energy by cutting down on the energy used to heat the water. The simple practice of soaking stained clothes before hand along with a good laundry detergent can help to make cold water washing fine for even the dirtiest loads of laundry.

The dryer has heat settings for drying and for the length of drying time. Try using a lower heat setting along with the automatic drying feature instead of the timed drying feature. Be sure not to overload the dryer, dry like fabrics together and make sure the lint filter is clean. The best way to save energy with the dryer is to hang clothes out to dry.

These are just a few suggestions to help with energy savings by adjusting thermostats.

Sources cited:
http://saveenergy.about. com/od/homecooling/qt/thermost atsettin.htm
http://www.care2.c om/greenliving/12-energy-savin g-laundry-tips.html

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