Thermostat Setback and Setforward

House temperatures are set to ensure comfort. When occupants are not at home, or are asleep, the house temperature requirements are different. For this reason, many commercially available thermostats now give the user the option of "setting back" the thermostat (reducing the set temperature) during nights as well as during the work day when the occupants have left the house. This is intended as a simple way to reduce overall household energy consumption.

In the winter of 2002-2003 and the summer of 2003, the CCHT side-by-side testing facility was used to determine energy savings from thermostat setback and setforward.

The primary objective of this experiment was:

• To determine the effect of thermostat winter setback and summer setforward on household energy consumption.

Secondary objectives included:

• To monitor the effects of solar radiation on thermostat setback and setforward
• To monitor house surface temperatures during winter setback - and determine the potential for condensation problems.

Report

The Effects of Thermostat Setting on Seasonal Energy Consumption at the CCHT Research Facility
Manning, M.M. Swinton, M.C. Szadkowski, F. Gusdorf, J. Ruest, K.
Research Report, NRC Institute for Research in Construction,
pp. 71. 2005-02-14
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Paper

The Effects of thermostat setting on seasonal energy consumption at the CCHT Twin House Facility
Manning, M.M. Swinton, M.C. Szadkowski, F. Gusdorf, J. Ruest, K.
ASHRAE Transactions, 113 (1)
pp. 1-12. 2007-03-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Articles

CCHT study on programmable thermostats
Manning, M.M.
Solplan Review, (123)
pp. 18-19. 2005-07-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Étude au CNRC sur les thermostats programmables ; Gestion de l'entretien des façades de bâtiments assistée d'un système d'information géographique ; Les systèmes de chauffage résidentiels
Rousseau, M.Z. Manning, M.M.
Échos techniques, 10 (81)
pp. 1-2. 2005-05-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Proven savings with setback
Manning, M.M.
HPAC, 79 (6)
pp. 24-25. 2005-09-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

CCHT study on programmable thermostats
Manning, M.M.
Solplan Review, (123)
pp. 18-19. 2005-07-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Research Highlight

Effects of Thermostat Setting on Energy Consumption