<p>Electric air-source heat pump with programmable thermostat. 69 after bedtime, 71 evenings and at wake-up time, 70 days. However, I frequently override it to 72 or even 73, especially on overcast days when we don’t have the wood stove going. If we had gas, we’d probably set it a degree or two lower. With radiant, maybe a couple of degrees lower. In the summer we keep it around 74.</p>
<p>Our total utility bills are low enough that it’s just not worth it to push the settings to the edge.
I added attic insulation. We save money by burning hardwoods, much of it cut from our own trees.</p>
<p>We have a very large house, 2 floors with full basement. Head ducts closed off in basement and non-used bedrooms. I like 72 right now, but sometimes it feels hot and we’ll go down to 70.</p>
<p>We have a gas fireplace but it’s vented and having an open chimney isn’t he best when it’s cold. We do use it when the power goes out…don’t want that to happen.</p>
<p>Ours is 65-68 in the winter, off after bedtime (well, we turn it down to 55 when we go to bed, but it never gets cold enough to trigger it to turn on at that temp.) </p>
<p>In the summer around 75.</p>
<p>It’s a very small and fairly tight little house, pretty well-insulated.</p>
<p>Your story reminds me of my first apartment as a grad student. It was in an old 2-story house divided into 8 apartments. The thermostats were locked and it was frigid. We closed off the bedroom where there was no heat, were able to heat the kitchen when necessary using the oven, but for the living room and adjoining bathroom, it was a struggle. Finally, we had the idea of taking small tupperware containers and freezing water in them. If you set one on top of the locked box around the thermostat, the cold would trick it into going on. We were always comfortable after that, although I think the upstairs neighbors may have been a little warm.</p>
<p>Just a quick note for those that still don’t have an electric blanket. They’re on sale everywhere right now. I got a twin one for my son for $14 at target and it has an automatic shut off.</p>
<p>How much energy is used with those space heaters and electric blankets??? Different temps to feel comfortable in summer/winter reflect the clothing worn. I can’t see having to bundle up with layers including long underwear, etc indoors although it is reasonable to add a sweater to long sleeves. The exception- my H from the tropics with zero body fat. </p>
<p>A thanks on behalf of all of your guests, originaloog. I still remember Christmas at my sister’s house 20 years ago with a newborn- it was too cold in her house.</p>
<p>Wis- I wonder that myself, how efficient it is to use electric room heaters, except that by doing it in only 1 or 2 rooms when there is no one else home means you are heating so much less square footage that even though it is inefficient as compared to a forced air gas unit, it is still cheaper to be comfortable in those rooms.</p>
<p>I want to thank those of you who figured out how to “trick” a thermostat. I’ll pass that info along to my son, as I’m sure the themostat setting is going to be an issue.</p>