A thermostat can be your ally in achieving energy savings during both winter and summer months. Here are some tips on how to use your thermostat wisely:

* Program it. If you don’t already have one, consider purchasing and installing a programmable thermostat. These devices allow you to adjust temps automatically throughout the day, letting you to keep things cooler or warmer when necessary and shutting off heating or AC when unnecessary.

Multiple settings let you get as specific as you’d like, with up to six variances daily and separate options for weekdays and weekends. By using a programmable thermostat, you can shave off as much as one-third of your energy bill. For more information, see Programmable Electronic Thermostats and How to Install a Programmable Thermostat.

* If you’ll be gone, make adjustments. If you know you’re going to be absent from your home for a few days or longer, raise the thermostat temperature (or just turn off your air conditioner completely) in the summer months, or, in winter, adjust your thermostat to 65 degrees or lower.

* Consider a matter of a degrees. Rarely is it necessary to set your thermostat lower than 78 degrees in the summer or higher than 68 degrees in the winter. A shift of only one degree can mean a difference of 2 percent on your energy bill.

* Resist the quick cool down. You know the scenario: You’ve just come inside from the 100-degree heat and you want instant relief. So you run to the thermostat and drop the temp down a couple degrees or more. Stop! This doesn’t result in a faster cool down; it only means unnecessary energy usage and wasted money for you.

* Keep heat away.  Make sure your thermostat is located far away from a significant heating source, such as a portable heater, incandescent lamp, or television. A thermostat placed near such a device will interpret that the higher temperature is reflective of the temperature of your whole house, leading to excessive air-conditioning usage.