Programmable thermostat savings calculator
Answer three quick questions. See what a setback schedule saves you per year — in dollars, not promises.
How the thermostat savings calculator works
The math follows the Department of Energy's rule of thumb — roughly 1% saved per degree of setback held for 8 hours — applied to your own heating and cooling spend, with a conservative cap so the estimate stays honest. If you don't know your heating and cooling spend, the Bill Breakdown estimator can pull it out of your utility bills in a few minutes.
Everything runs in your browser and nothing is stored on our servers. For winter heating temperatures and setbacks, see the winter thermostat settings guide. Use the calculator's cooling mode for summer estimates. And if the setback savings look small, that usually means the bigger win is the building itself — start with the attic insulation calculator.
Thermostat savings questions, answered
How much does a programmable thermostat save?
The Department of Energy estimates a 7–8°F setback for 8 hours a day saves about 10% a year on heating and cooling. For a home spending $1,500 a year on heating and cooling, that's roughly $150. Smaller setbacks or shorter windows save proportionally less, which is what this calculator models — deliberately on the conservative side.
What are the best thermostat settings for energy savings?
A common baseline is 68°F in winter while you're home and awake, set back 7–10°F while asleep or away, and 78°F in summer when home, set up a few degrees when away. The bigger the setback and the longer it holds, the more you save. Comfort is personal — the schedule you'll actually keep beats the perfect one you'll override.
Do smart thermostats really save money?
Yes, when they hold a real setback schedule you'd otherwise skip. The savings come from the schedule, not the gadget — a $30 programmable unit run consistently saves as much as a smart model. Smart thermostats earn their price when their automation (occupancy sensing, scheduling you'd never program manually) makes the setbacks actually happen.
Should I use big setbacks with a heat pump?
No — keep them small, about 2–3°F, or skip them. Recovering from a deep setback can kick a heat pump into electric-resistance backup heat, which is two to three times more expensive to run and can erase the savings. Modern smart thermostats with heat pump modes ramp gradually to avoid this.