[FoxV]

it makes it easier when you already make the software and hardware

[davep]

...an expression equivalent to the U.S.'s "old wives' tale"?

I think you'll find that they use that term in real English as well.

[ACrisisAwaits]

What is you heating thermostat set at currently? Usually, people gradually lower it as it gets closer to the heart of winter. Mine is set at 68, but the heater does not turn on at all. Because this year has been unusually warm in San Diego. Its still 74 degrees upstairs and 72 degrees downstairs with no heating whatsoever, except the sun.

[MadMarcus]

64F during the day and 55F at night.

I know its not really doing anything of long term impact but I like the small energy bill.

[Roy]

I use a programmable thermostat.

We run at 65 when we're home, and 55 when we go to bed. My house isn't that well insulated (yet) and I have single pane windows so trying to keep it warmer is a waster. I also practice 'zone heating' where we only heat the room we're in. The bedrooms in my house are at the corners of the house, have 4 windows each, and a lot of linear feet of exposure to the outide, ergo they usually end up around 40 - 45 degrees when its cold out. No point in heating those areas. We just sleep in PJs and use big quilts.

It works for me but when visitors come over they usually comment that its cold in my house.

[WisJim]

We have wood heat, with a central forced air wood burning furnace in the basement. The thermastat controls the combustion on the furnace and works very well. Isn't a simple on/off but anticipates load or something. Also is designed to allow gravity air circulation through the ductwork when the fan isn't running.

We usually set it at 66 to 68, and down to 60-62 at night. If it is sunny out, the sunroom/greenhouse on the south side of the living room keeps the house adequately warm, so the furnace produces little heat, so we usually have a good bed of coals when we get home after being out for 8 to 11 hours, or overnight. 66 is warm enough if it isn't drafty, and that is the big and noticable result of improving insulation, weatherstripping, and windows in our old farmhouse--much more comfortable, and costs less to heat.

[sciencegirl]

18 C keeps the apartment at a good temp, not to hot and not to cold. If I want it warmer then I wear a sweater.

[Quinne]

We live in a townhouse in the Pacific NW--we essentially never turn onour heat. Our home hovers between 50-55 degrees F all day. Chilly, but good practice for when we have no choice.

[blukatzen]

I had my house set at 65 degrees last winter and we did ok. We had 2 fairly cold days, and I set it at 68 to compensate. I wear wool sweaters, fleece and sheepskin booties, so I am warm.

I have 2 down comforters, and I seem to draw some extra warmth from the "FH factor".."Feline Heating". lol one under each arm and one on the neck/head area. Works for me!

[dogf]

Not to go too far off topic but I am wondering what your thoughts are about storing water in 55 gallon drums in an unfinished basement in order to average the temperature changes in the house. Kind of like a thermal mass thing?
Actually if there were enough positive responses I could then justify this as extra water storage for the fish tank.

[Homesteader]

We heat with wood. This years wood was cut with last years gas, maybe $10 worth, a couple of files for the chains. I split the wood with a maul, wedges and a couple of different axes. Total cost for heat this winter; $10 and a couple of files for the chains. The saw is a 20 year old Stihl.

The wood stove cost $200 new. They were on sale for 1/2 price last spring so I bought another one to have as a spare, or perhaps a major barter item in the future.

House temp varies from 60 t0 70.

[Ludi]

We also heat with wood, so we have no thermostat. But the climate is very mild here.


We usually wait until the inside temperature is in the 50s before we start a fire in the stove, but that's a little too cold for me.

[Bas]

40 F in Summer, and 90F in Winter

[IslandCrow]

If I am alone 19C (62F), when my wife is here 21C (66F). The kitchen gets a nice 23C (69F) with the wood-burning cooker going. On sunny days in winter the passive solar heating can raise the temperature higher than the thermostat setting.

And at least 70C (144F) for the sauna (but that is wood heated so harder to regulate).

[vision-master]

60 during the day & off at night, unless it get to -10, then 50 at night.

[Barbara]

18C daytime/people at home
14C nighttime/nobody home.

Not so warm, but this house is not well insulated so there's no reason to waste methane and pay an higher bill.

[efarmer]

Be sure to remember that humidity in heating season is a huge factor in making people feel comfortable. I shoot for at least 50% relative humidity and 66 degrees in the St. Louis, MO area of the USA.
This link goes to a nifty table that shows what a temperature feels like to a human when temperature and humidity are taken into consideration. (This lets you obtain the most comfort for the least heating energy.)

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001434.html

Even after all of this careful science and climate control I still get whacked during the night if my popsicle toes touch my old lady's leg as I shift around in dreamland.

[RedStateGreen]

We have ours at 59F night and day. Hasn't come on yet. We might adjust that as time goes on.

[mommy22]

The other day, my energy company, First Energy (yes the one involved in the power outage in the eastern US a few years back), sent out a voucher for a free programmable thermostat, with free installation. We already have one, but I thought that was an interesting gesture to offer the public. Any others getting an offer like that from your power company? Or, what is your utility comapany doing differently in terms of helping consumers manage electricity use? (Please no snide comments from those of you already off the grid:).

[Niagara]

I'm really surprised that the deal includes free installation!

What's that going to cost?
(one unionized worker + truck + travel time + coffee break + benefits).

As for utility incentives, we had a deal in Toronto for those with electric hot water heaters. They installed a timer gadget which would kill power to the heater during peak hours, so your water would reheat during the night. The tank was also wrapped with an insulating blanket to help keep the water hot. They offered a cash incentive to have the system installed, around $200 I think.