How to save energy with optimal temperature control

Turning down the thermostat

Energy-saving measures have already been promoted for quite some time. In an effort to combat the current energy crisis and reduce dependency on gas supplies, various governments are now even recommending a maximum indoor temperature of 19 °C. You can read more about whether that’s sufficient for optimal indoor climate comfort in our dedicated article, but it’s certain that turning down the thermostat just 1 or 2 °C will have a substantial impact on the amount of energy you use and can help lower your energy bills by up to 10%.

Temperature control

The two types of thermostats that you’re most likely to have are room thermostats and radiator thermostats. By using these to efficiently control your heating and cooling, it’s easy to enjoy indoor comfort while saving energy and helping the environment. Let’s look at how each type of thermostat can help save energy.

Saving energy with your room thermostat

Important to remember, even before you connect the room thermostat, is to install it in a suitable location. It’s generally recommended to mount it on an interior wall, about 1,5 meters above the floor and out of direct sunlight. Also make sure the device isn’t blocked by curtains or furniture or installed near a heat source. These guidelines will help to ensure that the thermostat can get an accurate reading of the room’s temperature.

Once installed, you’ll set the thermostat between 18 and 21 °C, or 23 °C if there are elderly people or very young children in the room. Any higher and it will get uncomfortable warm. Turning the thermostat up won’t heat a room faster, it will just keep the heating on for longer, waste energy and cause the room to get too hot. Turning down the thermostat, on the other hand, can save money and energy. At night, for example, you can easily lower the temperature 2 to 3 °C. For rooms that aren’t often used or when you leave your home for a long period of time, it’s best to maintain a minimum of 14 to 15 °C. A lower temperature could result in dampness, condensation, mould or building damage.

Saving energy with your radiator thermostats

Radiator thermostats help to keep a room at the preferred temperature. Contrary to a room thermostat that controls the boiler, a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controls the flow of hot water through the radiator it’s fitted to. A sensor inside the radiator thermostat monitors the air temperature and reduces or increases the water flow depending on whether the room temperature is higher or lower than the TRV setting. Just like with a room thermostat, it’s important to not block or cover the thermostat with curtains, furniture, clothes, etc. This way the air around it can flow freely and you’re sure to get an accurate room temperature reading.

If there are multiple radiators in a single room, make sure to set all the radiator thermostats to the same level for an energy-efficient temperature control (3 to 4 in rooms that you use frequently, lower in bedrooms and rooms that you use less). Turning one of the thermostats down or off won’t save any energy as the other radiators will have to work harder and the heat will not be distributed evenly. When heat is distributed evenly, it’s easier to lower the room temperature and still feel warm.

Electric radiators

In case you’re using electric radiators rather than hydronic ones, precise temperature control is just as important to save energy, and sometimes even easier. This has to do with the fact that electric radiators are mostly used for single room heating to create heat when and where it’s needed at a given time. Additionally, electric radiators are equipped with a precision digital thermostat that monitors the room temperature and is easily programmable. All our electric radiators comply with the ECO Design directive, which sets mandatory ecological requirements in order to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. To this end, for example, the radiators’ electronic thermostat has an accuracy of 0.2 °C to prevent overheating and needless energy consumption.

If you want to know more about how to save energy with our various climate comfort solutions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will more than happy to answer your questions and offer tailored advice.