Your Tax Dollars in Action: Texas Gives "Free" Thermostats to Low Income Home OWNERS

[Bill]

State program giving away programmable thermostats

A new program in Texas is giving free smart thermostats to those who qualify.

Friday, January 02, 2015 10:41PM

HOUSTON (KTRK) --
A new program in Texas is giving free smart thermostats to those who qualify. The devices can help you save on your power bill, but only if they are used correctly and one study found most home owners with programmable thermostats are not using them the right way.

Sharon Foster's old thermostat had a big problem.

"When you touch it, would only let you program it down," said Foster.

The southeast Houston home owner is getting her new programmable thermostat thanks to a state program that supplies the high-tech devices to low-income home owners.

Officials with Direct Energy and First Choice Power helped Foster get her new thermostat up and running. They add the devices can cut costs.

"You can use the Smart Thermostat to save up to 10 percent if you program it correctly," said David Draper of Direct Energy.

Programming it correctly is the key!

Home owners have to tell the device when they are home and when they are gone in order for the thermostat to turn on your heater or A.C. when you are actually home. That way you don't waste power or money heating or cooling an empty house.

Simple right? WRONG!

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy found that a whopping 89 percent of home owners with the devices who responded to a survey are not programming the thermostats at all and not saving any money at all.

The Honeywell thermostat Foster is getting comes with apps and a manual and a toll-free number she can call to help her set up the device in the right way.

It's something she plans to explore if her go-to tech expert fails to help.

"Mom cannot do. That one and that one in there, trust me they are going to run it and set it up and it's going to be ready to roll," said Foster pointing to her three children.

If you are not using your programmable thermostat correctly, remember you can always call the manufacturer. They will walk you through it, step by step, so the device will start saving you money.

To see if you qualify for a free programmable thermostat, check here.

State program giving away programmable thermostats | abc13.com (http://abc13.com/news/state-program-giving-away-programmable-thermostats/459438/)

Video at link. Notice that this homeowner has a nice house, nice stuff in the house, nail salon nails, and she and all the kids all have iPhones. I'm so happy my tax dollars can go to giving this woman a programmable thermostat. I don't have a programmable thermostat. You know what I do when it gets cold? Yeah, I put on a sweatshirt and/or a coat, but these folks, no, they don't worry about paying the heating bill, because that will be taken care of by others.....like me.


:mad:

[DAB]

If I'm paying for it, it's not free. :slap:

[OddBall]

Here's how you fix that.
Put a meter on the furnace/AC. When it hits the allotted wattage, it shuts off for the remainder of the month.

They'll be damned efficient at working the thermostat the next month.

[LATB]

The T-stat is only part of the HVAC system. I believe the state should do a comprehensive study to determine the best approach. There may be a need for dehumidifier. Pure Air filtration with MERV 16 filters. UV lights to control mold. Duct cleaning may be needed. Proper air flow balance should be considered, including possible supply and return reconfiguration.

While at it. The complete energy efficiency if the home should be analyzed. Windows. Doors. Insulation. Ventilation. It could be necessary to set up the system with positive pressure using direct outside air with a mechanical outside air unit.

Lastly, exterior building materials need to be considered. Dark color shingles should be replaced with a lighter color. Vinyl or Masonite siding should be replaced with brick or stone. And landscape design to shade the structure in summer, but allow for natural heat gain in winter.

Providing a programable T-stat thinking it alone will increase the energy efficiency, is like new wiper blades on your car is going to increase your MPG's.

[DAB]

the best way to become more efficient at something is being forced to pay for it directly.

[Bill]

the best way to become more efficient at something is being forced to pay for it directly.





:iagree:





Edited.

[Iron Chef]

The T-stat is only part of the HVAC system. I believe the state should do a comprehensive study to determine the best approach. There may be a need for dehumidifier. Pure Air filtration with MERV 16 filters. UV lights to control mold. Duct cleaning may be needed. Proper air flow balance should be considered, including possible supply and return reconfiguration.

While at it. The complete energy efficiency if the home should be analyzed. Windows. Doors. Insulation. Ventilation. It could be necessary to set up the system with positive pressure using direct outside air with a mechanical outside air unit.

Lastly, exterior building materials need to be considered. Dark color shingles should be replaced with a lighter color. Vinyl or Masonite siding should be replaced with brick or stone. And landscape design to shade the structure in summer, but allow for natural heat gain in winter.

Providing a programable T-stat thinking it alone will increase the energy efficiency, is like new wiper blades on your car is going to increase your MPG's.

Something tells me that the efficiency of the HVAC system wasn't the point of the OP's thread. :D

[DAB]

:iagree:

no need to yell. :slap:

[Bill]

Something tells me that the efficiency of the HVAC system wasn't the point of the OP's thread. :D

No, he's right on target. I bought a box of MERV 13 filters for my own home, but, I usually try to give gifts that are nicer than what I myself have, so, yes, I'd like my tax dollars to give this woman MERV 16 filters. I really want her to be happy, knowing how hard I worked to give her that stuff. It will warm my heart while I'm sitting in my 60 degree house with a blanket over me, to think of her, all warm and comfy, and knowing that I helped pay for that.

[Iron Chef]

No, he's right on target. I bought a box of MERV 13 filters for my own home, but, I usually try to give gifts that are nicer than what I myself have, so, yes, I'd like my tax dollars to give this woman MERV 16 filters. I really want her to be happy, knowing how hard I worked to give her that stuff.

Oh...my mistake. For a minute there I thought you were pissed that our state government was giving away free thermostats to people who can't afford them because they're spending money on critical items like nail salon visits, designer glasses and iPhones.

:lol:

[Bill]

no need to yell. :slap:

See edit. Better?

:D

[DAB]

See edit. Better?

:D

:rofl::rofl::dance:

[78SA]

If she qualifies then this place should. Oh, nm. We don't even have central air and heat.

[Cybercowboy]

That's the exact thermostat we have. It's programmable for I think 5 different stages. All we do is set it to be 70 degrees from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and then drop to 65 during the night. That's "Heat" mode. For AC mode I think we have it set to 75 during the day, and 72 at night. That's it. It's not like the Nest thermostat that automatically learns when you're home or not, and as far as I know you don't tell this one that you're home or not, you just program it to be a certain temps at certain times of each day, and each day can be different.

That's about it. So even this story about these programmable thermostats gets it a little rong!

[Chris Fowler]

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy found that a whopping 89 percent of home owners with the devices who responded to a survey are not programming the thermostats at all and not saving any money at all.

Who decides what the "right" way to use a programmable thermostat is? I do, not some study.

I didn't buy it to save money. I bought it for convenience. And I am happy with my purchase. Does it save money? A little...but it is operating like I want it to, not like "they" want it to.

[boracayjohnny]

State program giving away programmable thermostats | abc13.com (http://abc13.com/news/state-program-giving-away-programmable-thermostats/459438/)

Video at link. Notice that this homeowner has a nice house, nice stuff in the house, nail salon nails, and she and all the kids all have iPhones. I'm so happy my tax dollars can go to giving this woman a programmable thermostat. I don't have a programmable thermostat. You know what I do when it gets cold? Yeah, I put on a sweatshirt and/or a coat, but these folks, no, they don't worry about paying the heating bill, because that will be taken care of by others.....like me.


:mad:

Now just you hold on there. How can she not free gubment stuffs when they're giving them out for free so the tv folks can do a feel good story and e'erbody feels good. :issues:

[09CTSV]

When we lived back in VA Beach, the local news did a story on low income people and getting energy assistance. Mind you we were crunching numbers to keep the bills paid and a roof over our head. I didn't make a whole lot of money in the early 90's in the Navy.
Anyway, this women was complaining about the heating bills. The camera man pans over to the T-Stat and it is set at 77 degrees in the winter. Yeah we kept ours at a wonderful 62 to keep the electric bill affordable. Yes she had the nails, rings, gold, five kids running around and other accessories.
It would be a cold day in hell before I gave to the energy assistance with no loads like that.

[Sea Six]

Here's how you fix that.
Put a meter on the furnace/AC. When it hits the allotted wattage, it shuts off for the remainder of the month.



*watt-hourage



Big difference. :seasix: