It’s generally recommended that to save money on heating, in the winter try to keep your thermostat set at a reasonable 68 ºF / 20 ºC degrees. Every degree warmer you set your thermostat will increase your energy use by 6 - 8 percent, which also means a rise in your heating bill.

So, instead of notching up the thermostat, put on your slippers and a sweater on.

In the summer, 78 ºF / 25 ºC is ideal.

Turning thermostats down at night an hour before you go to bed and when you leave for work and school can save loads of energy. No matter how long you will be gone or asleep, you will save energy by turning down the thermostat; heat escapes faster when there is a bigger difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures. When you turn down the thermostat, the indoor temperature is closer to the outdoor temperature, the furnance runs less and you lose less heat and save energy. In the morning, the furnace will run a little longer initially to bring the house back to temperature; however, the nighttime energy savings is much greater than the energy needed to re-heat the home.