Thermostat Control A Hot Button Issue In Ontario Homes

Direct Energy offers advice to help Ontarians keep their cool this summer

TORONTO, June 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Ontarians are hot under the collar when it comes to indoor temperature according to a Direct Energy survey. The results of the survey released today show that one in five (21 per cent) Ontario households cannot agree what temperature the thermostat should be set to. In fact, of the options Ontarians were given, "thermostat wars" are the third most common household dispute with 24 per cent indicating they have argued or disagreed about it. Only disputes about the control of the television remote (28 per cent) and cleaning the toilet (27 per cent) were more common. Not only are Ontarians who share a thermostat disagreeing on the temperature, some are sneaky about it -- 16 per cent admit they've changed the temperature when their partner isn't looking.

"With hot summer weather having finally arrived, it's common for Ontarians to bicker over the temperature the thermostat is set to in their homes," said Dave Walton, Director of Home Ideas for Direct Energy. "With energy prices on the rise, it's important for households to come to an agreement on temperature now. Ontarians should also remember that setting the thermostat to a lower temperature is just one way of keeping the house cool and should be taking advantage of other easy methods to stay comfortable and save money this summer."

The Direct Energy survey found half (50 per cent) of Ontarians who share a thermostat say they want to be the one in control of the thermostat because they're concerned about energy costs. However, 83 per cent of Ontarians are setting the thermostat at 23 degrees Celsius or less, which could end up costing them this summer. In fact, every degree Celsius below 25 degrees will add an extra three to five per cent to an energy bill.

"When the mercury rises, conflicts around home temperature don't have to," said Walton. "There are many ways to stay cool during the summer heat while still saving money. From small changes to larger upgrades, Ontarians can take control of their energy bills."

There are many ways to help reduce conflict around the thermostat, many of which homeowners can implement themselves. Here are a few tips from Direct Energy:

• Install a programmable thermostat. Set the times and temperatures to match your schedule. Also, consider setting the thermostat to turn off your air conditioner at night when the outdoor temperature cools down. Better yet, consider installing a "smart" thermostat. These devices will begin to adjust your homes temperature after learning your cooling habits.
• Use ceiling fans to circulate cool air. Fan blades should operate in a counter-clockwise direction in the summer to move the air downwards and maximize cool air circulation so your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard. Ceiling fans can be just pennies a day to operate and are great for cooling down the room they operate in.
• Replace furnace filters every three months. This will help your air conditioner run more efficiently. Clogged filters mean that furnace motors must work harder and use more energy.
• Close the curtains and drapes. Before you leave the house for work in the morning, remember to close the curtains and drapes, especially on south and west facing windows. This will help block out the high summer sun and stop the home from getting too hot inside.
• Give your AC unit some shade. Without blocking airflow, plant a small tree or shrubs around your air conditioning unit. A shaded unit uses up to five per cent less electricity than it would in the sun. Try to maintain at least 24 inches of clearance around your outdoor AC unit from any landscaping.

Additional survey findings:

• One in five (20 per cent) Ontarians who share a thermostat say their household never agrees on what time of year to turn the air conditioner on
• 17 per cent of Ontarians say their children influence their energy consumption behavior
• Five per cent of Ontarians admit they usually change the thermostat to their preferred temperature and blame the change on someone else
• Seven per cent of Ontarians claim their children usually change the thermostat without their approval

About Direct Energy
Direct Energy is North America's largest provider of heating & cooling, plumbing and electrical services and a leading energy and energy-related services provider with over six million residential and commercial customer relationships. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in 46 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 10 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, please visit http://www.directenergy.com

About the survey
From April 30^th to May 1^st 2014 an online survey was conducted among 665 randomly selected adult Ontario residents who are Angus Reid Forum panelists and who share a thermostat with others in their household. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.8%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Ontario. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

For further information on home energy efficiency tips or to book an interview with Dave Walton, please contact:

Jeff Lanthier

Direct Energy
[email protected]
905-943-6260

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SOURCE: Direct Energy

Kelly Ornelas or Becky Brescacin, High Road Communications for Direct Energy, [email protected] or [email protected], 416-644-2235 or 416-644-1398

http://www.directenergy.com

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