Had a notion to try something new- hypermiling the thermostat. Just like I've been doing for years with my nat-gas water heater (always set on "vacation" until I go "click it on" 5 minutes before a shower). What took so long for this idea to form?
I already have a programmable 'stat but still the forced-air natural gas furnace has what I think are annoying and inefficient quick on/off cycles. Seems like nothing in the HVAC system ever gets a chance to really get up to a nice warm temp that's sustained for any length of time.
I've long known I'm quite comfortable after I turn in to bed at temps down to the 30s F what with the flannel sheets and foot-thick stack of quilts. My nose feels the cold but it's not a comfort issue like cold feet and hands- it's ignorable and can fall asleep anyway.
So for the last few days I've been shutting the furnace OFF at the 'stat at dusk, not to be turned on again until late morning or noonish the next day. I figure one good pulse "zone"- to reheat the air and the mass of the house and contents- at the time of day when outside temps and solar gain are the greatest should be quite a bit more efficient. Haven't figured out what to call the "glide" phase yet...
Today the high/low outside was 5/-5 F and the predicted temps this week are even colder, perhaps -30. That will be a good test.