The first decision you’ll have to make is to get either a programmable or non programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat can help you save a good chunk of change each month on your heating and cooling bill if your home is frequently empty.

However, if you’re home all the time and always leave the thermostat at the same temperature, then it’s not going to save you any money – it’ll just cost you money as programmable thermostats cost more than their non programmable counterparts.

I’ll give you some recommendations for each:

Best Digital Non Programmable Thermostats

Rite Temp 6020 – This thermostat will work with 1 or 2 stage systems, and is really user friendly. It has a push button backlight so you can illuminate the display and see the temperature even if the room is dark. It’ll run you about $25.

Lux DHP2120 Digital Non Programmable Thermostat for Heat Pump – If you have a heat pump, this is probably the best choice for you. You can find it online at retailers like Amazon for $39.98. It’s a mercury free thermostat with adjustable temperature stops, an auxilary heat indicator and emergency heat position.

My Favorite Programmable Thermostats

BayWeb Internet Controlled Thermostat

When you first look at the BAYweb you’ll probably wonder where the rest of it is. The only part you see is a small display with a green lcd display that only displays temperature. You can raise and lower the temperature from this panel and that’s about it. If you don’t know what it is, you’ll probably it’s about as useful as a non programmable thermostat.

Nothing could be further from the truth. This thermostat is built to be controlled from the web. It’s great if you have rental property of a vacation home. It’s also great if your family is always on the go. It has occupancy sensing which can automatically adjust the temperature based on if anyone is home. You can also change the temperature from any smartphone or any place with internet access. Some people even use it as as a cheap security system (remember the occupancy sensor?).

Honeywell Prestige HD YTHX9321R5003 Deluxe Comfort Thermostat System Kit

The Honeywell prestige setup is really cool. First of all, it comes with an HD touchscreen display AND a remote control. You can change the temperature of any zone from any room if you have the remote. That means you can turn the heat on to your game room if you want to go shoot a game of pool while sitting on your couch watching TV. It works on multi-stage, single stage and heat pump systems.

Proliphix NT120e or NT120h IP Thermostat

By now youve probably figured out I have a thing for web controlled and home automation systems. This professional series model is one of my favorites. The thermostat itself looks quite ordinary, but the ability to control your temperature remotely is the selling point here.

1) Install a Programmable Thermostat – I installed a digital programmable thermostat about 3 years ago now and I’ve been reaping the benefits ever since. At night in the winter, I let the temperature drop down to 62 because I don’t need my house to be warm when I’m sleeping. They can be programmed to do the same when you’re at work during the day and the savings can be pretty dramatic.

2) Upgrade your old appliances. How much are those old appliances costing you? It could be a pretty penny. My grandparents recently replaced their 40 year old refrigerator – saved them $60 a month! Old appliances suck up electricity like crazy – newer models are far more efficient.

3) Replace your light bulbs – Incandescent light bulbs may be cheap but they’re also extremely inefficient. If you’ve ever touched a light bulb that’s on, you know they’ll burn your skin (please don’t try this at home). A significant portion of the energy that goes to making light turn on is turned into heat. Now try touching a flourescent bulb – this one is okay to try at home – it will likely be warm to the touch but it won’t burn. I recommend replacing all your lights with flourescent bulbs – they last up to 10 times longer and can save you a bundle. If you really want maximum efficiency – you can turn to LED lights – they’ll remain cool to the touch when running and last for about 100,000 hours (11 years of continuous use). They’re expensive initially but you may never need to replace the bulb.

4) Install ceiling fans – a great way to keep your home comfortable in the summer without making your air conditioner work overtime is to install ceiling fans. The key to saving money with ceiling fans is to remember that ceiling fans cool people, not buildings. Turn them off when you’re not in the room. If you have high, vaulted ceilings, they can also be useful in the winter for pushing the hot air back down to where you want it – set it on low for this task.

5) On demand hot water heaters – Here’s another really cool appliance most people don’t know exist. You don’t need to have a water heater with a big tank to provide you with enough hot water to take your shower. In fact, new water heaters can heat up the water without storing it at all. They’ll heat it up instantly and only when you need it. Just think about how much energy is wasted keeping hot water hot for when you need it and I think you’ll see pretty quickly how this can save you a ton of money every year.

So they make good choices for people who don’t know how to use computers as well.

For the blind and visually impaired, I recommend the voice activated model from Kelvin.

For others, the Talkingthermostat.com model will tell you exactly how to use it, including:

• How to program the thermostat using clear spoken instructions
• When the batteries are low
• When to change the filter
• Will walk you through basic troubleshooting if you encounter any problems with your HVAC system (furnace and air conditioner)
• Who to call for service if necessary – you don’t have to go find their number in your invoices or in the yellow pages if you have a problem, its stored on your thermostat.

The three major manufacturers for talking thermostats are talkingthermostat.com, VIP, and Kelvin.