Watching your favorite program

Programmable thermostats could become your favorite tools for making clients happier, and making your business more productive.

Heating and cooling account for more than 40% of the average building’s energy usage*; much of that is used to maintain temperatures when the building is unoccupied. Installing a programmable thermostat that is set to use less heating and cooling during unoccupied periods can help your customers save energy and money while maintaining comfort and convenience.

Choosing a thermostat that is ENERGY STAR® qualified may also meet eligibility requirements for energy rebates in some regions.

Keeping your clients comfortable

“The more innovative programmable thermostats not only control energy use and system run time, they can also increase the level of comfort control with little effort on the part of the occupants,” says Mark Hess, Commercial Controls Product Manager at Lennox. One example is the Lennox® Commercial Touchscreen Thermostat, which has a 1°F band that keeps temperatures within one degree above or below the program setting, helping limit temperature swings for improved comfort.

Manufacturers are emphasizing more intuitive interfaces and menu-driven programming, allowing building owners to get the maximum benefit from their programmable thermostats while reducing the time you spend training facility managers.  And your clients will be happier with temperature swings under control. Systems with adaptive intelligent recovery let the thermostat “learn” how long the HVAC system will take to reach programmed temperature settings, so the conditioned space reaches the desired temperature by the time selected.

Keeping the equipment at its best

Because HVAC equipment controlled by a programmable thermostat only operates when necessary, it can help maximize the lifecycle of the equipment. Today’s programmable thermostats may also maximize your client’s satisfaction with their HVAC system: Automatic changeover allows the thermostat to automatically select heating or cooling depending on indoor temperature to maintain comfort whether summer or winter, spring or autumn.

“Thermostats with touchscreen technology also provide a wide range of flexibility,” explains Lennox Product Specialist Louise Hai. “The Commercial Touchscreen Thermostat can be removed from wall mounting to be programmed remotely.” Systems are also available with remote wall, duct and averaging sensors to provide additional feedback.

The more advanced systems allow scheduling that will trigger economizer output or other building functions, such as lighting or signage; these systems can be easily customized to meet your clients’ specific needs for a wide range of applications.

For more information about selling programmable thermostats, please contact Lennox at 1-800-9-LENNOX or go online to www.lennoxcommercial.com.

*U.S. DOE Energy Information Administration; “Impacts of Temperature Variation on Energy Demand in Buildings”