Question

Your house will be empty for a while in cold weather, and you want to save energy and money. Should you turn the thermostat down to the lowest level that will protect the house from damage such as freezing pipes, or leave it at the normal temperature? (If you don’t like coming back to a cold house, imagine that a timer controls the heating system so the house will be warm when you get back.) Explain your answer.

(a) Turn the thermostat down to the lowest level
(b) Leave it at the normal temperature
(c) Depends on the insulation of the house
(d) Depends on the outside temperature

Answer 1

Turning the thermostat down to the lowest safe level during cold weather when the house is empty is the most energy-efficient option to prevent damage like freezing pipes while saving money. Therefore, the correct option is a).

Step-by-step explanation:

When deciding whether to turn the thermostat down during cold weather while the house is empty, it's most efficient to turn it down to the lowest level that will prevent damage such as freezing pipes. This is because heating systems must work harder to maintain a high temperature when the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the house is greater. Essentially, the greater this difference, the more heat is lost through conduction, convection, and radiation, and the more energy is needed to replace it.

Turning the thermostat down minimizes the temperature difference between the house and the outdoors, resulting in less heat loss and reduced need for heating, thereby conserving power. If a timer controls the heating system, the house can be set to warm up just before you return, providing comfort without the energy wastage during the absence. Insulation quality does influence how well a house retains heat, but even in well-insulated homes, some heat loss is inevitable, making lower thermostat settings more energy efficient when no one is home. Therefore, the correct option to save energy and money, while protecting the house from damage when it's empty in cold weather, is to turn the thermostat down to the lowest safe level.