Whether you believe in global warming or global cooling, I think conserving energy and natural resources is a sound idea when practical. However, I do not agree with Al Gore’s suggestion to buy a programmable thermostat.
Why buy a programmable thermostat when you can achieve the same savings by manually adjusting an old-fashioned thermostat? Simply turn up the temperature setting when you leave the house in the summer and set it back down when you return. You can also manually adjust the thermostat in winter to save on heating when you’re away; however, if you have a heat pump system, please note that it may be more efficient to simply leave the thermostat on a reasonable temperature. Check your specific manufacturer’s recommendations.
While Al Gore is asking Americans to send 100 million perfectly functional thermostats to landfills, The Low-Tech Times advises people to manually adjust their existing thermostats instead.