Thermostats for Your Commercial, Office, Retail Space

Investing in programmable thermostats is an excellent option for buildings that are not always occupied by people.  It is especially an asset for office spaces where people are away all weekend or where few occupants take up the space during off hours.

However, you still need to understand the proper use of the pre-programmed thermostat settings of your HVAC system.  If not used in the correct manner, your thermostat may dent your pocket with hundreds of dollars in utility costs.

Apart from that, before inputting the ideal settings for your programmable thermostat, you also need to be aware of which model will best suit your commercial building.

• 7 day Models are good if your daily schedule is variable.  For instance, if you are a surgeon who follows different schedules each day on the basis of your hospital rounds, you are able to set different programs for different days of the week.

• 5+2 day Models allow you to use the same schedule for the week day and provide another one for the weekends. This model is ideal for corporate offices and homes.

• 5-1-1 Models are ideal if you keep a single schedule through the week and have different schedules on Saturdays and Sundays.  Supermarkets, theatre halls, malls, fitness centers may all benefit with a model that offers this setting.

Experts Advice on Getting the Best Benefit out of your Programmable Thermostats 

• Make sure that the technicians install the thermostat away from the heating and cooling registers, lighting, appliances, fireplaces, doorways, windows as well as skylights and other areas that receive direct sunlight or drafts.  The ideal place to install a thermostat is on an interior wall of your building.

• It is ideal for building owners to keep the thermostat set at temperatures that are energy saving for longer hours, such as during the nights when few people are in the offices.

• Make sure that the “hold” button on your programmable thermostat is constantly on energy-saving temperatures, especially if your commercial building is not going to have occupants over long weekends or during the holidays.

• Hold back from overriding the pre-programmed settings.  Every time you do so, the system ends up using more energy, resulting in higher utility bills.

• If your commercial building is large, it is ideal to have multiple heating and cooling zones.  This will help you optimize comfort and ensure temperature control in areas such as a records room or the room in which you store your inventory.

• If your thermostat runs on batteries schedule regular battery changes.  Some units will indicate when this is required, or, you may otherwise take help of your service contractors to keep a check.

Energy Saving Programmable Thermostat Settings

In warmer months, it is ideal to set your thermostat to 72-74 degrees during office hours. This is enough to keep the occupants from getting a chill and won’t cause anyone to break a sweat.

In the cooler months, on the other hand, you have to be a little more careful with the settings of the thermostat.  Setting it too high will result in high energy bills.  Setting it too low will cause office staff to feel uncomfortable. It is therefore a good idea to set the thermostat to 70-71 degrees during office hours.

SD ATLAS HVAC offers excellent services in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.  To inquire about having new programmable thermostats installed in your commercial work space or residence we can be contacted at info@sdatlashvac.ca.  With our wide experience in strata and commercial installation, repair and HVAC maintenance programs, we serve many areas of Lower Mainland and all parts of the Fraser Valley.