royer.slater@honeywell.com Ref: UK48/01

Honeywell offers tips on managing home energy use this winter to help offset rising energy costs.

BRACKNELL, UK, 1 NOVEMBER 2001 - Homeowners can cut as much as 30% from their energy bills this winter by taking a few simple steps in managing their energy use, according to Honeywell, a leading source for information, products and solutions for home comfort, safety and health.

This should be welcome news as consumers worry about fuel prices and threats to the global environment caused by excess burning of fossil fuels.  They can ensure their comfort and general health without using fuel unnecessarily, simply by controlling their heating better.

"We are committed to providing products and solutions that allow consumers to enjoy a comfortable environment while minimising their heating bills," said Richard Edwards, Manager of the UK and Ireland Trade Products Business.

Automatic adjustment cuts cost .

Many energy suppliers consumers to turn their thermostats down when they are asleep or not at home. Recent research for Honeywell, however, shows that few homeowners do this on a consistent basis.

"People forget to turn the thermostat down, or do not like coming home to a cooler home," said Richard Edwards.  "So they leave it on a high setting all the time."

Honeywell innovations in thermostat technology make it easy for homeowners to realise significant cost savings.  A programmable thermostat automatically adjusts to the recommended setting, depending on an occupiers’ routines and schedules.  It enables users to match room temperatures to their needs, automatically, at different times of the day, whilst providing a different schedule for each day of the week.  It saves fuel by allowing users to set one time/temperature schedule during the working week and another at weekends.  The most recent issue of “Money” magazine in the U.S. rated programmable thermostats as the number one way to save on energy bills this winter.

Varying the switch-on time saves fuel

Another automatic fuel-saving feature – Honeywell calls it “optimum start” – varies the morning “switch-on” time of the central heating according to how warm the house is. 

“Morning switching times are set by the householder on the programmer or a separate programmable thermostat,” observed Richard Edwards.  “Once set, the system will start at that set time each day until the householder alters the timings – normally in the middle of winter, when there has been a sharp frost and the house is not warm enough, so the householder has set the heating to come on earlier.  From then on, the heating is forgotten about, as everybody is warm enough, but the heating is starting unnecessarily early, so wasting fuel.”  

Honeywell’s optimum start feature delays the start time of the boiler to the latest possible moment while still ensuring the set temperature by the required time.  The heating system is designed to cope with the coldest day, so when the weather is warmer it will make the maximum savings.

Homeowners with Honeywell’s sophisticated Hometronic wireless domestic automation system –which uses wireless radio links through the home to switch heating, lighting and appliances automatically – can cut energy use by setting up several profiles that match their lifestyle.  These tell Hometronic what to do, how and when.  Each profile can provide individual temperature control in various rooms, as well as switching appliances, lights and services at pre-programmed times or in response to certain events.  For example, a single press of a button can take Hometronic into the “Leaving” profile, which saves energy by reducing temperatures throughout the home to lower values while the house is unoccupied, then raises them again before the family’s homecoming.  If they arrive early, by pressing the “Arriving” profile button the heating is started immediately.

An “evening” profile might adjust the temperatures in rooms to different levels, to recognise that the family is at home, or that different rooms are being used.  A “party” profile might postpone the time at which the heating is reduced at night.

Avoid thermostat wars!

“Thermostat wars” are another drain on energy in many households, says Honeywell.  Due to inconsistent temperatures between rooms and times of day, many people constantly change the thermostat setting, depending on where they are within the home and how comfortable they feel.  Experts believe this can significantly add to fuel bills.

"Repeated adjustment doesn't fix the problem," said Richard Edwards. "Every area of the house has unique characteristics that affect how warm or cold it feels. One thermostat can’t regulate all rooms."

A zoned heating and cooling system banishes “too hot” and “too cold” spots in the home to make every room consistently comfortable.  It also helps manage utility bills by delivering heat when and where it's needed, as opposed to heating the entire home.  Proper zoning – using a room thermostat and a motorised valve – ensures the boiler is switched off when there is no demand for heat.

Thermostatic radiator valves, which regulate the hot water flow through a radiator according to the room temperature, are a very cost-effective way of controlling the temperatures of individual rooms within any heating zone.

Other free advice

In addition to Honeywell’s advice, many energy suppliers provide recommendations that help homeowners reduce fuel costs.  Some will conduct energy audits that identify opportunities for fuel savings.

In summary, Honeywell’s basic energy-saving tips are:

• Turn down the thermostat setting when asleep or away from home.  Programmable thermostats can do this automatically during each day and from day-to-day.

• Consider an optimum start controller that switches on the boiler at a time to suit the weather conditions that day.

• Consider zoned heating and cooling systems that maximise savings by maintaining comfort levels in each room of the home.

• Ask energy suppliers and local authorities for additional advice.  

Readers can request further details from:  Honeywell Control Systems Ltd, Honeywell House, Arlington Business Park, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1EB. 

Freephone: 0800 521121. Fax: 01344 656472. 
E-mail: uk.infocentre@honeywell.com

Web: www.myserviceandsolutions.co.uk

Honeywell is a US$25-billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; power generation systems; specialty chemicals; fibres; plastics; and electronic and advanced materials. The company is a leading provider of software and solutions and Internet e-hubs including MyPlant.com and MyFacilities.com, and it is a founding member of Cordiem, LLC, an aerospace industry business-to-business Internet exchange and applications service provider. Honeywell employs approximately 125,000 people in 95 countries and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HON, as well as on the London, Chicago and Pacific stock exchanges. It is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Additional information on the company is available on the Internet at www.honeywell.com

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Honeywell Control Systems Ltd
Honeywell House, Arlington Business Park
Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1EB
Tel: 01344 656000. Fax: 01344 656240.
Enquiries e-mail: uk.infocentre@honeywell.com
Web: www.myserviceandsolutions.co.uk
www.honeywell.com/uk