During the heating season, lowering your thermostat by ten degrees for eight hours at night can reduce your energy costs by as much as seven percent, with no sacrifice in comfort. A programmable themostat will ensure that your heating/cooling system runs less often during the day when the house is unoccupied, and less at night after everyone has gone to bed. Using a programmable thermostat can lower a household's energy expenses by up to $100 annually. See the ENERGY STAR Programmable Fact Sheet (pdf) for more information.