Study: Use of thermostats

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During the heating season, households that had a programmable thermostat were more likely to reduce house temperature as they slept in 2006 than those with devices that could not be programmed.

In 2006, 4 out of every 10 Canadian households with a thermostat had one that could be programmed. The majority of these devices (83%) were programmed.

About 68% of these households used their programmable thermostats to lower the temperature during the night. On the other hand, only 46% of households with an unprogrammed, or non-programmable, thermostat lowered the heat.

Households in Saskatchewan and Alberta were most likely to use a programmable thermostat to lower the temperature at night, while those in Ontario and Manitoba were least likely.

Just over one-half of Canadian households (53%) with a thermostat reported that they lowered the temperature of their home during the night in 2006.

Most households reported that they set their home temperature between 20°C and 22°C when they were at home and awake. Temperatures varied between 16°C and 18°C when household members were asleep.

Among households with thermostats, the likelihood the temperature was lowered at night increased as household income and education levels increased. Similarly, households that owned their dwelling and those living in single-detached dwellings were more likely to lower home temperatures during the night.

Apartment dwellers and renters were less likely to have a thermostat in their unit. They were also less likely to lower the temperature when they were asleep.

Households headed by seniors were least likely to have a programmable thermostat. They did, however, take steps to conserve energy. They were among the most likely to lower the temperature while they slept by turning down the heat manually.

Note: This study examines home heating and temperature controlling behaviours based on data from the 2006 Households and the Environment Survey. The study only examined data for the heating season. Identification of the heating season was left to the respondent.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3881.

The article "Thermostat use in Canadian homes" is now available in EnviroStats, Fall 2008, Vol. 2, no. 3 (16-002-XWE, free), from the Publications module of our website. A more detailed report "Controlling the temperature in Canadian homes" (16-001-MWE2008006, free), is also now available from the Publications module of our website as part of the Environment Accounts and Statistics Technical Paper Series.

The articles "Conventional tillage: How conventional is it?" and "Who uses water-saving fixtures in the home?" are also released in this issue of EnviroStats.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact the Information Officer (613-951-0297; environ@statcan.gc.ca), Environment Accounts and Statistics Division.