Energy Efficient Control

Using the programmable or remote control features of your thermostat, you can save energy costs by setting back the thermostat during unoccupied times. This reduces the energy loss from indoors to outdoors. In the past, it has been said that heat pumps should not be set back because it takes more energy to re-heat the premises than to keep it at the same temperature. This is true with mechanical thermostats, because they will use the inefficient auxiliary heat to recover from the setback. This is not true with the RC-100, because it uses intelligence to ensure that recovery from setback is done using the heat pump, and not the auxiliary heat. Because the heat pump takes longer to recover, heat pumps should not be set back for periods of time less than 4 to 6 hours.

The RC-100 has microprocessor intelligence that continually monitors the performance of the heat pump and uses the auxiliary heat only when necessary. If the RC-100 determines that the heat pump is able to heat at a rate of 5 degrees per hour or better, the auxiliary heat will not be used. If the heat pump is unable to heat at this rate, the RC-100 will use the auxiliary heat to supplement that of the heat pump. Under these conditions, the heat pump will run continuously and the auxiliary heat will cycle on and off as needed.

If you wish to temporarily override Energy Efficient Control to heat as quickly as possible, press the Hold key. The RC-100 will use the Auxiliary Heat as needed to reach the heat setting, then resume Energy Efficient Control once the setting is reached.

Remember to turn Hold off to resume programmed operation.