Gifting Thermostats

For Christmas this year I bought my friends a 5/2 programmable thermostat, so that they wouldn't be heating their home during the time they're at work.  Later I even installed it for them.  I got it for them under the auspices of saving $$$ since their heating bills in their recently-purchased home were a lot higher than their former townhome's bills.  But also it saves a little more oil from being burned, a little more CO2 from being thrown up into the air for no reason.

Now if I can get him to put in some insulation, instead of just talking about it...

Have you ever considered buying one for someone you know?  Or have you done it?  It's a great way to help people take that green step even if they're only doing it to save $$$.

The one I bought, by the way, was a Honeywell model with a "weekday" and "weekend" setting (5/2).

That's a great idea for gifts!  I wish I had more friends who owned and weren't just renters...but I'll definitely keep that in mind for the future.

Is your thermostat listed in the Huddle?  There are a few Honeywell 5-2 models.

The programmable thermostat is such a  great call. Ever since my landlord installed ours I've been way happier with it.

As far as a gift idea, I hadn't thought about it. I can see someone having a puzzled look when the open it, then taking the time to think about what a pragmatic gift it is and really, really appreciating it. Cool idea for sure.

Actually, after my first response I remembered that we've got a wiki on green gift giving.  I think it'd be great to get that suggestions on there!

Well, they were pretty good friends (best man & maid of honor in our wedding) so we're pretty close, and I knew the new home bills were hurting them.  My friend isn't the type to always embrace "green"ery but if it saves him some $$$ I knew he'd have no problem.

I still got him another, more personal gift and my wife got her another gift as well, so it wasn't too weird. :)

I was having another discussion with another friend yesterday about light bulbs and now I'm thinking he might appreciate one of the CL-3 LED bulbs like the one I just bought.  He has a birthday coming up...

In all of the apartments I've rented over the years, the had the old Honeywell dial thermostats.  First thing I did was put in my own digital one with 5/2 settings.  When I would move out, I'd swap back the junky Honeywell so the apartment was "back to spec".

One apartment I lived at in Austin, Texas, when I was moving out I asked if they wanted me to leave the digital one, they said "no, put the old one back".  Unbelievable...

Ha, that is literally "unbelievable"...who would ever want to keep something that functions better and saves money?

You still in Austin? I love it there.

That's awesome. My folks are putting in geothermal on a new build right now - I'm excited to see what they think of it. We'll all definitely look forward to seeing the page all about the ranch...sounds great.