4 reasons to lower your thermostat

4 reasons to lower your thermostat

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SALT LAKE CITY — There are several reasons to lower your thermostat besides the obvious reason of saving money.

Studies have shown that lower temperatures can actually benefit your body, your sleep and maybe even your relationships.

Weight Loss

Putting your thermostat temperature to a few degrees below 70 degrees F can actually help you lose weight. Lifehacker explains that a lower temperature can raise your energy expenditure — the amount of energy you use in a certain time period — which helps burn calories. This temperature could help you burn up to 100 calories per day.

Battery Life

Just like humans, batteries function better and have a longer service life at certain temperatures. Battery University explains that batteries function the best at a temperature of around 68 degrees F. Additionally, nickel-based batteries, which are used for portable devices and AA or AAA batteries, start losing battery life and functionality at about 86 degrees F. This can reduce battery life by as much as 20 percent.

Relationships

In 2012, researchers at Newcastle University did a study to determine cellphone usage during different times. During temperature drops, people were more likely to call close friends and family than those in their wider network.

“We found that during uncomfortable weather our 'ringing anyone' behavior declined, talking on the phone for longer to our close friends and family more than our wider networks,” Dr. Phithakkitnukoon told the Huffington Post.

Sleep

Lifehacker also explains that lower temperatures can help you sleep at night. Your brain has to reach a certain temperature for you to fall asleep, and when the room temperature is warmer, it takes longer to reach this point. By lowering your thermostat by 5 degrees, your brain can reach its "set point" temperature faster, allowing you to fall asleep sooner.

Home automation

The next-generation thermostats, such as Nest, allow you to monitor and control your thermostat from your smartphone or tablet. Nest also connects to WiFi to monitor the outside temperature. A sensor checks when no one is home and adjusts the inside temperature as needed to save energy.
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Kailey McBride is a student at BYU-Idaho majoring in English with an emphasis is professional writing. Email: mcbridekailey@yahoo.com.

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