# On thermostats **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 13, 2011, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-thermostats/567437 "2011-01-13T10:05:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-thermostats/567437/1 "2011-01-13T10:05:23Z")
From the [column.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2970/does-turning-down-the-thermostat-at-night-save-energy) \*My indefatigable assistant Una conducted a long-term research project in which she installed a programmable thermostat in her house, aggressively dialed back the nighttime setting for winter, \*\*then tracked her energy use for three years, \*_using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to correct for outdoor temperature differences before and after installation_. Does this mean,this question was asked 3 years ago,and Una did her research? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-thermostats/567437/2 "2011-01-13T13:54:16Z")
As it happens: No., It’s just that Una is one of the most lovable of analytical people, and that she was (coincidentally) tracking this anyway for her own purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-thermostats/567437/3 "2011-01-13T15:02:46Z")
Well, I am aware that Una does research , but this sounded odd. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-thermostats/567437/4 "2011-01-13T15:22:31Z")
What’s odd about it? Lots of people do research on topics that interest them. If Cecil happens to know them, and the research they were already doing for their own purposes happens to answer a question he’s writing on, he’s going to use their results. Why not? The answer’s already there. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-thermostats/567437/5 "2011-01-13T15:27:17Z")
I think you’re missing the more obvious answer - Una has time travel. Una, why haven’t you ever taken me along on one of your jaunts, huh? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-thermostats/567437/6 "2011-01-13T15:49:50Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I think you’re missing the more obvious answer - Una has time travel. _And_ a cell phone. Mystery solved! ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-thermostats/567437/7 "2011-01-13T18:04:58Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I think you’re missing the more obvious answer - Una has time travel. > > Una, why haven’t you ever taken me along on one of your jaunts, huh? Because Catherine would get jealous. Seriously, yes I tracked energy consumption for a very long time, to make sure there were no anomalies over a single year period which could be statistically invalid.