Importance

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Abstract

A thermostat (10) includes a housing (11) having a control panel (13) with a plurality of manually selectable input elements or input keys (15) and a display panel (17) for displaying various functions of the programmable thermostat. The programmable thermostat also includes a temperature sensor (18), a microprocessor (19) having memory for storing a default program set of default temperature and time values and a desired program set of desired temperature and time values. The thermostat also includes a 'SAVE AWAY' feature or mode of operation. The SAVE AWAY mode is intended to be used so that the HVAC system operates as if the user is away from the house through the manual operation of the SAVE AWAY input key, even though the normal schedule program indicates that the user should be 'home'. In use, the SAVE AWAY mode of operation overrides the program set associated with a normal schedule. The SAVE AWAY mode typically operates the cooling system of the HVAC system at an inputted desired temperature which is higher than that associated with the normal 'schedule', and operates the heating system of the HVAC system at an inputted desired temperature which is lower than that associated with the normal 'schedule'. The overriding of the normal schedule results in the operation of the HVAC system at a more efficient level for a select period of time.

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First Claim