Some make saving easier.(programmable thermostats)(Product/service evaluation)

Programmable thermostats can help save energy by automatically raising or lowering temperatures at night and when you're away. But confusing controls on some can make it easy to burn more energy than you bargained for.

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The fact that thermostats can be hard to use is a primary reason the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency is reconsidering its Energy Star certification. "Programmable thermostats can save significant energy, but only when programmed correctly," says Maria Vargas, an EPA spokeswoman. "We've found there's a margin for error that leads to energy waste." Indeed, many people assume that no programming is needed for these products, Vargas adds. The agency is proposing an educational program, and will work with the industry to make thermostats friendlier.

Manufacturers have taken some steps to make programmable thermostats less daunting. Today's have built-in energy-saving programs that are designed to cut heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent, eliminating the need to create programs from scratch. But you'll still have to set the time, date, and the system they'll control. Odds are you'll also want to tailor those programs to your schedule.

Our Ratings include 25 models, with CR Best Buys that cost as little as $35. But months of testing confirmed that some make programming far more onerous than others,regardless of price. And while most are good at showing and maintaining the temperature you set, we found several exceptions. Here are the details:

Two are tough to program. Clear on-screen prompts and intuitive controls help make saving energy easier. But simply setting the time on the $300 Bryant Preferred Series involves a long list of steps that could encourage mistakes. (The model is being discontinued.) A screen that shows numbers instead of days also helped to make programming dates on the $45 ICM Controls Simple Comfort seem like rocket science.

Two are hard to see. A display should be easy to read at arm's length. Glare and tiny letters made reading two of the Rite Temp models we tested a challenge. All programmable thermostats let you override their energy-saving modes. Some use bold letters or lights to tell you the override is on. The ICM and the RiteTemp 8022C are among those with override prompts that are relatively easy to miss.