Thermostats and Engineers

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As a male, and even worse, an engineer, I tried once to explain that 73 degrees is the same in summer and winter. No luck. - An engineer (male) might say that a thermostat set on 73 degrees in the summer is the same as one set on 73 degrees in the winter. They are, however, wrong. Thusly with my humble post I endeavor to educate the lady-folk on how to best a man, even worse an engineer, who attempts to use logic to influence the thermostat. See, a thermostat has a set temperature and a range of tolerance. In the summer, if set at 73 degrees, the thermostat might wait until the temperature reached 75 degrees to kick the air conditioning on. It is more efficient and easier on the air conditioning equipment not to go cycling between on and off every minute. So, in this example, the temperature might average out at 74 degrees. In the winter, the thermostat might only kick on the furnace at 71 degrees. As a result, a thermostat set at 73 degrees would keep the average temperature in winter at 72 degrees and at summer in 74 degrees if the range of tolerance for the thermostat is only 2 degrees. To further complicate matters, sunlight streaming through windows or drafts might change the perceived temperature in certain rooms. As the thermostat isn't in those particular rooms, the variation in temperature might be even wider in -- say the living room -- than in the back hallway where the thermostat sits. And on top of this, someone coming in from the hot outside environment would be seeking cool refreshment and will appreciate a bit of more chilly air conditioned air to greet them in the summer. Yet, when chilled to the bone and coming inside during the winter, a burst of greater warmth might be appreciated. Hope that helps someone. (It should please my wife.)