Which of the following is an energy conservation measure?

• A. Install a new thermostat
• B. Increase thermostat temperature during the day
• C. Upgrade to high-wattage lighting
• D. Run space heaters to heat unused areas

Answer: (A)

Energy conservation measures in buildings focus on actions that cut energy use while keeping comfort and operations intact. Installing a new programmable or smart thermostat accomplishes this by giving precise, automatic control over heating and cooling. With scheduling, occupancy-based adjustments, and setback features, it can significantly reduce energy waste without requiring constant manual tweaks.

Upgrading to high-wattage lighting would increase energy consumption, so it isn’t a conservation measure. Running space heaters in unused areas is highly inefficient and wastes energy. Simply increasing the thermostat temperature during the day can save some cooling energy in hot climates, but it relies on manual changes and doesn’t optimize usage across the whole building like a programmable thermostat does.