idatum

I took an exam today where only TI calculators were available. I felt I was caught between some older models where the TI interface was not quite worked out.

And I don't see much progress then trying my daughter's TI-84.

Using home automation, when no one is home, I set the thermostat heat down and cool up. The goal is to avoid keeping the house warm/cool when no one is present.

Questions:

1. Is there an ideal thermostat setting based on the outside temperature?

2. Ignoring solar radiation warming, is the heat/cool loss in my home linear? Or is the rate based on the difference between inside and outside temperature?

For #2, for example in winter, if it's non-linear then perhaps it's best to find the lowest temperature to minimize the rate of heat loss in the house.