Honeywell RTH2300B 5-2 Day Programmable Thermostat almost free after rebate @ Home Depot (MA & NH only)

I cut my energy bill in half after installing these. But be careful. The models for heat pump (my upstairs) and conventional furnace/AC (my downstairs) have different wiring inputs. Make sure you get the right model.

FYI, newer high efficiency systems are multi-stage

Does not work with electric baseboard heat (120-240V), multi-stage systems or heat pump with auxiliary heat

squatter said:   Quite a few posting indicated unit doesn't work after a year or so. Not sure if worth the trouble to replace it again after a year.

NY area electric utility rebate is not model specific, must be programmable thermostat, but read details on the rebate form. MA and NH seems similar but gas utility.

As to postings of early failures, such more likely than someone posting it does work after a year. Expect Honeywell would be reasonable company to deal with.

Similar Honeywell, think it was RCT8100 (with $10 MR at Costco) earlier this year was selling for approx. $25. Installation of that is something like, remove old unit, two screws into wall for back-plate, approx 3-5 color coded wires (depending on heat and/or cooling use) screw-down into block on new thermostat, pop batteries into new unit, snap on unit and cover. Would not seem to be a big deal to replace if needed.

You could even keep the old and replaced thermostat as a backup, or MA and NH seem to let you get two rebates, JIC first thermostat breaks, or save both new ones for when your current one breaks but wouldn't be wise as you might lose the cost and energy savings of using a programmable thermostat.