Central heating systems must be equipped with control units and timers, with which switch on times are set and the water temperature to the radiators is automatically adjusted based on the outside temperature. 

For heating and cooling systems the use of thermostats (a component which senses the temperature of a system so that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired setpoint) is highly recommended to reduce consumption: the thermostat switches heating or cooling devices on or off, and regulates the flow of a heat transfer fluid as needed in order to maintain the correct temperature (see also EUI heating and cooling policy).

Installing and correctly using room thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves can lead to potentially save 160 tons of carbon dioxide per year.