UPDATE: Geothermal Aux Heat and Desuperheater

Per my post yesterday I got to work on my HVAC system.  I completed the following:

• Increased my minimum "away" temperature to 64F instead of 62F to minimize my temperature rise.  It was previously 7F and now its 5F.
• Set both thermostats to 2 cycles per hour (heat and cooling)
• Set the backup heat lockout temperature to 30F (if outside temp is >30F, then the backup heat won't come on, even if called for)
• Set the backup heat droop temperature to 5F (if the system calls for heat and the temperature continues to drop 5F, then the backup heat will be called on)
• I set the upstage timer to 60 minutes. So if the running system cannot meet the temperature setting within 60min, then the next stage will be called on)
• I insulated the desuperheater piping (geothermal unit to the HWT). 
• I set the thermostats on the HWT.  Upper one is set to 120F (no change), lower one is now set to 90F

I will say that while I was insulating the desuperheater piping, the geothermal system was on.  The temperature coming off the pipes was nice and toasty so insulating them should help a lot. 

So...what's the results of this?  Well this AM was another Brrrr cold AM.  It wasn't as cold as yesterday (low of 21F), but it was still fairly cold (31F).  TED data shows that I used a lot less energy from 12AM to 10AM: 

 
Jan 4:  26.7 kWh
Jan 5:  20.4 kWh
Savings:  6.3kWh

While I can't say for sure unless I get another identical day, I'd like to think I created some savings.  I certainly didn't see the Aux Heat on this AM.  But only time will tell....and I'll be watching it like a hawk...hopefully reporting results...