SMART THERMOSTATS

What is a smart thermostat? 

A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi enabled device that automatically adjusts heating and cooling temperature settings for optimal performance. Smart thermostats that earn the ENERGY STAR label have been independently certified, based on actual field data, to deliver energy savings. Smart thermostats are innovative devices that provide homeowners with greater control over their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Unlike traditional thermostats, which require manual adjustment, smart thermostats leverage advanced technology to optimize energy usage and enhance comfort levels. Here are some key features and benefits of smart thermostats:

1. Remote Access: One of the most significant advantages of smart thermostats is their ability to be controlled remotely via a smartphone app or a web interface. This feature allows users to adjust the temperature of their homes from anywhere, providing convenience and flexibility.
2. Learning Capabilities: Many smart thermostats incorporate machine learning algorithms that analyze usage patterns and automatically adjust temperature settings to optimize comfort and energy efficiency. Over time, these devices learn the homeowner's preferences and adapt accordingly, reducing energy waste without sacrificing comfort.
3. Energy Savings: By intelligently managing heating and cooling cycles, smart thermostats can help homeowners save energy and reduce utility bills. Features such as scheduling, geofencing, and occupancy sensing enable precise control over HVAC operations, ensuring that energy is not wasted when the home is unoccupied.
4. Integration with Smart Home Systems: Smart thermostats often integrate seamlessly with other smart home devices and platforms, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This interoperability allows users to create custom automation routines and control their HVAC systems using voice commands or through centralized smart home hubs.
5. Energy Usage Monitoring: Many smart thermostats provide detailed insights into energy usage, allowing homeowners to track their consumption patterns and identify opportunities for further optimization. This information empowers users to make informed decisions about energy-saving measures and adjust their behavior accordingly.
6. Remote Diagnostics and Maintenance Alerts: Some smart thermostats offer diagnostic capabilities that monitor HVAC system performance and detect potential issues in real-time. By alerting homeowners to maintenance needs or equipment malfunctions, these devices help prevent costly repairs and prolong the lifespan of HVAC equipment.
7. Environmental Benefits: By reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling, smart thermostats contribute to environmental sustainability. By promoting efficient energy usage, these devices help mitigate climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

These devices provide convenience, insight and control. While system designs vary, common smart thermostat features can include:

• Learning the temperature you like and establishing a schedule that automatically adjusts to energy-saving temperatures when you are asleep or away
• Providing home energy use data you can track and manage
• Allowing you to control home heating and cooling remotely through your smartphone.

ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats are also designed to be compatible with the programs that some local utilities offer, providing home owners in their service territory with incentives to help them manage reliability.

Overall, smart thermostats offer a range of benefits, including increased convenience, energy savings, and environmental sustainability. As the demand for smart home technology continues to grow, smart thermostats are becoming an essential component of modern HVAC systems, providing homeowners with greater comfort, control, and efficiency.

Programmable Thermostats

A programmable thermostat helps make it easy for you to save by offering four pre-programmed settings to regulate your home's temperature in both summer and winter - when you are home, asleep, or away.

• The pre-programmed settings that come with programmable thermostats are intended to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. Depending on your family's schedule, you can see significant savings by sticking with those settings or adjust them as appropriate for your family.
• The key is to establish a program that automatically reduces heating and cooling in your home when you don't need as much. Use the programmable thermostat calculator to see what you can save with set-back temperatures that work for your family. The pre-programmed settings for a programmable thermostat are:

Programmable Thermostat Setpoint Times & Temperatures