Smart thermostats (also known as automatic or programmable thermostats) allow users to hand off the work of temperature management in a home or building. Smart thermostats offer a wide range of benefits that can greatly improve your comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency.
If you’re tired of constantly adjusting your thermostat to maintain the perfect temperature in your home, and looking for ways to save on your energy bills, it’s time to consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat.
What’s the difference between a traditional thermostat and a smart thermostat?
A traditional thermostat is manually operated, meaning that a person is in charge of determining whether the space should be cooler or warmer, and they have to physically press a button to make that change.
In contrast, a smart thermostat can be programmed to work with your daily habits to adjust to the temperature of a space accordingly. This means you can have your home automatically adjust to your preferred temperatures when you wake up, when you leave for work, when you come home, and when you go to bed.
These thermostats are typically fitted with wifi connectivity, meaning that adjustments can be made remotely from a smartphone, even when you’re not at home.
How does a smart thermostat save money?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling costs by simply lowering their thermostat by 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours per day.
While you can make these temperature changes with a manual thermostat, using a programmable thermostat automates this task so that you don’t even have to think about it.
It’s also worth mentioning that programmable thermostats often come with additional features such as filter change reminders and maintenance alerts. This helps you keep your HVAC system in optimal condition, which also contributes to long-term savings.
Other perks of a programmable thermostat
- As energy efficiency becomes a more important consideration for homeowners and homebuyers, having a programmable thermostat installed can be seen as a valuable feature, which can help set your home apart in a competitive real estate market.
- Heating and cooling account for a significant portion of household energy consumption, and reducing energy usage can help lower greenhouse gas emissions and minimize your carbon footprint. That’s a win-win for your bank account and the environment.
- Smart thermostats can tether to your smartphone and automatically adjust the temperature when you’re not within range. For example, if the thermostat doesn’t detect your phone, it will assume you’re not home, and raise or lower the temperature (according to the season) to save you money.
- Many smart thermostats are compatible with other smart home devices, like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This means that you can use voice commands to control the temperature, ask for usage reports, and more.
If you have questions about whether a smart thermostat is right for your space, or you’re ready for an installation, Crabbe Services can help. Contact our team today.
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