For the last few years, smart technology has helped us do everything from track our personal workouts to vacuum our living rooms without lifting a finger. With all these possibilities, it is a no-brainer for smart technology to help us make our home comfort systems more efficient. If you’re in the market for a way to reduce your energy bills and be able to regulate your indoor comfort, smart thermostats are the perfect place to start.
Smart thermostats work much like a programmable thermostat. Standard programmable models allow you to change temperatures to use less energy when you’ll be away or asleep. Most of these thermostats let you set schedules for every day during the week, divide it between weekday and weekend programming or make everyday a constant temperature. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save up to 10 percent on your annual heating and cooling bill by using a programmable thermostat.
Smart thermostats provide you even more control over your heating and cooling system. Using your smart phone and a compatible app, you can adjust your home’s temperature wirelessly, regardless of where you are. That means you can adjust it if anything unforeseen happens—whether you’re away from home longer than you thought or there is a change in the weather. That control, along with the energy usage reports your smart model makes, can help you make your home even more energy efficient.
There are smart thermostats with even additional features. Depending on what you want your thermostat to be able to do, there are some different options:
- Should it keep the temperature in your home as close as possible to your preferred setting? iComfort® systems maintain the temperature in your house within a half degree of what you set the thermostat to.
- Should it spot your location to automatically adjust temperatures when you’re away? iComfort’s Smart Away™ mode distinguishes your location using your phone and adjusts the temperature when you leave. When you’re on your way home, the system changes again to make sure you’re comfortable when you arrive.
- Should your device take the weather conditions into consideration? The iComfort Feels Like™ feature takes weather conditions like temperature and humidity into account while managing the comfort level in your home. That way, 72 degrees always feels like 72 degrees—no matter what the weather throws at you.
- Should it operate with your other smart devices? Some smart thermostats work with Amazon Alexa and Apple Homekit. With voice commands, you can adjust your settings without getting up.
Ready to find a smart thermostat model that meets your needs? The pros at Air-Right Energy Design, Inc. can help you get on the right path to home comfort. Contact us at 703-260-1148 to an appointment with us. We can answer any questions you have and share the options for your home comfort system.