How Smart Thermostats Can Save Money On Heating & Cooling

Introduction

In a digital world that is becoming smarter and more integrated by the day, why not add your thermostat to the growing list of devices connected to your Wi-Fi network and IoT devices? Smart thermostats, the most advanced category of heating and cooling control systems currently on the market, offer a wide spectrum of benefits to homeowners, including increased comfort and convenience, energy efficiency, and cost savings.

The closer the temperature inside your home is to the temperature outside, the more slowly your home will lose cool or warm air (depending on the season). This concept is known as heat transference and is at the core of why smart thermostats can offer such substantial cost savings to homeowners. Lowering the heat or air conditioning while out of the house or overnight can result in energy-efficient HVAC system operation that is ultimately great for the environment and your wallet. A smart thermostat helps to further refine and elevate this process!

How Smart Thermostats Work

Using a combination of sensors, algorithms, and machine learning, a smart thermostat gathers detailed data about the heating and cooling patterns of your household and creates a personalized schedule accordingly. Unlike a programmable thermostat, which must have preferences manually entered, a smart thermostat automatically raises or lowers the temperature in your home based on a variety of different factors, including the number of people present, current weather patterns, peak energy usage periods, and more. In addition, smart technology allows you to connect to and control your thermostat remotely from your phone or another device at any time.

Cost-Saving Features

The exact amount you'll save by installing a smart thermostat will depend on several factors, including the climate you live in, your personal preferences and habits, the number of people living in your household, and the type of heating and cooling system you have in your home. On average, homeowners save approximately 8% of their annual energy bill by installing a smart thermostat.

Some of the major cost-saving features of smart thermostats include:

• Connectivity - Track and control the temperature of your home remotely! Receive alerts and reminders directly to your phone that allow you to address HVAC maintenance and other issues in a timely manner.
• Usage Patterns - Learn about your home's energy usage patterns in real time and use this data to maximize your home's energy efficiency overall.
• Learning Capabilities - Enjoy the benefits of a smart thermostat system that makes data-driven decisions to optimize the overall energy efficiency of your home 24 hours a day.

Energy Consumption Patterns

Smart thermostats adjust to your household's personal and seasonal energy usage patterns to maximize energy savings without compromising comfort. Depending on the model and features of the smart thermostat you install, examples of such adjustments may include:

• Tracking your phone's location to ensure your home is comfortably warmed up when you arrive there at the end of a long day.
• Integrating with other smart systems in your home, such as motion sensors or door contacts, to seamlessly adapt to events such as a larger than usual number of people in the home or a window left open overnight.
• Reducing heating and cooling costs by gathering data about your household's routine and energy use habits over a period of time.

Installation and Compatibility

Before installing a new smart thermostat to lower your heating and cooling bills, it's critical to confirm its compatibility with your heating system and/or air conditioner. Have questions about how to get started? The knowledgeable and experienced team at SMHC is here to help.

Contact us today to learn more about smart thermostats. We look forward to hearing from you!