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 this potential, it is a no-brainer for smart technology to help us make our home comfort systems more efficient. If you’re looking for a way to lower your energy bills and gain more control over your home comfort, smart thermostats are an ideal 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 are away from your house. Most of these thermostats let you set schedules for every day during the week, divide it between weekday and weekend programming or make everyday the same. 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 give you even more control over your heating and cooling system. Using your smart phone and a compatible app, you can alter your home’s temperature wirelessly, from anywhere in the world. That means you can adjust it if anything unforeseen happens—whether you’re away from home longer than you thought or the temps take a sudden turn. That control, combined with the energy usage reports your smart model makes, can help you improve your home’s efficiency.
There are smart thermostats with even additional features. Depending on what you want your thermostat to be able to do, there are a few options:
- Should it hold the temperature in your home as close as possible to your preferred setting? iComfort® systems hold the temperature in your house within a half degree of what you set the thermostat to.
- Should it sense your location to intuitively adjust temperatures if you aren’t home? iComfort’s Smart Away™ mode detects your location using your phone and adjusts the temperature when you leave. When you’re heading home, the system changes again to make sure you’re comfortable when you enter the home.
- Should your device consider outdoor temperatures and humidity? The iComfort Feels Like™ feature takes weather conditions like temperature and humidity into account while adjusting the comfort level in your home. That way, 72 degrees always feels like 72 degrees—regardless of what it’s like outside.
- Should it operate with your other smart devices? Some smart thermostats align with Amazon Alexa and Apple Homekit. With voice commands, you can adjust your settings without moving from your spot.
Ready to find a smart thermostat model that makes your life easier? The experts at GV Heating & Air can help you get on the right path to home comfort. Contact us at 763-535-2000 to an appointment with us. We can answer any questions you have and walk you through the options for your home comfort system.