Boost Your Energy Efficiency and Monthly Savings With a Programmable Thermostat
In a survey conducted by the United States Energy Information Administration in 2015, only 12% of homes with central air conditioning systems reported using a programmable thermostat. Five years later, the agency conducted a similar survey and estimated that smart thermostats, the type that connects to the Internet of Things (IoT), were installed in nearly 20% of American homes.
These days, the Consortium for Energy Efficiency estimates that programmable thermostats can be found in about 38% of homes, and most of them are smart IoT devices. If you haven’t installed a programmable or smart thermostat for your HVAC system, you could be missing out on the following benefits.
Scheduling Efficient Temperature Control for Savings
In the case of smart thermostats that connect to the IoT via home Wi-Fi networks, the device programs itself by learning your household routines, thus automatically adjusting temperatures based on sensor data and weather forecasts. When you are home, smart thermostats adjust HVAC settings for comfort; when nobody’s home, they switch to an energy-saving mode.
If your thermostat is programmable but not smart, you can still set up a schedule that takes into account peak usage times and when no one is around. Most programmable thermostats offer an “away” mode that maximizes energy efficiency without sacrificing comfort. This mode can gradually adjust temperatures before you arrive from work, school, errands, or weekend trips.
Integration With Smart Home Systems
All smart thermostats can connect to a smart home automation network, but only some programmable thermostats can do so. When a smart thermostat is connected to a dedicated hub or smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home, it can interact with smart blinds, for example, to adjust sunlight for natural heating or cooling. Other interactions may include controlling ceiling fans and dehumidifiers.
Once smart or programmable thermostats are on a smart home network, they allow you to go hands-free with voice commands. Plus, you can ask smart speakers to tell you about the status of the HVAC system.
Remote Alerts and Remote Control
With smart thermostats connected to the IoT, you can adjust your thermostat from anywhere through the device’s mobile app. Let’s say you forget to adjust the thermostat before leaving for a trip. In this case, you can use the app to change the temperature from your smartphone, thus ensuring that you return to a comfortable home.
If you prefer hands-on control of your HVAC system, you can configure the thermostat to send alerts to your smartphone when indoor temperatures fall outside your designated range. You can then adjust settings right from the app. All the same, the thermostat can also alert you if the system is malfunctioning.
For all your residential air conditioning service, maintenance, and repair concerns, contact Crocker Refrigeration Heating & Air in Santa Barbara, CA.
