In recent years, smart technology has helped us do everything from track our personal workouts to vacuum our living rooms without much effort on our end. With all these possibilities, it is only fitting for smart technology to help us make our home comfort systems more efficient. If you’re in the market for a way to decrease your energy bills and have more control over your comfort at home, smart thermostats are an ideal place to start.
Smart thermostats run much like a programmable thermostat. Standard programmable models allow you to adjust temperatures to use less energy when you’ll be away or asleep. Most of these thermostats let you set schedules for each day of 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 installing 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 unexpected 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 increase your home’s energy efficiency.
Some smart thermostats models have even more benefits. Depending on what you desire 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 desired setting? iComfort® systems keep the temperature in your house within a half degree of what you set the thermostat to.
- Should it spot your location to instinctively adjust temperatures when you’re away? iComfort’s Smart Away™ mode knows your location using your phone and adjusts the temperature when you leave. When you’re driving home, the system changes again to make sure you’re comfortable when you arrive.
- Should your device adjust to meet the climate? 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 be compatible with your other smart devices? Some smart thermostats align 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 matches your home and lifestyle? The experts at Heartland Heating & Cooling can help you find a solution. Contact us at 515-344-3579 to an appointment with us. We can answer any questions you have and show you the options for your home comfort system.