The numerous advantages of upgrading to a smart thermostat begin with the most cutting-edge HVAC control available, which offers long-term savings on cooling and heating costs and potential eligibility for energy incentives. Let’s check out the principal benefits of this modern upgrade.
Automatic Temperature Control
A smart thermostat can control your indoor temperature automatically in a variety of ways. So, you and your family no longer must constantly mess with the settings. Unlike traditional thermostats, smart thermostats can learn your habits, adhere to preset schedules, and even know when you are home or away. This smart automation ensures the comfort of your home when you need it and saves energy when you don’t. The U.S. Department of Energy also recommends these advanced climate control solutions for every American home because they can help save up to 30-60% in heating and cooling costs.
Scheduling
Consider all the energy and money you potentially waste cooling and heating your home while sleeping or away at work. This is where the biggest savings lie. An advanced thermostat lets you set a predefined schedule. For instance, the device can be set to lower your temperature after you’ve fallen asleep and readjust it before you wake up. Many smart thermostats provide profiles, which allow you to have many schedules, such as for the different seasons. They also have modes, such as a vacation mode, which is useful when you’ll be away for an extended period.
Occupancy Sensing
Strict schedules are very effective but not suitable for all lifestyles. Occupancy sensing is an alternative that lets a smart thermostat adjust temperature more dynamically. The most basic form of this feature is geofencing. A geofencing thermostat sets a virtual boundary around the home and tracks your location via your phone. It can then adjust the temperature based on whether you’re home. Zoned HVAC systems with occupancy sensing are even more advanced. They can adjust the temperature within individual zones based on whether you’re using them.
Remote Access and Control
An important characteristic of smart thermostats is their Wi-Fi capability, which enables them to interface directly with your home network and other smart devices for optimal control no matter where you are. Many brands even come with a handy phone app and other device integration. So, you can control settings from your Netflix binge on the couch or while you’re at work. This can be very useful if you accidentally leave the thermostat turned up when you leave home or forget to adjust it when going to bed.
Machine Learning and Cloud Computing
Industry studies suggest that around 50% of households with smart thermostats never update their programming. Machine learning is a powerful feature that lets smart thermostats program themselves. They can set the initial programming. Learning thermostats can also detect changes in household behaviors and adjust accordingly over time. Traditionally, on-board processing power limited such capabilities. Nowadays, thermostats can offload that advanced number crunching to the cloud. That allows for much more sophisticated analysis.
Energy Monitoring and Reporting
High energy usage is often among the earliest signs of an HVAC problem. That’s why the industry encourages homeowners to track their energy bills monthly and yearly. With an energy-monitoring thermostat, you don’t have to do that because it’ll do it for you. These systems can alert you to energy spikes within hours. You then know to schedule an HVAC inspection. Energy-monitoring thermostats can also collect data and send it to the cloud for analysis. That allows them to provide reports that reveal when your household is efficient and when it isn’t.
Rate Awareness
Many utilities, and electric companies in particular, charge different rates based on the time of day. Smart thermostats with rate awareness can help you save money. Many utilities now have demand response programs. It gives the utility slight control over your thermostat in return for energy credits and other perks. Even if your utility doesn’t offer that option, you can still save. Thermostats with rate awareness can lower your cooling by 2-3 degrees during peak periods. That can make a sizable difference in your bills during the summer. These systems can even download the new schedules as they become available so that they automatically stay up to date.
Smart Thermostat Installation in the Imperial Valley
Arctic Air Conditioning & Heating is a top HVAC company located in El Centro, CA. Our technicians install and service all thermostat types, such as analog, digital, programmable, and smart. That includes calibrating, programming, and updating software. Our company offers a wide selection of the most popular thermostats from the most trusted brands, including Carrier.
In addition to climate control solutions, we provide HVAC installation and repair services as well as indoor air quality. If you’d like to install a smart thermostat, call today or contact us online to schedule an in-home consultation.