Over the past several years, smart technology has helped us do everything from track our personal workouts to vacuum our living rooms without a lot of effort. With all these possibilities, it is a no-brainer for smart technology to help us make our home comfort systems more efficient. If you’re searching 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 work much like a programmable thermostat. Standard programmable models allow you to alter 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 a constant temperature. 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 give you even more control over your home’s comfort system. Using your smart phone and a compatible app, you can change your home’s temperature wirelessly, regardless of where you are. That means you can adjust it if anything unforeseen happens—whether you’re away from home longer than you thought or there is a change in the weather. That control, combined with the energy usage reports your smart model provides, can help you improve your home’s efficiency.
If you are looking for additional benefits, there are smart thermostats that are even more advanced. Depending on what you would like 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 requested setting? iComfort® systems hold the temperature in your house within a half degree of what you set the thermostat to.
- Should it spot your location to automatically 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 heading home, the system changes again to make sure you’re comfortable when you get 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 work with your other smart devices? Some smart thermostats align with Amazon Alexa and Apple Homekit. With voice commands, you can adjust your settings without leaving the couch.
Ready to find a smart thermostat model that meets your needs? The pros at Northern Comfort Inc can help you get started. You can reach us us at 507-387-6596 to an appointment with us. We can answer any questions you have and walk you through the options for your home comfort system.