Smart thermostats are kinda genius

Smart thermostats have been around for more than a decade, and by now you’ve no doubt seen the blue-lit Nest version on the walls of friends’ homes.

Ten years of evidence is enough to figure out if they’re worth the cost to switch. According to organizations like Consumer Reports, The New York Times, and Energy Star, the answer is yes, for the most part.

We throw in that caveat because, like with many buys in life, there are a bunch of factors to weigh. In this case, they include: the specific thermostat model; your climate; your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system; and current energy usage.

What makes a thermostat smart?

A smart thermostat is basically just a thermostat that connects to Wi-Fi. And all models have the same purpose: optimizing your home’s HVAC system.

Smart thermostats save energy simply by turning off the heat and AC— without sacrificing comfort— more often than regular thermostats.

From there, a thermostat can range from pretty smart (letting you adjust your home temp from an app) to really smart (learning your habits and routines to save you electricity and money).

The smart money’s on savings

There’s good evidence that smart thermostats can help most homeowners save money. According to real-world data gathered by Energy Star, smart thermostats that meet their criteria save users an average of 8 percent on their utility bills. 

If your hometown suffers brutal summers, frigid winters, or high energy prices, that number could be even higher.

They save energy through various features, like using motion sensors or the location of your phone (AKA geofencing) to figure out when you’re home. If you’re out running errands or commuting to work, the smart thermostat adjusts the temp with an energy-saving mode.

Forget to turn down the AC as you dash out the door? Smart thermostats let you be frazzled AND a brilliant money-saver at the same time.

Smart thermostats also feature easy heating and cooling scheduling, so you can program them to adjust the temp when you’re asleep, or when the house is empty during the day, like during school and work hours.

Smart versus programmable thermostats

You may currently have a programmable thermostat that does the scheduling thing, too. But if you’re like me (and many users), you still haven’t tackled the cumbersome process to get it done.

Smart thermostats usually have much better app-based interfaces so you can schedule (and cut energy usage) with ease.

Other features may include system reports, notifications, HVAC filter replacement reminders, or a connection to programs run by your energy provider that adjusts the thermostat in exchange for discounts or incentives.

Even if you just get the app-only basic model, you can still adjust the temperature from the road (if you forget before you leave the house) or when touching down on an airport runway (to come home to comfort).

When are they a less-smart choice?

If you’re one of the more virtuous users who does program your programmable thermostat (sure, go ahead and gloat), a smart thermostat may not save you a ton of extra energy.

If you have an older HVAC system without a C-wire (basically a dedicated power line for your HVAC), you’ll have to pick a smart thermostat carefully, since many models won’t work without one.

And generally speaking, electric baseboard radiators don’t work so well with most smart thermostats because the voltage levels are mismatched.

How much smarter can we get?

At Momo, we’re building graduate-level homes. We’re not only packing them with smart features (thermostats, security, lighting, audio), we’re connecting them all with one easy, intuitive touchscreen.

We call it The Bridge—the nerve center of your home, and on that there’s more to come.

Cheers,

Mike

Mike McAllister is head of story for Momo Homes.