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Homeowners have used thermostats to control their HVAC systems for many decades, but they’ve come a long way since dial thermostats. Manual thermostats eventually gave way to digital systems that provide precise control and electronic readouts. The digital units evolved into programmable thermostats that let you configure them for automatic temperature adjustment. Then came the Wi-Fi thermostat that can connect to the internet. Smart thermostats, the latest iteration, use that connectivity to provide a wide range of advanced features.
Scheduling
Scheduling is a core feature of any smart or programmable thermostat. It allows the average U.S. household to reduce its annual heating and cooling costs significantly. The most basic modern thermostat lets you set your desired temperature based on the time. The system will then automatically adjust the settings to achieve your targets. Many systems also provide profiles, which are schedules the systems can apply dynamically. You can, for instance, have a different schedule for the workweek than you do for the weekend.
Learning
Many smart thermostats already have machine learning. They can monitor household heating and cooling habits and make adjustments automatically. Some can also monitor system performance and adjust the setback phase for better efficiency. Features like these are only getting more powerful and robust as manufacturers leverage cloud computing and artificial intelligence. One of the challenges the industry faces is consumers who never program or update their schedules. To deal with this, there are already systems that can program themselves within just several days of installing them.
Geofencing
Traditional adaptive scheduling doesn’t meet the needs of every household. Many families have unpredictable schedules that aren’t easily programmed into a thermostat. Geofencing is one of the solutions. A smart thermostat with geofencing establishes an invisible perimeter around the home. It then monitors household members via the GPS on their phones. When someone is inside the perimeter, the system uses the comfort profile. When everyone is outside the perimeter, it uses the efficiency profile instead.
Energy Efficiency
HVAC systems are a significant contributor to the average U.S. household’s environmental impact. The industry has made great strides in minimizing that impact. That said, perhaps no invention has made a greater difference than the smart thermostat.
Lower Heating and Cooling Costs
A smart thermostat can lower heating and cooling costs in the typical American home by 15% annually. There are many ways it does this, but none are more notable than avoiding unnecessary energy use. Consider all the electricity and fuel you may have wasted over the years while sleeping and at school and work. Smart thermostats can automatically reduce consumption after you’ve fallen asleep or left for the day.
Reduced Household Carbon Footprint
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) from global AC use have surpassed the entire aviation industry. Scientists fear air conditioning will contribute to most of the world’s GHGs by 2035. Manufacturers continue to make great strides with more efficient ACs and heat pumps as well as greener refrigerants. Still, the biggest potential for savings lies with each household. At the current rate of adoption, more than 55% of American households will have smart thermostats by 2050. If that holds true, it will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 6.91 gigatons.
Home Comfort
Smart thermostats are fostering homes that are not only more comfortable but more customizable. Let’s explore some of the ways a smart thermostat helps you do that.
Automatic Temperature Adjustment
A smart thermostat can ensure your home is toasty when you get up for your morning shower. It can begin cooling your home while you’re still commuting so it’s ready when you arrive. Some of the newer systems even monitor weather in real time. Is a cold front coming through? The system can turn up the heat now so that you never notice the change.
Zoning
Smart thermostats have allowed for the zoning of central systems. This is where we organize a home’s heating, cooling, and ventilation systems into discrete areas. Zoning lets you maximize comfort in the areas you’re using and efficiency in those you’re not.
Remote Sensors
The need to position thermostats centrally in a home will one day be a thing of the past. It already is if you opt for a smart thermostat that supports remote sensors. You can put the thermostat in one area and its sensor in another. You can also have multiple sensors throughout the home and even outside. Doing so provides you with more accurate readings.
Relative Humidity
Relative humidity (RH) is the measure of humidity within the context of temperature. It plays an important role in home comfort. Many smart thermostats have a built-in RH sensor. They can also control RH if you have humidity control equipment, such as a dehumidifier and humidifier. This also allows for “feels like” settings. This is where you set your temperature not based on the actual reading but on what you expect it to feel like.
Indoor Air Quality
Modern smart thermostats can also help you monitor your indoor air quality. It’s becoming increasingly common to link thermostats with carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke detectors. There are also units that can monitor particulate matter, other gases, chemicals, and more.
Access and Control
Smart features have also transformed the way we interface with our thermostats. There’s voice control, customizable digital displays, smartphone access, and much more.
Remote Usability
Most modern smart thermostat brands include an app. This lets you read and control your thermostat from your phone or other device. That access is possible whether you’re a room away on the couch or hundreds of miles away on vacation.
Home Automation
Smart thermostats are smart devices in every sense. They not only connect to the internet but are able to communicate with other smart devices. Some homeowners use their smart thermostats as a hub. Others connect it to a dedicated home automation hub. Smart thermostats can control smart shades, ceiling fans, and other systems. They can also receive input. A smart refrigerator, for instance, can inform a thermostat that ambient temperature is too high in the kitchen.
Push Notification
Smart thermostats provide two-way communication. They can even push notifications and alerts to you via SMS or email. Your system can inform you that it needs a filter change or that something is wrong and you should schedule an inspection.
Energy Monitoring and Reporting
Energy monitoring serves two purposes. It allows for detecting spikes in usage, which is often the first sign of an HVAC problem. Energy monitoring also allows for tracking household usage. That data can provide you with reports, which you can use to see where you’re saving and where there’s room to save more.
Would You Like to Install a Smart Thermostat in Sacramento?
Smart thermostats improve the modern home HVAC experience, and Atticman Heating and Air Conditioning, Insulation in Sacramento sells, installs, and configures them. Our HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair cooling systems, heating systems, ductwork, and whole-house fans. Cool Club membership can keep your equipment serviced on schedule while saving you money. You can also count on our team for electrification services, insulation, and water heater installation and repair. Contact us today with questions or to schedule an appointment.
