Smart Thermostats. Your Smart Home Journey Starts Here

By Steven Capogna | February 11, 2017

If improved security did not cause you to want to find out more about smart home technologies, perhaps one of the other top reasons did—saving energy. Energy conservation and the resulting money savings is the second most popular reason people opt in to home automation. That isn’t at all surprising, since it is one of the most valuable tools in energy conservation available. As valuable as it is, to some it is equally intimidating. For those new to smart home technologies, it is normal to have many questions, especially as it relates to heating and cooling.

It Begins with Smart Thermostats

The right smart thermostat is key to substantial savings on your annual heating and cooling bills—and even more when you implement other smart home technologies. But what makes the thermostat different? We will break it down.

Smart or Programmable Thermostats. What’s the Difference?

Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and sometimes together, and though they share some common traits there is a difference between a smart thermostat and a programmable thermostat. The programmable thermostat has settings you can use throughout the day. A smart thermostat has settings you can use throughout the day and can respond to your usage patterns to adjust temperature accordingly. You can also manage your thermostat and energy usage remotely to reduce use and costs.

The Components Make Them Different

Smart thermostats are incredibly intelligent technology and there are three components that gives them their smart home magic.
The controls. You will notice that smart thermostats are far easier to operate than traditional or programable thermostats. The difference is the ability to operate them through more than one interface.

The sensors. Smart thermostats are equipped with many sensors. While all thermostats have temperature sensors, smart thermostats are usually equipped with additional sensors such as motion and remote room sensors.

Automation. Automation allows smart thermostats to turn information gained from their sensors as well as other connected devices to be turned into automatic actions. This is what allows smart thermostats to learn and respond to the user’s activity patterns and respond in real time to adjust the home to a comfortable temperature.

What You Should Ask Before You Buy

  • Ask about the smart thermostat’s sensors. The kind and number of sensors will tell you about some of its capabilities.
  • Find out about other smart technologies and how they can play a role in additional savings.
  • Ask about the platform. A whole-home platform integrates the thermostat into a system of connected devices.

While smart thermostats are technologically complex, they—like other smart technologies—are simple to use. If you have any questions about smart thermostats or other smart home technologies, call Alarmingly Affordable today.

Steven Capogna
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