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Did you know that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) encourages every household to upgrade to a programmable or smart thermostat? Despite that, nearly half of all homes still use a basic thermostat to control their HVAC systems. Adoption rates continue to lag behind even conservative industry estimates for consumers. If you’re among the holdouts, here are five great reasons to replace your old thermostat this spring.
1. Rebates and Other Energy Incentives
Consumer surveys suggest that concerns over price may be driving the slow adoption rates. The good news is that widespread availability has lowered prices. There are, of course, premium models available with relatively high sticker prices. That said, baseline digital thermostats with programming don’t cost much more than their non-programmable counterparts. In fact, standard digital and old-fashioned analog models are becoming increasingly hard to find.
Another point to consider is ENERGY STAR, which is a joint DOE and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program. Through ENERGY STAR, the EPA certifies smart thermostats, programmable thermostats, and many other appliances for the home. A thermostat with the ENERGY STAR label gives you confidence in your purchase. You know that the marketing is accurate and that an independent lab has tested the product.
The ENERGY STAR label may also make you eligible to claim rebates and other energy incentives. Rebates can cover part or all of the purchase price, and some even let you claim them before buying. Find offers available by searching the EPA website by zip code. We also encourage homeowners to contact their local electricity company. Some utilities are providing advanced thermostats to their customers at no cost. Others are providing rebates and other offers that you may even be able to combine with rebates found on the EPA website.
2. Automatic Temperature Adjustment
A top reason the DOE recommends smart thermostats is automatic temperature adjustments. These thermostats let you set schedules through which they’ll adjust temperatures automatically and as efficiently as possible. That can save you a surprising amount of money. The DOE estimates a 10% reduction in annual cooling and heating costs for the average household. This reduced usage will also result in a significantly smaller household carbon footprint. That’s notable when you consider that cooling and heating are leading causes of residential greenhouse gas emissions.
Thermostat programming has evolved a lot over the years. Many models let you set a unique schedule for weekdays, weekends, or even each day of the week. Modes and profiles are common features as well. Profiles let you have, for instance, a different schedule for spring and the other seasons. Hold mode lets you override the current programming. Vacation mode, on the other hand, is a convenient way to set the system to maximize energy savings.
Predefined schedules don’t work well for all households. If that includes yours, consider a model with geofencing. Geofencing thermostats set a virtual boundary and track family members via their phones. That lets it use a different profile when you’re home from when you’re not. The most advanced smart thermostats support zone control, which lets you set the temperature differently in each zone. Occupancy sensing is common among these models. It’s a more advanced form of geofencing that works for zones within the home.
3. Less Wear and Tear on Your HVAC System
Cycling on and off creates the most wear and tear on an HVAC system. The goal is to minimize the number of cycles while striking a balance with cycle length. Adjustments by hand will certainly lead to more cycles and thus more wear and tear. Many smart thermostats also have software to track cycles and refine them over time. That can make HVAC equipment less prone to repairs. It can also help to extend the life of the equipment and lower your total costs.
Many smart thermostats also have energy monitoring with reporting in addition to predictive maintenance. A spike in energy consumption is often the earliest sign of an HVAC problem. Traditionally, homeowners may not notice spikes for weeks or even months. Energy monitoring lets you identify spikes within days or even hours. Reporting is a common ancillary feature that helps identify when you’re being efficient and when you aren’t. Predictive maintenance is a more advanced feature that tracks system performance. It can then detect when the system is operating outside expected parameters and alert you to schedule a professional diagnostic.
4. Rate Awareness and Demand Response
Many electric companies charge higher rates during peak hours and lower rates during off-peak hours. The reason they do this is that their costs are higher during peak demand. Many utilities are taking measures to lower peak demand through demand response programs. These programs are optional and require that you have an approved smart thermostat. By opting in, you allow your utility to adjust your thermostat by as much as several degrees during peak periods. In return, you get one or more benefits. That often includes bill credits, and some providers will even give you the thermostat needed to participate.
Even if your electric company doesn’t offer a demand response program, there are opportunities to save. Many smart thermostats have rate awareness and can automatically adjust for you when the higher rates apply. If you want this feature, look for a model that supports online updating. Utilities often make this information available online via an application programming interface (API). Using that API, your thermostat can update the necessary data in real time. The alternative is manual data entry, which risks your thermostat making decisions based on old data.
5. Remote Access and Control
The defining feature that distinguishes a smart thermostat from a programmable thermostat is Wi-Fi capability. With that feature, your thermostat can communicate with other smart devices in your home. It can also connect over the internet to contact you through your phone and other devices. Likewise, you can contact it as well. Whether on your couch or in your office at work, you can check the current thermostat settings and even update them. What if you’re already on the road and you forgot to activate vacation mode? It’s not a problem because you can do it from the car.
Many brands now include apps with their smart thermostats. That makes it easier to do everything from altering a schedule to updating the firmware. An app can also make it easier to link your thermostat to a smart automation hub and other devices. Your thermostat can coordinate with your smart refrigerator, lights, blinds, ceiling fans, and much more.
Upgrade Your Fox Valley Home With a Smart Thermostat
Black-Haak is a heating and AC services company in Greenville, WI that has served Fox Valley home and business owners for over 60 years. We offer a wide selection of the most popular programmable and smart thermostats from the top-rated brands. Our technicians can install a thermostat you buy from us or a model you’ve acquired on your own. We also offer many other thermostat-related services, including cleaning, battery replacement, calibration, and programming.
Call today or contact us online to learn more about our thermostats and HVAC services.
