In Raleigh, NC, energy prices are rising steadily. Understandably, homeowners are looking for any option to reduce their energy expenses. At Thermo Direct, we have many valued clients who inquire about the pros and cons of a smart thermostat.
Many have heard from others that smart thermostats can save them money. But is that true? If it is true, how much money can a smart thermostat save you?
You Can Save Money Without a Smart Thermostat
Before diving into the pros and cons of a smart thermostat, it is good to point out that you can attain the same saving potential by creating a schedule for your home temperature and sticking to it. Most programmable thermostats will allow you to do this, and if you’re disciplined, you can even do it manually.
However, smart thermostats not only offer the possibility of saving money, but they are also convenient. They keep your home comfortable and prevent you from fiddling with your thermostat constantly. To that end, smart thermostats may provide a slightly higher savings level than a programmable thermostat. They are easier to use and a more practical option for keeping your home at the right temperature.
What Is a Smart Thermostat?
A smart thermostat is a thermostat that is connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network. It lets you create programmable temperature settings based on your preferences, daily schedule, and weather conditions.
Smart thermostat are more than just programmable thermostats connected to the internet. A smart thermostat can monitor and learn your home’s heating and cooling patterns. Eventually, it will automatically adjust the temperature based on whether the home is occupied, someone just vacated the house, or you are on the way home. This minimizes the amount of heating and cooling you use when you are not there to appreciate it.
A programmable thermostat can save energy if you take the time to program it correctly. Sadly, many people who purchase programmable thermostats never program them, or they override their programming.
If you are already vigilant about monitoring your programmable thermostat use, you will only see minimal savings by purchasing a smart thermostat. However, you will get monthly, weekly, and daily energy reports with a smart thermostat. Since it is a connected device, you have access to your thermostat as long as you are connected to a Wi-Fi signal.
Right outside the box, a smart thermostat isn’t that smart. When our technicians from Thermo Direct install your thermostat, it will require manual adjustments for the first week to 10 days. You will adjust it when you wake up, leave your house, return home, and go to bed. The thermostat learns your preferences throughout this training time and starts to adjust automatically. Even if there is a fluctuation in your schedule, the thermostat will adapt to you, saving you money on your energy expenses.
Your smart thermostat will have an application that allows you to control it via your smartphone or a web interface. Learning algorithms will enable your thermostat to teach you what is the most energy-efficient heating and cooling schedule based on your daily activities. Your thermostat will work with smart speakers, like Amazon Alexa and Google Home. This allows you to adjust your thermostat with your voice.
How Can a Smart Thermostat Save Me Money?
Smart thermostats save you money by taking all of the thinking out of heating and cooling your home. The amount of energy required varies by how warm or cool you want your space to be and the amount of time you want your space to remain at this temperature.
A smart thermostat will save you money during the winter by keeping the temperature in your home as cool as possible for the longest amount of time possible. Based on your input, your thermostat will ensure that your rooms are at a comfort level that is right for you while using the least energy to do so.
Since smart thermostats are easier to use than traditional or programmable thermostats, you are likely to use them and adjust them based on your schedule changes. This leads to increased savings.
Your smart thermostat learns your behaviors and then tailors your energy use accordingly. Smart thermostats know when you are home and away via geofencing capabilities or third-party integrations. The longer you keep using the device, the better it gets at gauging your energy needs.
Eventually, it will give you suggestions. For example, if you come home an hour later every Tuesday, your smart thermostat might recommend delaying activating the heating by one hour on that particular weekday. These minor adjustments can lead to significant cost savings.
Your thermostat will monitor how long it takes to bring a room to your desired temperature. It will factor in the outside temperature. This, in turn, allows it to maximize the duration of time your HVAC system is in an energy-saving mode while not impacting the comfort of your residence.
How Much Money Is Actually Saved?
Several variables impact the answer to this question. For example, how well maintained is your HVAC system? If your HVAC system has not been maintained, if parts are breaking, or if it needs to be replaced, monetary savings will be reduced. Our technicians at Thermo Direct would be happy to evaluate the condition of your HVAC system and make recommendations on which smart thermostats we feel are right for your home.
Your home’s heating and cooling represent approximately 40% to 60% of your monthly energy bill. Some smart thermostat manufacturers say that their products can reduce energy use by 12% to 23%.
Your smart thermostat is looking to help you by making small energy savings throughout the month that add up to a substantial reduction in your overall energy use. For example, if you lower the temperature in your home during the winter by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours, your energy bill will be 2% less. That doesn’t seem like much, but if you lower your home’s temperature by eight degrees for the nine hours you are at work and by four degrees for the seven hours you are asleep at night, you can save up to 18% on your heating bill during the winter.
The amount of money that you can save will vary based on your schedule, whether you have heating zones, and the climate where you live. A smart thermostat will impact how you heat and cool your home. After using it, you probably won’t be inclined to go back to a regular thermostat.
Work With Certified Local Experts
At Thermo Direct, we are proud to provide our customers in Raleigh and the surrounding region with the best HVAC and electrical services. Our team of NATE-certified technicians makes our NIC-, ENERGY STAR-, and BPI-certified company highly sought-after in this area. You can count on us to help you with HVAC repair, installation, and replacement. There is no project too big or too small for our team. We offer everything from circuit breakers to ceiling fans and duct cleaning to weatherization.
If you’re ready to make your home more comfortable and efficient, contact us at Thermo Direct today.
