Bonus Tip :
When daylight savings
comes around, remember to adjust your settings so your heating
and cooling program isn’t off by an hour.
Some Smart Thermostats are
a Lot Smarter Than Others;
Choose Wisely
Smart thermostats aren’t all the same. Sure, all
offer Internet connectivity for remote management using your mobile device. But each thermostat brand uses a different proprietary selfprogramming technology.
Don’t assume every smart thermostat is user friendly. A recent
study on thermostat usability by
the Sacramento Municipal Utility District revealed that the ballyhooed Nest thermostat isn’t all that
user friendly. The Nest was tested
against a mix of 11 smart and programmable thermostats for ease of use without using a
manual. It received the second-worst rating.
Which thermostat came out on top? One by a
company with a century of cooling experience:
the Carrier ComfortChoice Touch. The study
participants also selected it as their preferred
choice for purchase out of the models they
tested.
For example, Google’s Nest relies on sensors
and a learning algorithm to manage your heating
Avoid those wireless apps
and cooling preferences. Honeywell’s Lyric uses
that let you control the
GPS technology to trigger heating and cooling thermostat remotely. A study on Wi-Fi enabled
automatically via your smartphone.
thermostats says that using them remotely can
boost energy use. This is because they allow
users to crank up the heat or AC remotely before
they return home.
Bonus Tip :
Don’t assume every
smart thermostat is
user friendly.
But here’s the kicker: Just like manual or programmable thermostats, it’s up to the user
to set preferences that enable energy savings. And for those of you who still believe
a smart thermostat can shave 30% of your
utility bills, here’s a reality check: A study
conducted by Nest revealed its users can
only save up to 12% on heating costs.
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