Why a Smart Thermostat is the Answer to Today’s Energy Problems
Today’s world is a lot.
Tornadoes. Wildfires. Hurricanes. Floods. Bomb cyclones (what even is that?) Earthquakes. Deep freezes.
Weather is becoming more extreme, and natural disasters, commonplace. Natural resources continue to deplete and the damage to the atmosphere is more severe as we continue to use them.
And, a global pandemic that shows no signs of slowing down.
These massive problems seem too enormous for any one person to combat effectively. Most of us consider these as they relate to us as individuals. We try to decide how we can protect ourselves, our homes, and our families.
The good news is, there is one answer that can help with all of these.
How you use energy in your home can affect both your and your family’s health, and how much energy you use – which, in turn, affects your household’s overall impact on the environment. And – BONUS –the less energy you use, the less you’ll spend on utility bills.
What magic is this?
All your life, you’ve probably been told to do turn off lights when you leave a room or to not leave the door open. As an adult, you might even turn down the thermostat when you leave the house each morning. And while these things are great in theory, they seldom have the desired impact – if only for lack of consistency.
But what if you could do all of this without even thinking about it?
That’s what programmable thermostats are all about. While modern tech and the internet of things (IoT) might sound intimidating, in practice, they are simple, super-practical, and help take most of the thinking out of saving energy.
Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to create heating and cooling schedules that change the home’s temperature based on things like when the house is unoccupied, like during the workday; occupied, like evenings or weekends; or when residents are sleeping.
Some models also allow temperature control by zone – as in, rooms that are used less, are heated or cooled less; more common living areas are heated or cooled more. This has numerous benefits:
- Uses less energy – as much as 10% less annually, according to NerdWallet
- Increases comfort levels
- Makes automatic adjustments simple
- Reduces energy costs
- Remote controlling and monitoring
In addition, many smart thermostats can be part of a complete, smart home. Smart homes enable homeowners to monitor everything about their houses, like heating and cooling and security, from devices like smartphones, watches, or tablets.
One of the keys to achieving success with a programmable, smart, or wifi thermostat is choosing the right one for the system you have. One option is to replace your entire system – don’t forget the ductwork, if you have a forced-air system – including the thermostat. If you’re looking to add a programmable thermostat to your existing system, be sure to consult a heating and cooling professional like All American Heating to help you determine what’s right for your home.
Smart thermostats are commonly available with four different programming configurations:
- 7-day, or 1-week, models – run the set daily temperature schedule every day of the week.
- 5-2-day models – similar to the 1-week model, but has two schedules: one for workdays and one for weekend days.
- 5-1-1-day models – allow homeowners to program a schedule to run during weekdays, and unique schedules for each Saturday and Sunday.
- 7-day models – allow for a different, programmed temperature schedule for each day of the week.
How does this help with your family’s health?
There are several health perks to installing a smart thermostat in your home. With a temperature reduction of just 10 degrees about half an hour before bedtime, you could fall asleep faster, and sleep better. Sleep is one of the most important aspects of good health.
In addition, as part of a full-system overhaul in which your current furnace is replaced with a more energy-efficient model, and where your duct system is cleaned and sealed with Aeroseal, a smart thermostat will capitalize on these improvements with its heating and cooling schedules to deliver conditioned air where and when your family needs it. A new system installation like this can not only upgrade your furnace, but it can help ensure that it’s working at promised efficiency levels.
Sealed ductwork lets your furnace or air conditioner deliver cleaner air where you want it to go. A programmable thermostat makes sure this fresh air is running to your family when they are home to breathe it. All American Heating offers indoor air quality solutions to help keep you and your family healthy and living your best lives.
A few tips:
Consult your heating and cooling professional to choose the right furnace or boiler, and the proper thermostat, for your home. This will help ensure the smart thermostat you choose is compatible with your system
- Let a pro do your installation. Work with your expert to do your setup.
- Be prepared when you do your setup. Lay out your schedule in advance.
- Practice doing adjustments over time to get used to using it.
- Finally, find a schedule that works for your home and stick with it.
For more information on programmable, smart, or wifi thermostats, visit http:s//allamericanheating.com/services/alarms-and-controls/#smart-thermostats.