Smart Thermostats: A buyer's guide

by Erin Garcia

Smart thermostats are one of the best ways to make your home more energy efficient. With a litany of features, they allow you to set them and forget them while saving money on your electric bill when the summer heat beats down on your home. 0413310802

With so many options, it’s hard to find the thermostat that works best for you. There are a few things to consider before clicking “add to cart.”

IS IT ENERGY-STAR® APPROVED?

Energy-STAR® is a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy that promotes energy efficiency. When you see the blue Energy-STAR® sticker on a product, you know they have proven it to be energy efficient.

DOES IT HAVE A WARRANTY?

As wonderful as these products are, you can always end up with a piece of faulty equipment. It’s unfortunate, but it happens. Most of these products offer limited warranties. Be sure to look closely at the warranty before making a purchase to ensure the thermostat is fully covered.

DOES IT HAVE GEO-FENCING AND/ OR SENSORS?

Many smart thermostats can set heating and cooling schedules as well as adjust your settings from your phone, but there are other features to consider that make these products more efficient than your standard thermostat. Geo-fencing creates a virtual perimeter around your home and tells your thermostat when you are away so it will adjust the temperature accordingly. You can purchase sensors separately or in a bundle for more precise location detection. Some will even use their motion sensing capability to detect when you enter a room to make specialized adjustments.

IS IT COMPATIBLE WITH MY VOICE ASSISTANT?

Not all smart thermostats have built-in voice control, but the majority will pair with a central hub, like Amazon's Echo device or Google Nest. These hubs pair with your other devices to make a more integrated smart home system. Not all thermostats are compatible with all hub devices. Be sure the one you buy matches what you already have in your home.

HOW AFFORDABLE IS A SMART THERMOSTAT?

Yes, smart thermostats can be expensive, but they don’t have to be. They range in price from $100 to well over $200. While cost can be a limiting factor, there are rebates available to help offset this cost. OEC's electric members may apply for a $50 rebate on most smart thermostats. Visit okcoop.org/rebates for more information and to submit the application..

To make your search easier, we’ve compiled the five most popular models of 2024 to help you kick-start your energy-saving journey at oecfiber.com/buyersguide/