Improve your smart thermostat IQ

By Erik J. Martin CTW Features

It’s downright chilly outside. And that makes it challenging to keep your indoor climate comfortable. But you can get a better handle on regulating your interior temperatures by replacing an outdated thermostat with a smart one or fine-tuning your existing smart thermostat. It’s simply a matter of dollars and sense, say the experts.

“Smart thermostats offer a simple and convenient way to control the temperature of your home and – when used correctly – they can save energy and money on your heating and electric bills,” says Julie Ryan Evans, consumer editor for SecurityNerd.com in Orlando, Florida. “The key, however, is that you have to use a smart thermostat correctly. You can’t just install one, sit back, and wait for the savings to roll in.”

Cody Nehiba, assistant professor of research in the Center for Energy Studies at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, agrees.

“Smart thermostats are relatively inexpensive and, if used properly, are projected to produce energy savings relative to the costs of the device. And beyond personal savings, a well-programmed unit can reduce pollution from electricity generation,” he notes. “What’s more, some smart thermostats can learn about your temperature preferences and automatically adjust programming based on this to save you money. But it’s important to carefully program and set up your device so that you can maximize your savings.”

This is particularly true as the pandemic persists, and we continue to work and study from home.

“We are all home more often lately. As the weather changes throughout the day, you want your HVAC system to work at its optimum without draining your wallet. Even a one-degree difference can lead to energy savings, depending on the time of day,” says Ruben Sanchez, owner of Mission, Texas-headquartered Colair, Inc., an HVAC servicing company.

Save money on energy costs by following these tips

For better results with a smart thermostat, try the following tips:

n Ask an HVAC pro-

fessional for a recom-

mendation. “An expert can suggest which smart thermostat will work best with your heating and cooling system,” says Sanchez. n Choose a unit with

the right technology.

“Many smart thermostats today come with sensors that allow you to control the temperature of various rooms separately and based on who is using them,” Evans explains. “For example, if you rarely have guests, you don’t need to heat and cool your guest room to the same degree you do a heavily used room like your living room. The sensors on some units can even help automatically detect when someone enters the room and start adjusting the temperature accordingly.” Additionally, try to choose a unit with as much automation capability as possible. “A smart thermostat that works with your voice assistant or smart home platform is great, but it’s more important to have one with geolocation features for multiple users. That way, the unit can respond correctly to whether anyone is home or not – not just the owner,” says David Mead, founder of smart home tech blog LinkdHOME.com, based in New York City. n Install your ther-

mostat correctly.

Choose the right location, ideally in a central spot on the main level of your home that sees the most traffic. “If you install your smart thermostat by a door or drafty window, it may not get an accurate reading,” cautions Evans. n Set a schedule. If your comings and goings are fairly regular, you can manually set a schedule on your smart thermostat. “During the day when you’re gone, you can give the system a break – then set it to reach a desired level of comfort by the time you return home. And if your schedule changes, no problem; you can always adjust the temperature via an app on your phone,” suggests Evans. n Understand your

energy billing struc-

ture. “For example, time-of-use rates vary throughout the day and peak when electricity demand is highest – typically around 5 to 8 p.m.,” Nehiba says. “You can minimize your bills by using less electricity during these peak periods.”