With increasing energy prices, property owners have started to look for better ways to ensure that as little energy as possible is wasted. Options such as double glazed windows, new boilers, and the installation of solar panels have all been implemented. However, one of the most popular ways to save energy is installing a smart thermostat that works in conjunction with other energy saving methods.
What Is A Smart Thermostat?
Much like a manual or programmed thermostat, a smart thermostat will help to control a property’s temperature. However, unlike its counterparts, a smart thermostat can also control a property’s air conditioning and ventilation according to a schedule. In addition, a smart thermostat can utilize sensors and Wi-Fi connectivity to give users complete control over their property’s temperature. Users can even adjust their smart thermostat settings from laptops, smartphones, or other devices connected to the thermostat.
How Does A Smart Thermostat Help Save Energy?
Numerous organizations have examined the capabilities of smart thermostats with regards to energy savings since the device’s creation. In some cases, the utilization of smart thermostats saved property owners more than $100 per year, reducing their heating costs by 10% and their cooling costs by 15%.
There are a variety of ways through which a smart thermostat can help property owners save energy; these include:
- Detection Of Human Presence – Leaving a heating or cooling system on when no one is at home is one of the leading ways to waste energy. While programmed thermostats can ensure that the property is at the correct temperature when the homeowner returns, they cannot detect whether anyone is actually in the property. This is where a smart thermostat shines. Through the use of geofencing and other detection methods, a smart thermostat can not only identify when the property is occupied but also when it is empty.
This capability to detect presence allows the device to save energy by adjusting its systems depending on the level of occupation of the property. As a learning system, some smart thermostats will even offer recommendations after learning the schedules of the individuals at the residence. These recommendations are based on the time it takes to heat or cool a room, ensuring that the energy used does not surpass what is required.
Used in conjunction with other energy saving methods such as solar paneling, this can quickly reduce the energy used and the price to be paid by the property owner.
- Consistent Energy Monitoring – Much like its ability to monitor the presence of individuals in a property, a smart thermostat also monitors the property’s energy usage. The statistical data gathered by a smart thermostat can be transmitted directly to a connected device, allowing property owners to see their energy consumption and thus formulate plans to save energy where they can.
- Complete Energy Control – One of the main ways that smart thermostats ensure that properties save energy is by giving full control to the occupants via their Wi-Fi network. Users can easily adjust their temperature settings whether they are or aren’t in the property using their laptop or smartphone. This used in conjunction with the energy monitoring data and energy saving installations such as solar panels can ensure that property owners get the most out of their device while maintaining an optimal comfort level.
Conclusion
Much like any other energy saving tool, the efficiency of a smart thermostat depends entirely on how it is used. Energy saving is only guaranteed when the device’s recommendations are accepted and used in conjunction with other energy saving methods such as solar panels.
