When you think about the dead of summer and winter, you probably see dollar signs. If you’re like most people, you spend a lot on heating and cooling your home. But, there are some exciting technologies on the market that do a better job of controlling the temperature in your home as well as the money flowing out of your bank account.
EcoBee3 Smart Thermostat
This thermostat costs nearly $300, but it’s wi-fi enabled and relies on sensors to detect whether you’re home or out of town. You can adjust it manually, but the internal motion sensors detect when you come home so there’s no need for that if you don’t want to manage it.
A reputable HVAC contractor can help you get it installed, if you’re unsure how to do it.
But, most homeowners can probably do it themselves if they have any handyman skills.
Google Nest learning Thermostat
Google’s Nest Learning thermostat helps you save money by tracking your heating and cooling usage and then sends you energy reports about how much energy you’re using. But, it goes one step further – it gives you suggestions on how to reduce your energy usage so you can save money.
Its design is something to write home about, too, which isn’t something you can say about most smart thermostats. The round shape, but modern high-polish looks like something you’d see in an old James Bond flick portraying the future of residential thermostats.
Honeywell’s Lyric Thermostat
This thermostat was created to compete directly with Google Nest, but instead of using motion sensors, it uses a geofence.
The unit senses when you leave a predefined perimeter, either 500 foot or 7 mile range. When you step outside of that geofence, the system flips over to “away” mode. When you re-enter the perimeter, it switches back to “home” mode.
It’s a nice feature, and it gives you a lot of flexibility in regards to temperature control. You also don’t have to sorry about manually programming it, setting up a lot of complex temp control features for day, night, away, and home or weekend settings. Honeywell’s Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
The wi-fi version of Honeywell’s thermostat takes a more traditional approach to heating and cooling by using a familiar rectangular design and layout. But, it includes a Nest-like learning algorithm , which makes it more hands-off than the Lyric thermostat.
You can also control this one using wi-fi, whether you’re away from home or in your bedroom.
Honeywell’s Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat with Voice Control
This smart thermostat uses voice control as an option so that you can give the system a voice command instead of having to push buttons. It’s nearly identical to the wi-fi version otherwise. A list of questions and commands is pre-programmed into the unit, but each update gives it more capabilities.
This thermostat is perfect for you if you’ve ever wanted to play Star Trek by speaking your temperature control commands instead of fiddling with an app.
Maty Jones is an electrician. She loves sharing her experiences by posting on the web. Her articles can be found mainly on DIY and home improvement websites.
