Thermostat Buyer's Guide
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ENERGY STAR© estimates the average U.S. homeowner can save up to $180 per year by programming their thermostat properly. Some studies show that smart thermostats can save even more.
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New smart thermostats can potentially reduce how much energy you consume, which keeps both your wallet and the environment happier. How much can you save? According to the Department of Energy, when programmed properly, you can reduce your energy bills from 5% - 15% per year by using a set back method (programming your thermostat to change the temperature setting automatically during set times like at night or during the work day). To put that in terms of dollars and cents, ENERGY STAR® estimates you could see as much as $180 in savings per year on your energy bills, depending on your thermostat.
With a smart thermostat, you can control your temperature on-the-go from a variety of smart devices, like your smart phone or tablet, or you can simply program the temperature once and let the thermostat take over from there. Setting your thermostat becomes as easy as opening an app on your phone or tablet.
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Most new smart thermostats offer touchscreen displays, which many homeowners find more attractive and modern, and also easier to use. In the past, you had to deal with a bunch of buttons, dials and levers that were difficult to see in the dark and could be imprecise. Touchscreen displays allow you to quickly choose an exact temperature. Some devices, like the Nest Learning Thermostat, light up when it senses you've entered the room, making it easy to find in the dark.
Many new thermostats provide a slew of useful info about your HVAC system, such as indicating the status of your filter or alerting you to problems with the system. These insights enable you to take immediate corrective actions that could help avoid problems before they happen and may save you money by ensuring your system is running as efficiently as possible.
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Nest, ecobee and some Honeywell smart thermostats have the ability to set alerts to notify you via email or an online dashboard when there is a problem with your heating or cooling equipment, and if your home is getting too hot or too cold as a result. They can also send you automatic service reminders, like to change an air filter, to help you properly maintain your equipment and avoid future problems.
The next step in fitting your home with a new thermostat involves figuring out whether your heating and cooling system(s) are compatible. Many device manufacturers have an easy way to check your compatibility before you purchase.
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The next step in fitting your home with a new thermostat involves figuring out whether your heating and cooling system(s) are compatible. Many device manufacturers have an easy way to check your compatibility before you purchase.
First, remove the cover from your current thermostat and make a list or take a picture of the different colored wires.
Second, open up one or more of the following links to check compatibility:
- ecobee3 compatibility check
- Nest® compatibility check
- Honeywell instructional videos: Identify Your Heating - Cooling System Type & DIY Wi-Fi Thermostat Wiring & Installation
Selecting the Right Thermostat
Step #1: Decide which smart thermostat features best suit your needs
Ready to upgrade your smart thermostat? Now its time to figure out which device is best for your home. There are a number of factors to consider when comparing devices and manufacturers so take a look at the side-by-side comparison of recommended models and refer to the product feature descriptions below.
| Price After Rebate | Communication Capabilities | Learns Over Time | ENERGY Usage Report | Comes with Remote Sensors | Maintenance Alerts / Reminders | Access to Installation Services | C-wire Required | |
| Nest Learning Thermostat | $0.00 |
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| ecobee3, Home-Enabled with Remote Sensor | $0.00 |
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| ecobee SmartSi Wi-Fi Thermostat | $0.00 |
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| LUX/Geo Wifi Thermostat | $0.00 |
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| Honeywell Wi-Fi 7 Day Touchscreen Thermostat | $0.00 |
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| Honeywell Wi-Fi 7 Color Touchscreen Thermostat | $0.00 |
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Step #2: Claiming your instant rebate from UtilityCo
Once you know about your home heating and cooling system, and have decided which smart thermostat will best help you manage your home, all that’s left is to claim your 50% off instant rebate, up to $100.
