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Just about everything we own these days uses “smart” technology. From smart rings to smart glasses, it seems like technology has seeped into every corner of our daily lives. While sometimes it might seem that all that tech and convenience come with a hefty price tag, that’s not necessarily true for all smart devices. In fact, one stands above the rest as possibly the best money-saving smart device of them all. Smart thermostats offer you a way to keep track of your heating and cooling, with an eye to your electric bill every month.
With inflation and energy prices continuing to rise, keeping your home at the right temperature is a delicate budgetary balancing act. That’s why the advent of smart thermostats was such a blessing for consumers. Smart thermostats are Wi-Fi- and/ or Bluetooth-enabled temperature control devices that can be managed through your smartphone so you have direct control over your home’s heating and cooling plans. Many smart thermostats can also track your habits and trends, making slight adjustments to the temperature throughout the day to keep you comfortable without wasting electricity. They also connect to home assistant programs like Google Nest, Ecobee, or Honeywell Home to plan accordingly and boost efficiency.
Smart thermostats that fit within the government’s Energy Star rating system have shown an average energy savings of 8% for users. That amounts to hundreds of dollars per year that you can spend on other things. If you could use a little extra money in your bank account at the end of every month, then you probably want to consider getting a smart thermostat if you don’t already have one.
Budget-friendly smart thermostats
If you’re hoping to save money on your monthly energy bill, then you’re probably also hoping for a low-cost way to do so. There are smart thermostats available at every price point, but you can get by with a lower-priced option if you’re looking for something basic. Most electronics retailers like Amazon and Walmart offer a fair amount of low-cost smart thermostats for budget-conscious shoppers.
While it’s perfectly reasonable to seek out a smart thermostat that won’t cost a fortune, you’ll want to check for a few minimum requirements. For starters, system compatibility is key. This is especially true for the cooling aspect of the thermostat. You’ll need to be sure that the smart thermostat you choose is capable of integrating with your home’s heating and cooling system. Most smart thermostats require a C-wire (common wire) connection to your home’s AC system. If your HVAC or heating system is exceptionally old, it may not be capable of integration. Before buying, it’s also important to ensure that the thermostat has a way to communicate and interface with your smartphone or tablet, be it through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
One of the most seemingly comprehensive smart thermostats we’ve seen at a lower end of the price spectrum is the Meross Smart Thermostat. While it’s capable of working with Matter, Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Assistant, it’s consistently priced lower than the average. This model requires a C-wire connection to your AC system, so be sure you’re able to accommodate this before purchasing.
Meross Smart Thermostat
Emerson Sensi Lite Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats for large homes
As you might imagine, smart thermostats that manage larger spaces are not the same as those intended for small townhouses or apartments. The primary difference is that a smart thermostat that’s designed for large homes has to cover a lot of square footage. This requires that they support remote sensors placed throughout the home. Every house has hot and cold spots that tend to have different temperature baselines than other parts. Remote sensors help the smart thermostat keep track of these areas.
A smart thermostat also needs the capacity to adjust multiple temperature zones throughout the house if it’s going to be responsible for an exceptionally large amount of square footage. After all, how smart can a thermostat truly be if it can’t adjust to having dominion over different sectors of a home with varying needs? If you have a large home, then you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the right tool for the job.
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is a great option for houses with lots of space. It includes smart sensors as well as an air quality monitoring system. While there are other choices available to cover lots of square footage, this one seems to have all the bells and whistles you need to keep comfy and cozy all year long.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Nest Learning Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats for smart home integration
Not every smart thermostat is capable of seamless full integration with your wider smart home system. If you’re a major techie who likes to have all of your smart devices connected in the home, then you need to pick wisely. From smart doorbells to smart refrigerators and even smart toilets, there’s no limit to just how smart your home can get.
That’s why those who have a fully integrated smart system need a way to manage it all. A few special models can act as a central hub for your entire smart home scheme, keeping everything running smoothly. We found one such model that seems to be an industry leader when it comes to full integration.
The Honeywell Home X8S Premium Smart Thermostat is specifically designed to integrate with your entire home. Not only does it have the aforementioned central hub capabilities, but it even connects directly to your Ring or First Alert smart doorbell, showing video on the screen and allowing you to communicate with whoever is at your front door. That may be the smartest feature of all.
Honeywell Home X8S Premium Smart Thermostat
Energizer Smart Thermostat
Get smart
If you’re looking for a way to connect the smartest devices in your home and want to save money while doing it, then a smart thermostat is the way to go. Whether you’re in a small townhouse or a large multi-family house, there’s a smart thermostat to suit your needs.
Not only can the right smart thermostat serve your temperature regulation needs, but it can also keep you from wasting additional money every month on your electricity bill. If you’re not already leveraging technology to make your daily life more affordable, this is the perfect opportunity to finally start.
