Smart home devices, like the best smart thermostats, offer a bevy of features, like automation, enhanced controls, and better efficiency all around. For example, did you know that some of the best smart thermostats can help you reduce your carbon footprint? By managing how much you’re running your air, and by proxy how much energy you’re using, you can conserve a lot. Think of it like turning off the water while you’re washing dishes, instead of leaving it running constantly. You’re doing the same thing here, just with your power consumption.
Smart thermostats are also much different than traditional ones. Yes, at their most basic they allow you to adjust the temperature and humidity inside your home. But how they do it is much smarter and primarily data-driven. For instance, they learn your habits over time, adjusting the temperature to match your movements and preferences. If you turn the air up every time you leave at a certain time, the thermostat will detect this and adjust accordingly. You can also take full control and create schedules yourself if you prefer not to leave it up to automation. Not only that, thermostats have essential roles in air conditioning systems and they actually help save you money on your energy bill.
What is a smart thermostat?
Realistically, a smart thermostat is no different than your average thermostat. They both control your indoor climate, turning on your air-conditioning and adjusting humidity, generally as requested. A regular thermostat, however, must be manually operated for the most part. You’re the one always setting the appropriate temperature. Sometimes you can configure a schedule, but there are usually limitations.
With a smart thermostat, on the other hand, they learn from your behaviors — such as the way you control the climate in your home. They also improve energy conservation, because smart thermostats can adjust themselves on their own, allowing you to save energy both in the short and long term. What’s more, you can usually control the system from your smartphone, via an app, adjust schedules, and change settings.
Why you need smart thermostats
Smart home devices like the best smart thermostats provide a ton of convenience, of course. You can adjust your thermostat remotely without leaving your couch, bed, or even before you arrive home.
But the real benefits come from greater energy conservation and a lower carbon footprint. Running your climate system non-stop uses a lot of energy, there’s no question. So, it makes sense to cut down on how much it’s running, but also adjust the thermostat whenever applicable. Instead of doing all of that yourself, manually, you can leave it to automation — nearly all smart thermostats offer automation and scheduling support.
How to install a smart thermostat
While we recommend hiring professional help, most smart thermostats are suitable for DIY installation. There are YouTube videos and apps with setup wizards that will guide you on how to properly set up and make them work. Bear in mind you’ll also need to remove your old thermostat beforehand.
How much do smart thermostats cost?
The best ones that we have covered in this article will only cost you somewhere between $100 to $300.
Why you should trust Ideaing?
We’ve done an extensive research to find and select the best smart thermostats, which you’ll find listed below.
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The Best Smart Thermostats to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint in 2022
We’ve compiled the best smart thermostats we’ve found online, after scouring hundreds of products, reviews, and conducting our own research. You’ll find all of our favorites below!
1. Nest 3: Best of the Best Smart Thermostats
Depending on where you live, your heating and cooling system probably make up most of your energy bill. Running it all day, and all night can lead to ever-increasing costs, especially since expenses are going up and up. The Nest can definitely help with that. It’s energy conservation at your fingertips, learning your habits, and adjusting your home’s temperature to match your preferences, without ballooning your costs.
With the Nest app, you can change the temperature, check your history, and even receive an alert if your home is too hot or cold. Compared to the past Nest thermostats, the Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Gen has an improved 480×480 screen that offers decent readability from afar. It also includes hot water and boiler controls. The software has been updated consistently over time to be smarter, more efficient, and save even more energy.
Why You Should Get It
Independent studies have shown that Nest saved an average of 10-12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills. In addition to the energy-saving features that this product offers, we also love the auto-scheduling feature. No more programming – with auto-schedule, Nest learns from you and programs itself, meaning that as you use the device more and more, it will only get smarter and smarter. This is the best Smart Thermostat.
Pros
- Can be handled through voice (Alexa-compatible)
- Learns your habits and adjusts itself accordingly
- Comes in 4 colors: copper, stainless steel, black, and white
- Works with other Nest products
Cons
- Can be a huge battery eater if you don’t configure it correctly
2. ecobee4 Smart Thermostat: Best for Large Homes
Don’t you hate when there are cold spots or hot spots in your home? Like a room that stays a few degrees warmer than all of the others? Traditional thermostats read the temperature in just one room, but the ecobee4 thermostat comes with remote sensors to deliver the best temperature in the rooms that matter most. This product understands when to turn on your heating or cooling equipment based on two variables: your home’s unique energy profile and the weather outside.
Moreover, the ecobee4 is equipped with a microphone, speaker, and Alexa, further enhancing the smart functionality. That means you can use it to add items to your grocery list, play music, read the news, and more — all with Alexa’s help!
Why You Should Get It
The ecobee4 is so smart it can take charge of big homes. It senses whether anyone’s home and which rooms are occupied, which saves you energy and money when you’re not in the rooms of your home. The product also lets you monitor and control the temperature in your home anytime, anywhere, on your smartphone, tablet, or computer – which makes our lives even more convenient.
Pros
- Comes with room sensors that manage hot and cold spots
- Built-in Amazon Alexa Voice Service
- Fulfills your voice requests: order groceries, read the news, etc.
- Has a speaker and microphone
- Quick installation (about 30 minutes)
Cons
- Alexa voice recognition is not so smooth
3. Google Nest Smart Thermostat: Best Feature-Rich
Technology should enrich your daily life, not consume it. That’s the idea behind the Nest Thermostat. It’s a straightforward thermostat that’s super simple to operate and control. Use Alexa or Google to issue voice commands or change settings. Just say “Okay Google, set my temperature to 68 degrees” and you’ll cool down soon enough.
The thermostat has a minimal and soft display to match. It is covered with a film layer that diffuses the light and outputs a soft glow to “hide” it on your walls. Like the older version, the new Nest is armed with the same features: it can be remotely controlled, turns off the display when it doesn’t detect a presence, features adjustable schedules, and more. You can even see your energy history in the app so you can check your usage and savings. That also makes it super easy to track how much you’re saving over time!
Why You Should Get It
Google’s Nest Thermostat is straightforward to install, looks fantastic, and works with 85% of heating and cooling systems — it even works without a C wire in some homes. To change temperatures and control the device you can adjust using the touch bar, or do it remotely from any device. Convenience is the game here, and Nest does it very, very well.
Pros
- Simple frosted design, in many colors, that blends well with any wall style
- Runs itself down after you leave
- Remote controls to change temperatures from a phone, laptop, or tablet
- Works with most heating and cooling systems
Cons
- Adjusts on its own sometimes, and some users don’t like its settings
4. Wyze Smart Thermostat: Best on a Budget
If you’d preferably not spend much, but still want a decent set of features, the Wyze Smart WiFi Thermostat is right up your alley. It works with both Alexa and Google Assistant for voice controls, although there’s no HomeKit or IFTT support, which is unfortunate if you prefer the latter. You can also control the device remotely from the Wyze mobile app, and it syncs with other Wyze smart home devices. Installation is fairly easy and intuitive and should be just fine for your average DIY-er. What’s more, you’ll get detailed usage tracking with direct energy tips designed to help you save even more money. The 7-day scheduling makes it easy to automate the entire system, as well.
Why You Should Get It
If you want to have effortless control over your AC anytime, anywhere and you don’t want to spend a lot, this Wyze model proves to be the right match. This also appeals to people who don’t want complicated technology as its programming is flexible and easy.
Pros
- Outstanding functionality in its price range
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control
- Syncs easily with other Wyze smart home devices
- Generates power usage reports and offers energy-saving tips
Cons
- No IFTTT or Apple HomeKit support
5. Amazon Smart Thermostat: Best with Alexa
It makes complete sense that the best smart thermostat with Alexa support would be one of Amazon’s smart home devices. What you may not know is that Amazon’s Smart Thermostat is also one of the most configurable, as you can choose between a kit with a C-wire adapter, or without. You can also grab bundles that come with Echo smart home speakers to amplify that Alexa experience and bring her support into other rooms of your home — if you don’t already have smart speakers installed.
As for the thermostat, it’s Energy Star certified and helps you save money through automation, just like most of the others on the list. You can control it remotely, whether through Alexa, or the Alexa app. What’s more, the device is made by Honeywell, so it’s a name you can trust behind the hardware.
Why You Should Get It
If you’re already deeply engrained with Amazon’s Alexa ecosystem, it just makes sense to grab a thermostat built specifically for the platform. You can control it with voice commands with Alexa, or use the Alexa app when you’re on the go. Plus, it’s easy to install and uses automation to improve energy savings.
Pros
- Smart thermostat made by Honeywell
- Control via Alexa or the Alexa mobile app
- Digital temperature display with touch controls
- Available with C-wire adapter, without, or with Echo speakers
Cons
- No mic or speaker is built into the thermostat
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If you’re currently using a lot of energy in your home, or you run your climate control system constantly, we are sure you will see a significant improvement in your overall energy usage by letting a smart thermostat manage the entire process. In a Nest Labs report on energy usage and smart thermostats, it was revealed you can expect to see a 10-12% savings on heating and 15% savings on cooling — about $131-$145 in savings per year — when using a smart thermostat.
Some devices, like the Wyze thermostat, will even offer energy-saving tips and suggestions to maximize your energy reductions. With these savings, you will have a return on your investment within two years, and reduce your overall energy usage significantly. Whether you are purchasing the Nest, or you are investing in one of the best smart thermostats, we hope our guide makes your decision(s) a little easier!
Do you have one of these thermostats in your home? We’d love to hear more about your experience and the benefits of ownership you’ve seen in the comment section below.
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