Considering an upgrade to a smart thermostat? Learn more about their features below and click here for details on Mid-Ohio Energy's new $150 smart thermostat rebate.
What cool features are available with smart thermostats?
The latest smart thermostats are smarter than ever. They are commonly integrated with other connected devices and software applications that offer increased energy savings, comfort and convenience.
Most smart thermostats provide remote control and some can even program themselves based on your living habits. Here are some other cool features that may be available on your smart thermostat.
Auto-away. Use this feature to set-back your thermostat (and possibly turn off lights, lock doors and enable home security) when no one is home. It uses input from motion sensors and its own internal learning algorithm. Some may also use your phone's GPS location as an input (geofencing).
Sleep pattern input. This takes sleeping data off of your fitness tracker to optimize the time for adjusting the thermostat before you get out of bed.
Direct sunlight affect. Use this feature to make changes when your thermostat is in direct sunlight to avoid overheating or overcooling.
IFTTT (if this, then that). Use an IFTTT app to define a "trigger" (high carbon dioxide reading) and establish an "action" (adjust the thermostat, send a text message). Other examples would be to turn off the blower fan when a smoke detector goes off or add humidity when the air is too dry.
Voice control. Connect your thermostat to a voice assistant device and use voice commands to change thermostat settings.
The individual features available depends on the model. Check manufacturer specifications for the features available on your smart thermostat.