Wi-Fi Thermostats Underutilized in Tennessee
For most Nashville residents, heating and cooling are a significant expenditure. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average Tennessee homeowner spends upwards of $1,800 per year on energy costs. Moreover, “the average electricity consumption for Tennessee households is 33% higher than the national average and among the highest in the nation.”
One simple way for homeowners to achieve energy savings is to install a Wi-Fi thermostat. Surprisingly, “smart” or programmable thermostats remain relatively uncommon in the Volunteer State. According to the above-referenced eia.gov report, barely 25 percent of Tennessee households have a programmable thermostat, far below the national average of nearly 40 percent.
What is a Wi-Fi Thermostat?
In a nutshell, a Wi-Fi thermostat is a programmable thermostat that can be controlled via the Internet using your desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
Primary Benefits of a Wi-Fi Thermostat
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Remote Monitoring and Adjustment
One of the main benefits of a Wi-Fi thermostat is that you can adjust the temperature in your home remotely—from work, while shopping, while outdoors, or even when you’re on vacation overseas. Of course, it can be controlled from any room in your home as well. Wi-Fi thermostats are great for keeping your house at an ideal, energy-efficient temperature while you are away.
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Cost Savings
A Wi-Fi thermostat may cost more, but it will soon pay for itself, thanks to the savings you’ll experience as a result of minimizing your energy usage while away from home. According to energystar.gov’s programmable thermostats page, “homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.” In other words, a Wi-Fi thermostat can pay for itself in as little as one year.
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Maintenance Reminders
Most Internet-connected thermostats can send you reminders to check your filters, for example, with the timing of the notices based on energy usage. Changing dirty filters in a timely fashion is one way to improve efficiency.
Wi-Fi thermostats can also send alerts when the temperature in your home gets too hot or cold, or when your HVAC system fails, which is especially helpful if you are on vacation or have a second home that you are monitoring.
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Additional Features
Wi-Fi thermostats typically have a contemporary look, and displays can be adjusted to match the interior of your home. Updates can be installed via the Internet, so new features can be added over time. Many thermostats can provide details about your energy usage patterns, which may encourage you to look for additional ways to save energy. And last but not least, commercial property owners enjoy the convenience of being able to control multiple thermostats from a remote location.
Jewell Mechanical’s Brand Partners
At Jewell Mechanical we work with numerous HVAC equipment brand partners. One Wi-Fi thermostat we recommend, for example, is Honeywell’s Lyric Round™.A common question we often get, however, is “Which Wi-Fi thermostat(s) will work with my HVAC system?” If you have any questions about Wi-Fi thermostats, don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (615) 469-5965.
Meanwhile, if you’re old-fashioned thermostat is on the fritz, check out Jewell Mechanical’s thermostats page for a troubleshooting checklist, as well as tips on where to put your thermostat.