How Much Money Can I Save Using a Programmable Thermostat?

The average amount of money you can save using a programmable thermostat is about $130 per year, or just a little over $10 per month. However, the savings can be larger, depending upon a number of different factors. Nearly every home can benefit from adding a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat is a device that connects with a building's heating and cooling (HVAC) system. When the temperature inside the building falls outside a certain threshold, the thermostat will instruct the HVAC system to activate. But when the building is within the designated temperature, the HVAC system will not be running. This will help to manage energy costs by having the HVAC system remain active only when it is needed.

Users can also adjust the programmable thermostat to work based on a predetermined schedule. For example, a user may not need to have their home's HVAC system running when they are most likely to be at work. Smart programmable thermostats also add the benefit of being able to integrate with a user's alarm system for use with smart scenes. This way, they can have their thermostat automatically stop running when they leave and set their system to arm away. They can also activate their smart thermostat remotely using an interactive service like Total Connect 2.0 or Alarm.com.

Before programmable thermostats, users were caught in a difficult position. They had to choose between leaving their HVAC system running all the time or always adjusting their thermostat when coming and going. Having an HVAC system run constantly is expensive. But waiting until you arrive home to turn on the HVAC system means the house won't be comfortable when you get there. Not to mention, having to constantly adjust the thermostat is time-consuming and inconvenient.

Programmable thermostats eliminate these problems. By setting one up with a desirable schedule, a user will have their HVAC system only remain running when it is needed, and they will still keep their home just as comfortable. They also prevent the user from constantly having to make manual adjustments to their home's temperature, as it will be done for them automatically.

In terms of pure savings, the average homeowner saves $130 per year by adding a programmable thermostat. This means that the programmable thermostat will usually pay for itself in less than a year's time. However, there are many users who achieve even greater savings by adding programmable thermostats. The savings depend on how often the HVAC system was running before, the size of the home, the efficiency of the HVAC system and the climate.

If a user had their HVAC system running 24/7 before adding a programmable thermostat and setting a schedule, they will achieve the largest savings. But if an end user had their HVAC system running for the bare minimum amount of time, they will not save as much with a programmable thermostat. Larger homes also tend to see greater savings with programmable thermostats than smaller homes. Finally, homes located in very hot or cold climates tend to see greater savings with programmable thermostats, since managing temperature tends to require more energy in these areas.

In addition to adding a programmable smart thermostat, a user might also consider upgrading their HVAC system to a more efficient model. A more efficient HVAC system will use less energy to heat and cool the home. This means that it will not have to run as long, and it will save money in the long run. But if you're in the market for a smart thermostat to complement your HVAC system, there are many models to choose from. Most of the new smart programmable thermostats available to day will work with essentially any HVAC system.

One of the best smart thermostats available today is the Honeywell T6 Pro Z-Wave. This is an excellent smart thermostat that can integrate with essentially any Z-Wave or Z-Wave Plus controller for use with smart scenes. It is also great for remote operation through an interactive service platform like Total Connect 2.0 or Alarm.com. Honeywell also offers an WIFI version of this same thermostat, the Honeywell T6 Pro WIFI. Although this thermostat cannot connect with a Z-Wave network, it can connect with a WIFI network. This will allow it to be use with Apple HomeKit and the Honeywell Home App. This makes it a great thermostat for iOS users looking to establish a robust network of HomeKit smart scenes.