It’s officially autumn, which means Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner, the leaves are changing colors in many parts of the country, and for many Americans, it’s about time to turn on the heat in our homes.
If you live in the north, you know that maintaining a warm home during the fall and winter months can be a hassle. Not only can it rack up your electric or oil bill, but remembering to adjust the heat as you come and go can be difficult. Luckily, companies are starting to offer “smart thermostats” that can save you time and money – all while keeping you toasty. Here are two of the best ones currently available:
1. The Nest Learning Thermostat: The third gen Nest Learning Thermostat helps you save energy. It learns what temperature you like and builds a schedule around yours. Plus, Nest allows you to see how much energy you use every day and every month, so you can adjust your behavior and save money. Nest estimated the thermostat saved an average of $131 to $145 a year, which means the product paid for itself in less than two years!
Compared to previous versions, the new Nest Thermostat is slimmer and sleeker with a bigger, sharper display. It also has a new feature called Farsight, which lights up the thermostat to display the time and temperature from across the room.
2. Alarm.com Smart Thermostat: The Alarm.com Smart Thermostat solution takes the guess-work out of saving energy and lets your home act for you – based on your location, activity and even the weather conditions. It responds to conditions inside and outside of your home to find opportunities to automatically save. It uses door, window and motion sensors to reduce energy waste. And it is in sync with other devices and sensors in the home so it can react accordingly. Our favorite part about the Alarm.com system is that the product will be installed by an expert. Find a dealer near you and get started!
When it comes time to turn on the heat in your home this year, get smart and consider investing in a smart thermostat. Products like those offered by Alarm.com and Nest can save energy, time and money – and most importantly, they’ll keep you warm.
