Air conditioning is by far the largest contributor to electric bills in Central Florida. In the average home, approximately 52% of all energy used goes toward heating and cooling. And while it can feel like the only choice during the summer is to crank down the A/C or put up with the heat, there is a third option: installing and using a smart thermostat.
Designed to help you stay comfortable while automating habits that save energy, time and money, smart thermostats are ideal for optimizing energy usage not only during summer, but throughout the year. They can help reduce your cooling costs by 10% or more per year. They also help you make adjustments in temperature to reduce your demand, which increases as you use more appliances at the same time. For example, when operating energy-intensive appliances such as the dryer, you can adjust your thermostat by a few degrees so it doesn’t run at the same time.
These devices are affordable, generally under $100, with many options under $75. A rebate from OUC of up to $50 on qualifying models makes this upgrade even more accessible. DIY installation is possible for those who feel comfortable working with straightforward wiring and electricity, although an electrician or HVAC technician may be needed.
There are several reasons to add a smart thermostat to your list:
- Personalized Scheduling. When you’re rushing out the door in the morning or going to bed at night, adjusting the A/C may not be the first thing on your mind. That’s where a smart device’s hands-off scheduling can help. You can pre-set the temperature to go higher when you leave for work; automatically readjust when the kids get home from school; and cool down the house at bedtime, all without touching the thermostat once.
- Remote Access. Forget to set the A/C higher before leaving on a summer vacation? No need to turn the car around. Smart thermostats let you remotely adjust the temperature or update your schedule from your smartphone – and on the way home, you can use the remote app to have the house cooling down and set at a comfortable temperature by the time you get back.
- Insight Into Energy Usage. Using up-the-minute data provided by smart thermostats, you can make informed decisions that optimize your home’s electric usage. Your thermostat may be able to recommend settings that maximize efficiency or alert you to unusual spikes in energy consumption that impact demand.
A qualifying ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat is eligible for an OUC rebate of up to $50, which you receive as a credit on your bill.