As the cool weather creeps up on us,
homes across the country are starting to heat up,
but staying warm in the winter isn't cheap.
According to the US Department of Energy,
the average monthly energy bill hovers around $120 a month,
with heating taking up roughly 29% of it.
So other than having your dad hang out
and tell you to suck it up and put on a sweater,
how can you spend less money and energy?
That's where smart thermostats come in.
On this week's Ask SafeWise, we're wondering,
"What are smart thermostats, and how do they work?"
Smart thermostats are nothing new.
We've had programmable ones since the 1980s,
but the devices like Nest and Ecobee
are a little different.
Just like a traditional thermostat,
smart thermostats connect with your HVAC system
to control the temperature in your home.
The big difference is that smart thermostats
are Wi-Fi connected, so they work with more
than just your heating and cooling.
These smarts give you remote control through a mobile app
or even your voice.
Alexa, what is the temperature in my house?
- [Alexa] 72 degrees.
And, if you wanna get really fancy,
you can include them in home automations,
or program them to send to your phone
so the temperatures adjust as you get home or head out.
All these extras allow your thermostat
to learn your routine and home environment
so it can adjust accordingly and cut back on excess energy.
Smart thermostats aren't mysterious.
Like we said before, they worked very much
like traditional models.
You adjust the temperature; the thermostat adjusts with it.
But the onboard sensors and guts of the thing
is where the magic really happens.
The motion sensors inside the thermostat
can tell whether there's people home
who need to be warmed or cooled,
as well as environment sensors to read things
like temperature, humidity, and light that can affect
your energy use in your home.
So using these, your thermostat can adjust automatically
to keep everything in energy saving mode.
And finally, they're Wi-Fi enabled.
That's the smart part.
This allows your thermostat to communicate
with the rest of your home, the app,
and the smart hubs inside.
Start by looking at the wiring in your current thermostat.
This is what the wiring looks like
for a Nest thermostat, for example.
All those little colored wires allow the device
to communicate with your HVAC system.
But homes with different heating and cooling methods
will have different setups.
Mine, for example, only has two wires,
because I don't have central heat or air.
You'll need to make sure the thermostat you want
is compatible with your home.
We have a list of our favorites on SafeWise
if you wanna check those out.
Thankfully, there are ways to work around your wiring,
but it might require a little homework on your part
or hiring a professional installer.
Next, we recommend looking for smart thermostats
with an Energy Star rating.
To get this rating, smart thermostats
need to meet a list of requirements.
The rest is up to you.
If you have an Amazon Echo or Google Home,
most smart thermostats work with these platforms,
so you can control it with your voice.
You don't have to wander around your house
wrapped up like a seven-layer burrito if you don't want to.
Investing in a smart thermostat
costs between $100 and $300,
but they pay for themselves after a couple months.
Like I mentioned before,
you can see our favorite smart thermostats on SafeWise.
We've dropped a link to those reviews in the description.
And don't forget to like and subscribe.
We come out with new videos every week.
And if you have a question for us,
tag us in the comments with #AskSafewise.
Thanks for watching, and stay safe.
(gentle music)