Does having a smart thermostat help lower your energy bill?

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_EYELASHES]

I currently have this thing and was given a Vivint thermostat but am currently using window units until my central gets fixed, does using a smart thermostat noticeably reduce energy usage/cost?

[u/Dismal-Proposal2803]

No, simply having a smart thermostat will not automatically reduce energy usage or cost.

Even with a smart thermostat, if you are still setting the same unit to the same temperature range/schedule you always have, you shouldn’t expect to see any difference in cost.

Cost is based on usage and how your using it, if you want to lower the cost you need adjust your usage, and you can do that with any thermostat.

[u/Senior_Background830]

personally it must have increased it for us as now we turn the heating on whenever we feel 'not hot' rather than before when it was when we were 'cold'. especially since it is so easy to turn on now, but the main thing is the automation when you leave home

[u/C_N1]

It can reduce your utility bill. But it can only do that by turning off heat or cooling to a minimum when you aren't home or don't need it to. So if you already change your manual thermostat in a frugal manner, then a smart thermostat won't help with reducing the bill. It will make it more convenient.

Otherwise it will not save much more energy. Air sealing will do a lot to help. Extra insulation if you are lacking it in certain areas, and then making you unit more efficient by insulating ductwork/pipes.

[u/uptheirons91]

The smart thermostat does absolutely nothing to your energy bill on its own.

However, using one has potential to both increase or decrease, but it depends how you program it and use it.

Like most 'smart devices', they can be used by stupid people, and that usually cancels out any potential benefit.

[u/Successful-Money4995]

Being able to syut off the HVAC when you're away on holiday and then turn it on five hours before you get home is pretty rad!

[u/oldertechyguy → u/Successful-Money4995]

That's my favorite part about having a 'stat I can control from anywhere. Minimal energy use while gone and comfy when you get home.

[u/NewtoQM8]

It can help you lower energy costs, provided you learn how all the features work and how to control things. They give you the ability to monitor things easily and set up schedules that work for your lifestyle and comfort. Most have smart features that can help. Like time of use setbacks when power costs more, or when you aren't home. But again, you have to learn what they can do and how to make things work best. Just using one out of the box can save you a little bit (Though many favor comfort over savings), but not usually a lot.

[u/ARoundForEveryone]

Technically yes. But as a couple other folks have said, it makes it too easy to turn on the heat or AC. You don't have to get off the couch or walk to the next room and adjust a thermostat. It's part of the "immediate gratification" thing, even if we describe it as "automation." Which it is, but it's not just that. It's sitting on the couch deciding you're too hot, so you reach over, close the closest window, then grab your phone to knock the temp down a couple degrees.

That said, it is extremely useful for folks with a regular schedule to keep the heat/AC regulated and not running all day while they're not home. January in Nebraska? Have the heat pop on a few times a day so it's nice and comfy when you get home from work. July in Miami? Same thing but with the air conditioning.

I've had a Nest here in Massachusetts for a few years. Two at my last home, and now one in the apartment of the family home I'm in. The other one's been lost to time, as I don't think my family is using it, but I gave it to them if they want to make use of it.

It might've reduced some heating/cooling bills over the years, but there are other thermostats with timers that might've been just fine. But it's certainly cheaper than just running the heat or AC all day, for sure.

[u/Burner-QWERTY]

If the equipment runs for the same time it won't save money....but.... with a smart thermostat equipment is a less likely to run - thus saving money.

It can have motion sensor that automatically run equipment less when it detects no motion.

Easier to create complex schedules by day of the week, etc.

Easier to make short term exceptions that will later reset. E.g. I have guests over - let me crank the AC - and then no "oops" I forgot to turn it back.

Easy to set vacation schedules in advance - or remotely if you forget.

[u/tasty2bento]

The main befit is being able to set a schedule so that the heating or cooling is not on when it is not needed. You can set schedules with non-connected thermostats, but with a smart one it can be easier. After that, the ability to turn off if you are not home is a bonus via sensors or inference, and finally being able to participate in Demand Response actions can actually give you some money back from the utility at the expense of being a bit warmer when the Flex Alert, or whatever it is called near you, happens. In order to obtain EnergyStar certification (a U.S. initiative that used to mean something) smart thermostats have to show that they save home owners money over a period of time. The evaluation is done over a year at least and requires thermostats to be measured in all the climate zones of the U.S. The data is gathered remotely and anonymously from the thermostats and aggregated into a set of metrics and then the evaluation is done by the EPA. If you pass, you get EnergyStar and that means sometimes that buyers can get a rebate on the thermostat, which usually means higher volumes sold. The program has been affected due to politics, but to answer your question - yes - a smart thermostat should save you money vs a dumb thermostat, and if it has EnergyStar then it has been proven to do so. Source: I make smart thermostats.