If you’re like most business owners or homeowners, you’d like to save on your energy bill without sacrificing comfort. That’s where smart thermostats come in. They allow you to keep your home or office at your ideal temperature while minimizing energy use when you’re away. Keep reading to learn more.

What Is a Smart Thermostat?

A smart thermostat is a wifi-enabled device that helps users easily control the temperature of the space they install it in. These devices are semi-autonomous and can learn about your individual comfort zone based on the inputs you give it.

This device creates a schedule of set temperatures based on your previous inputs (time of day, season, etc), allowing you to think about one less thing during your busy day as it optimizes its overall performance. It can even automatically adjust temperatures once you leave your home or office to make sure no energy is wasted.

Some smart home thermostats have geofencing which will track your location when you’re on your way back—adjusting the temperature to your sweet spot before you arrive at the door. Most smart thermostats boast a sleek aesthetic as well, making them the go-to modern wifi thermostat.

How Do Smart Thermostats Work?

Smart thermostats connect to your cell phone or tablet through a wifi connection provided by your router. Users can interact with the thermostat using an app that is included with the device. Once you’re connected to your device, you can change the temperature, patterns and automation settings to your liking.

Most of Staples wifi-thermostats, such as the Google Nest 3rd Generation, are easy to set up and can take less than thirty minutes to get up and running. Some devices can even connect to other household appliances. Nest thermostats work together with other Nest products to detect harmful chemicals in the air, such as carbon monoxide, which can help you stay on top of any potential household problems.

How Do Smart Wifi Thermostats Save Energy?

Smart wifi thermostats save energy and money by maintaining the lowest temperature as possible throughout the day, especially when no one is present in the room or home. It does this by adhering to the user’s prefered temperature and schedule while also using local weather data.

The two biggest ways it saves energy is by learning how long it takes to cool and heat the area and by lowering the temperature when no one is around.

The device can even make suggestions to help optimize your energy consumption. However, each smart thermostat prioritizes the user's comfortability and the user can decline or override any suggestions it makes.

How to Install a Smart Home Thermostat?

The process of setting up your smart wifi thermostat varies depending on which product you purchase, although it's generally similar to installing a switch or lamp. Whether you purchase a Google Nest, an Ecobee or a Sensi smart thermostat device, the process of setting it up is designed to be easy. Most smart home thermostats can be set up with just a screwdriver and a manual or video walkthrough provided with the device.