Use a schedule that eases heating or cooling while people are asleep or predictably away, then restores comfortable settings before they wake or return. Smart thermostats can automate that pattern through schedules, learned routines, occupancy sensing, or geofencing. The right settings depend on your home, HVAC equipment, climate, and comfort needs; there is no single ideal temperature for every household.
Build the schedule around your household’s routine
Start with the times your home is usually occupied, not a preset schedule that may not fit. Set an energy-saving temperature for periods when people are asleep or away, and schedule a return to preferred comfort settings before wake-up or arrival. Adjust the timing and temperature gradually until the home is comfortable without conditioning it unnecessarily.
Sleep
If it remains comfortable, let the temperature drift toward an energy-saving setting overnight. A thermostat with learning features may identify recurring preferences and build a schedule, but review its settings rather than assuming its choices suit everyone in the household.
Predictable time away
For regular work or school absences, schedule a setback for the hours the home is empty. Occupancy sensing or geofencing can be useful when schedules vary: geofencing uses residents’ locations to adjust settings as they leave or approach home. Check how the feature works for everyone in the household, and avoid relying on it if location access or connectivity is unreliable.
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- ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Connectivity : Wi-Fi - 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz, 802.11a/n 5 GHz Wi-Fi., Wireless interconnect : Bluetooth Low Energy Please refer to the product description section below for all applicable legal disclaimers.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page
- The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory
- Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home. Lock feature: No
- Programmable thermostat that lets you create an energy efficient schedule in the Google Home app on your Android or iPhone
- Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
Wake-up and return
Set the thermostat to restore your preferred comfort level in time for the household’s actual wake-up or arrival—not simply at a conventional hour. Some devices can learn routines or use geofencing to begin adjusting before people get home.
Extended trips
For a longer absence, ENERGY STAR’s smart-home guidance recommends easing settings substantially and notes that users can change return settings remotely. Do not set an extreme temperature without accounting for freezing-pipe risk, pets, plants, plumbing, and manufacturer or local guidance. Protecting the home and its occupants takes priority over maximizing a setback.
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- An Alexa thermostat - Amazon Smart Thermostat is an easy way to switch from a traditional thermostats for homes and help reduce energy usage.
- Create comfort zones throughout your home by connecting to select Alexa devices to automatically adjust heating and cooling based on temperature readings or presence detection.
- Save money and energy - After purchase, Amazon will send you an email with details about home thermostat rebates that may be available from energy providers in your area.
- Save energy - According to EPA estimates, ENERGY STAR certified thermostats save an average of $90 on yearly energy bills.
- Programmable thermostat and automatic control - Create your own home, away and sleep schedules, or have Alexa automatically control the temperature with Alexa+ advanced features.
How much should you change the temperature?
There is no universal setpoint or setback that guarantees both comfort and savings. ENERGY STAR says results vary with climate, comfort preferences, occupancy, HVAC equipment, and home characteristics. Use a setting your household can tolerate, then review how the system operates and make small adjustments rather than treating an example as a rule.
An older ENERGY STAR guide for programmable thermostats gives historical starting-point examples—not current individualized advice. For heating, it suggests below 70°F while awake in the morning and evening, and a setback of at least 8°F during the day or sleep. For cooling, it suggests above 78°F while awake in the morning and evening, a setup of at least 7°F during the day, and at least 4°F during sleep. The guide says to adjust these examples for household schedules and comfort; they are not a promise of savings.
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- Save up to 23% every year on heating and cooling costs, adjusts to your set schedule to save energy when you’re gone and optimize comfort when you’re home. Compared to a hold of 72
- Compatible with 85% of systems, check your system’s compatibility with our online ecobee Compatibility Checker on the ecobee support page
- Change your temperature by easily tapping the color touchscreen or using the ecobee app. Plus, free software upgrades ensure you get the best out of your Smart Thermostat Essential, for years to come
- Automatically adjusts to your set schedule to save energy when you’re gone and optimize comfort when you’re home. Keep track of your energy consumption when you're on the go on the ecobee app
- Easy DIY install. No C Wire, no problem. Get the ecobee Power Extender Kit (PEK) for homes without a C-Wire and keep your walls looking nice with our trim kit – both sold separately
Use the thermostat’s feedback to refine the schedule
ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostats must offer scheduling, feedback about energy consequences, and information about HVAC use. Check the device’s runtime or energy information periodically to see whether the schedule is producing the operating pattern you intended. If it is not, review occupancy assumptions, schedule timing, and comfort settings.
Certification is a product screen, not a forecast of an individual bill. ENERGY STAR’s current certification criteria include field-data thresholds: the lower 95% confidence limit of the weighted national average annual runtime reduction must be at least 8% for heating and 10% for cooling. Separate 20th-percentile thresholds are at least 4% for heating and 5% for cooling. These are criteria products must meet to qualify; they do not mean every household will achieve those reductions.
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- EASY DIY INSTALLATION: Do it yourself fast with a built-in level and simple step-by-step instructions. Works with the HVAC equipment found in most homes
- COMMON WIRE REQUIREMENTS: Common wire(C-Wire) required for heat pump and heat/cool only systems. C-wire not required on most systems
- SAVE ABOUT 23% ON HVAC ENERGY: ENERGY STAR-certified and packed with features that help you save money, including flexible scheduling, geofencing, remote access and usage reports
- PRIVACY PROTECTION: Sensi won’t sell your personal information to third parties or leverage your thermostat activity data for targeting or advertising purposes
- CONTROL FROM ANYWHERE: The top-rated mobile app for Android and iOS devices makes it easy to control your comfort from a smartphone or tablet
Check compatibility before changing equipment
A thermostat can only control equipment it supports. Before buying or rewiring, compare the thermostat’s compatibility information with your heating and cooling system, including any specialized or variable-capacity equipment. ENERGY STAR notes that very high-efficiency systems—and variable-capacity heat pumps or air conditioners in particular—may perform best with a manufacturer-recommended controller.
- Power and wiring: Some smart thermostats need steady power for Wi-Fi and the screen. Many use a C-wire, though not all do; a home without one may require a different model or an adapter.
- Wi-Fi: Confirm the thermostat can maintain a reliable connection where it will be installed. ENERGY STAR suggests a range extender if the router signal is too weak at that location.
- Utility programs: Some utility partners offer rebates or programs for certified thermostats, and some devices are designed to work with utility programs. Availability, eligibility, and terms depend on the local utility; check directly before counting on an incentive.
What ENERGY STAR certification does—and does not—tell you
ENERGY STAR describes a smart thermostat as “a Wi-Fi enabled device that automatically adjusts heating and cooling temperature settings in your home for optimal performance.” Its certification criteria require the thermostat to offer schedules and energy/HVAC-use feedback, work as a basic thermostat without provider connectivity, and support utility programs while allowing consumers to override grid requests. The field-data thresholds provide evidence for qualifying products, but actual results depend on the home and how the thermostat is used.
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