The world saw the first smart thermostat hit the mainstream market in 2011, when Nest released its Learning Thermostat. This innovative tool used Wi-Fi connectivity to program room temperature depending on homeowners’ schedules and the desired temperature inside their homes. Since then, smart thermostats have developed into highly effective tools for conserving both money and energy, generally saving 10 percent or more on energy bills every month for their users.
The technology is regarded as both sophisticated and environmentally friendly. But some smart thermostats have more advanced capabilities than others. Though our list is by no means comprehensive, below we’ve compiled a list of some of the newest and best smart thermostats available for purchase. Just follow our links to snag one from Amazon.
5 smart thermostats to help you control your home’s temperature and cut your energy bill
1. Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd generation)
Though competitors have recently been successful in releasing thermostats of equal quality, the Nest Learning Thermostat ranks high due to its easy-to-use interface, easy at-home installation process, and multi-stage compatibility with smart tech like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant. The thermostat also includes geofencing: This feature detects when users’ phones have come within a certain distance of their homes and triggers the thermostat to turn on and begin cooling or warming a room.
2. Ecobee4 Alexa-enabled thermostat with sensor
The Ecobee has all the same features as the Nest and then some, including a built-in compatibility with Alexa so homeowners can play music, listen to sports, and change the temperature by speaking aloud to the device. The Ecobee also has remote room sensors that can measure the temperature in a room and change it to the regular desired setting. This eliminates the need for a person to signal either nearby or on the app.
3. Honeywell Lyric T5 Wi-Fi thermostat
While this thermostat does not come with motion sensors, it does have built-in geofencing capabilities and can sync with Amazon Echo, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. Users will also appreciate the sizable touch-screen display and low price.
4. Lux/Geo Wi-Fi thermostat
Like the Lyric T5, the Lux/Geo thermostat is budget-friendly and includes important features like geofencing, smart speaker compatibility, and numerous scheduling options that can be controlled from a smartphone in a different location.
5. Mysa Smart Thermostat
Though the Mysa Smart Thermostat didn’t make it onto many mainstream lists of 2018, the smart thermostat does weigh in as one of the only available HomeKit-compatible line voltage thermostats on the market. That means it can control baseboard heaters and fan-forced heaters. It is also a more affordable option.
If you’re thinking about investing in a smart thermostat, you should get familiar with your home’s wiring as well as the specific features you want in your device. In many cases, components like geofencing and motion sensors drive the price of the thermostat up. You may find that all you need is a simple device that can be controlled from a phone at a distance. Whatever you choose, look forward to saving money on your energy bill and living more comfortably in your own home after purchasing a smart thermostat.
