Smart ThermostatsSmart ThermostatsMost people learn that using a programmable thermostat is a smart way to save money and energy. The average Canadian homeowner spends fifty to seventy percent of their total energy bill on heating and cooling. But it’s not enough to simply have one of these thermostats; it needs to be used properly.

One of the most common complaints about programmable thermostats is that the instructions are overly complicated, which makes them hard to set up properly. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat addresses that problem by incorporating an easy to use touch screen and simple step-by-step instructions. There are also additional tutorial videos available online.

This simple setup and interface has resulted in more than eighty percent of Ecobee owners running an efficient energy saving program, which is well above the national average of twenty-three percent. The average Ecobee owner saves 26 percent per year in energy usage.

The Ecobee Programmable Thermostat first came out in North America in 2009 and it was great right from the start. During its first three years, the Ecobee has won the prestigious Deloitte Technology Green 15 Award. This award was created in 2007 to showcase companies that are leading the way to create major breakthroughs in the field of green technology.

The Ecobee is perfect for those who are interested in home automation as well as energy conservation. It is W-Fi enabled and features a customized web portal which customers can access online through their computer or mobile device. This offers complete control over every aspect of the system, including the ability to change preferences, remotely set up a vacation schedule, modify programs, control fan settings, and create alerts and service reminders. Users have access to personalized reports that help explain their air conditioning systems’ performance and suggest ways to be more efficient and conserve energy.

The system is designed to stay abreast of more than just your preferred temperature. It also stays up-to-date on weather changes, learns how a home’s heating and cooling system performs over time in order to adapt accordingly, and can be used to control humidification or dehumidification equipment. You can set your system to alert you and your service technician about problems and to remind you to schedule the spring and fall routine maintenance appointments and change the air filter. The residential smart thermostat combines ease of use, convenience, and energy savings with online extras that offers users a painless way to implement a savings program.