How Can Smart Thermostats Improve Energy Efficiency?

A: A smart thermostat saves energy in exactly one way: it stops the system from conditioning an empty house. Scheduling and geofencing pull the setpoint back while you are gone and bring it forward before you get home, so the savings come from hours the equipment simply does not run. Everything else — usage reports, phone control, remote adjustment — is convenience, and useful, but it is not where the reduction comes from.

Two Oklahoma-specific cautions before you buy one:

• Heat pumps need the right thermostat. A control that mishandles auxiliary heat will call for backup strip heat when it does not need to, which costs more than the thermostat saves. Match the control to the equipment.
• Deep setbacks cut both ways during an ice storm. Recovering a cold house takes real runtime.

Thermostat replacement generally lands in the $150–$450 range — see our thermostat replacement cost breakdown. If you want one installed and wired correctly, our labor is $125/hour during business hours, one hour minimum plus parts. Call 405-420-4895 and tell us what system you have.