Smart thermostats can be the face of the smart grid to homeowners, and utilities are catching on to the benefits of putting them in customers' hands this year. As smart meters become a bigger part of the national electricity landscape on the outside of homes, smart thermostats are making gains on indoor walls.
Utility Dive compiled a list of the smart thermostat models you should be familiar with and the utility partners their makers have been forming strategic partnerships with:
1. NEST LEARNING THERMOSTAT
Made by: Nest
Nest has already made waves in 2012 with its deal to get its smart thermostats into Texas homes through Reliant's Learn and Conserve Plan. They also managed to get their devices into the Apple Store, which is no small victory for their iPhone-connectable thermostats. These units adjust temperature levels based on users' schedules and have a sleek, distinctive design. They also monitor humidity and motion, gathering whatever information may be necessary to create custom settings that are subject to change, depending on the customer’s needs. Additionally, Wi-Fi connectivity enables Nest users to make changes to their at-home settings from virtually anywhere, and can be installed without a professional technician.
2. BRIGHTEN ITHERMOSTAT
Made by: TXU Energy
Brighten's iThermostat from TXU Energy is another smartphone-compatible model that has managed to gain a foothold in Texas. It has a built-in energy savings program, sends periodic energy cost alerts, and can be controlled from home or away with TXU’s mobile app. TXU launched its Energy Mobile app for iPhone in 2011, giving customers the ability to change temperature settings while away from home.
3. EB-STAT-02 HOME SERIES SMART THERMOSTAT
Made by: Ecobee
Canadian startup Ecobee’s Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat allows users to control it from any Web browser or smartphone, and features an LCD touch screen, which displays a live weather feed and history-based energy conservation information.
4. PRESTIGE 2.0 COMFORT SYSTEM
Made by: Honeywell
Honeywell's smart thermostat solutions integrate into a larger system that features high-definition displays and a portable controller, as well as email and mobile app features for staying connected to what's going on with a home's temperature controls. The system asks questions to tailor its settings to user preferences and can be programmed to adjust settings based on what day of the week it is.
5. OMNISTAT2
Made by: HAI
HAI's Omnistat2 is a programmable option that conveys real-time kilowatt-hour (kwH) prices via different colors on its LCD display screen. It communicates directly with smart meters and can be used to control other HAI products. They will also provide feedback to customers based on energy consumption and carbon footprint data.
6. MERCURY THERMOSTAT
Made by: EnergyHub
EnergyHub also found utility partners to get its smart thermostats into homes, thanks to agreements with Gibson Electric Membership Corporation and Mid-South Synergy. The companies cited the smart thermostats' home owner education features as a major strength in the announcement. More importantly, they hope the devices will encourage customers and members to reduce electricity usage during times of peak demand.
7. HOMEWERKS RADIO WIRELESS THERMOSTAT WITH WI-FI
Made by: Homewerks
Homewerks' entry in the smart thermostat market shoots for affordability. It retails for just over $100 and still includes smartphone-connected features for mobile control. Along with that, users also get seven-day settings and an easy installation process.
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