Smart Technology is making it's way into every part of our life. It's designed to make our lives easier and more efficient. This is no different for the smart thermostats we have been installing in South Jersey Shore homes for a few years now.
Smart thermostats first became widely available around 2011. That was thanks to new companies like Nest. Now, companies with long histories such as Honeywell and GE are getting in on the game, too.
There is no shortage of smart thermostats on the market now. Most of them are Energy Star Certified, meaning they’re guaranteed to be energy-efficient, which saves you money on your bills.
Today’s smart thermostats come with many options — and prices ranging from around $100 upwards of $500. To help you find the best smart thermostat for you, let’s look at some of the most popular models. We’ll review their different functions and features, and check out ones in different price ranges.
Here are some of the best smart thermostats available today:
Carrier Infinity and Carrier CÔR
Carrier is one of our favorite and most trusted brands when it comes to home comfort. They produce highly efficient heating and cooling systems that not only work in conjunction with each other, but also work with the smart technology in thermostats.
These are extremely user friendly systems, that use measurements and data to find you the best use of your energy. Between having remote access, and apps available on your smartphone and tablet, you can control these thermostats from anywhere.
The Infinity series is the top of the line smart thermostat from Carrier. It is the brains behind their Greenspeed Technology, and does the best job of energy management. You can adjust your temperature up to .5 of a degree! It also allows for management of different zones within the house. Why keep a basement warm all winter if no one is ever down there? Older thermostats don't allow you to separate your house into zones, leading you to spend money heating and cooling places that don't get used often.
The CÔR Series is a bit less expensive, but still has some nice bells and whistles. Remote access, reduced energy bills, and easy to use. Homeowners saw an average 20% drop in energy bills when they installed this thermostat.
These thermostats are designed to save energy, money, and make your home more comfortable. If you are having Carrier equipment installed, it is HIGHLY recommended that you also go with one of these thermostats that will compliment the Carrier system perfectly!
Honeywell T5
This smart thermostat doesn’t carry the hefty price tag of the Ecobee or Nest. Instead, the Honeywell T5 offers much of what you’d expect from a smart thermostat, just with some limitations.
Like its competitors, the Honeywell T5 links with Amazon Alexa and Siri with the Apple HomeKit. This means you can use it with your iPhone or iPad if you’re not an Amazon user.
It also uses geofencing — an improvement from previous Honeywell models — to adjust when you’re not home. It can warn you about drastic temperature changes, and you can change the settings virtually anywhere using another smart device.
But, there are some limitations. A common complaint about the T5 versus other products is its user interface. Where the top-of-the-line smart thermostats look sleek and are easy to navigate, the Honeywell model is a bit clunky. It’s square-shaped and black with old-fashioned digital-looking numbers and letters. Some people also find the touchscreen less responsive than others.
And, even though it can use your smartphone's location to figure out if you’re home or not, it doesn't know which room you are in. That’s because it lacks the motion sensors of other models that keep closer tabs on people’s comings and goings.
While it does link with Amazon and Apple voice command applications, it doesn’t do the same with other big-name programs like Samsung and Google Home.
However, these limitations are somewhat in the eye of the beholder. With a price tag that's a little smaller than some competitors, the Honeywell T5 is much more affordable than more sophisticated smart thermostats.
This makes a good option for someone who doesn’t need every possible feature. It’s also attractive for people who don’t use tons of energy heating or cooling their homes.