Smart Thermostats: How Much Do They Actually Save You
Smart thermostat savings claims vary widely. Here's a grounded look at what's realistic.
Smart thermostats typically save on heating and cooling costs by learning a household's schedule and automatically adjusting temperature when no one is home, rather than requiring manual adjustment every time.
What actually drives the savings
The savings come almost entirely from reducing energy use during times a home would otherwise be heated or cooled unnecessarily, meaning households that were already diligent about manually adjusting their thermostat see much smaller gains than households that previously left it running constantly.
Why the payback period varies so much
Local energy prices, climate, and how large a home is all affect how quickly a smart thermostat's cost is recovered in savings, which is why reported savings vary widely and any specific percentage claimed by a manufacturer should be treated as a rough, optimistic estimate.