Glossary · Heating, cooling & ventilation
Smart thermostat
Also called: smart thermostats · Wi-Fi thermostat · connected thermostat · learning thermostat · programmable thermostat · ENERGY STAR smart thermostat
A Wi-Fi-connected thermostat that schedules, learns or adjusts temperatures automatically and can be controlled from your phone.
What it means
Smart thermostats make setback easy and can show energy-use reports. With a heat pump, choose one designed for heat pumps so setbacks don't trigger expensive auxiliary heat.
Why it matters in an audit
It's an inexpensive upgrade that many programs rebate, and the savings depend on actually using setbacks.
Typical numbers
Reference values with their sources. Your auditor’s report gives the figure for your own house.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Setback savings (DOE) | Turning back 7–10°F for 8 hours a day can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling | energy.gov ↗ |