When it comes to controlling your smart home temperature, the Nest Smart Thermostat How to Install and Use the Nest Thermostat to Automate Energy Savings How to Install and Use the Nest Thermostat to Automate Energy Savings If you've ever considered getting started with your home automation, buying a Nest thermostat is the perfect way to start. In just one week of use, we cut our power consumption in half. Read More is king:It was the first big hit, and it's what everyone thinks of when they hear “smart thermostat.”
But there are plenty of other good options out there. Here are 5 to consider if you're looking to buy.
One of the best things about the Ecobee3 is that it includes a remote temperature sensor that allows you to control the temperature in different rooms in your house. This will help you get a comfortable temperature throughout your home rather than just the room your thermostat is in.
When using Follow Me mode, the Ecobee3 will prioritize the temperature in rooms that have recently detected motion.
The thermostat itself also has a motion sensor and keeps the screen off to save energy until it detects you're nearby. The touchscreen controls aren't as minimal as the Nest, but they're still very elegant; a slider on the right side lets you adjust the temperature, and buttons along the bottom open menus and make adjustments.
The Ecobee3 works with an Android/iOS app, a web app, and can connect to SmartThings, Control4 and Vera systems; its open API could indicate additional future integrations with other smart home systems. Which Smart Hub for Home Automation is Best for You? Which Smart Hub for Home Automation is Best for You? For a while, people thought the idea was nothing more than a gimmick, but recent product launches have shown that smart home automation is starting to deliver on its promises. Read More And IFTTT support lets you set as many different triggers for actions as you like.
Buy the Ecobee3 from Amazon
Buy a pack of 2 Ecobee sensors from Amazon
Sainlogic3 Thermostat, Wi-Fi, Remote Sensor, 1st Generation, Works with Alexa. Sainlogic3 Thermostat, Wi-Fi, Remote Sensor, 1st Generation, Works with Alexa. Buy now on Amazon
The Lyric is designed to look like one of Honeywell's post-WWII thermostats, the T-86 (although it's much smarter). One of its best features is geofencing, which will activate the thermostat when you are within 500 feet or 7 miles of your home (you can choose in the app settings).
Although there are reports of it not working properly at times, geofencing is a great feature to help you save energy and heating/cooling costs.
The thermostat itself has few controls - most of the actions you'll want to take, aside from changing the temperature, will be taken from the Android/iOS app. Unfortunately, the Lyric API is still private, which means you can't use other home automation systems to control your thermostat.
Take local weather forecasts though. What are the best weather websites? What are the best weather websites? I'm pretty obsessed with the weather. It's not my fault, it's just that I was born and raised in the UK, and all Brits are obsessed with the weather. I think it's because... Read More
Although this thermostat is currently the only item in the Lyric line, Honeywell is likely releasing additional smart home products that can work with it. Until it does, the Lyric falls behind several of the other smart thermostat options, but it's still a solid choice.
Buy the Honeywell lyric from Amazon
Honeywell Lyric Thermostat, Wi-Fi, Contractor Version, Works with Alexa Honeywell Lyric Thermostat, Wi-Fi, Contractor Version, Works with Alexa Buy Now On Amazon $229.99
While its features don't exactly compare to the Nest or Ecobee3, the Sensi is a great value option when it comes to smart thermostats; at less than $120, it's pretty affordable. It doesn't support geofencing or integration with home automation systems, but it does have seven-day scheduling, support for four-stage heating, humidity sensing, on-screen weather, and a programmable fan.
The Android / iOS app and web portal allow you to control the thermostat from anywhere, just like the web portal. The thermostat has an away mode to reduce energy consumption 5 Smart Hacks to save electricity in your smart home 5 Smart Hacks to save electricity in your smart home The trick to saving electricity is to know where most of your energy is consumed. Read More
Despite the lack of some of the advanced features included in other smart thermostats, the Sensi is a good entry-level option for people who want to start their smart home. Jump Start Your Smart Home With 4 Easy Projects Jump Start Your Smart Home With 4 Easy Projects Creating a smart home may sound like a big undertaking, and it can be hard to know where to start. But it is not as difficult as you may think! Read more.
Buy the Emerson Sensi from Amazon
As a long-time manufacturer of heating and cooling equipment, it's only fitting that Lennox enter the smart thermostat game. And while iComfort is said to work best with Lennox equipment, it can be installed with other brands as well.
Compared to many other smart thermostats, the iComfort displays a lot of information on the touch screen, including the outside temperature and the weather forecast.
The Lennox Smart Thermostat gives you great control over the conditions in your home; not only does it monitor and have the ability to adjust humidity, but it has one of the lowest tolerances among options on the market, making sure that when you set it to One temperature, your home stays at that temperature. Away mode and fan control provide customization.
One of the biggest benefits of iComfort is that it will let you know when your heating and cooling equipment needs maintenance and send you a reminder to change the filters. While the control system and accompanying app (the only thing that can control the thermostat) don't have stellar reviews, the thermostat itself seems to do a good job of giving you the controls you need to keep your home at the temperature you prefer. and save on your energy bill Energy Saving Tips for Buying and Using Electronics Energy Saving Tips for Buying and Using Electronics Electronic devices account for a significant portion of your home's energy costs. Computers, printers, and WiFi routers only make up about 25% of your electricity bill. While electronics are becoming more efficient, their increased use of offsets… Read More .
Buy the Lennox iComfort from Amazon
While it lacks some of the beeps and whistles of other smart thermostats, like motion sensing and geo-fencing, the ColorTouch provides easy operation and four-stage heating. It's also one of the more visually interesting options, as you can set it to function as a clock or digital picture frame when you're not using it. Its simple interface allows you to schedule a number of different time periods throughout the day and week, making it easy to create a calendar.
Setup is assisted by downloading the companion app for your PC or Mac; You can save settings and up to 100 photos to the included SD card, then insert the SD card into the thermostat to complete setup. From there, you can also adjust settings from the thermostat itself.
While the ColorTouch offers Wi-Fi control via your smartphone, you'll need to purchase the Wi-Fi module, which plugs into the unit, for an additional $58 (there's also a starter pack that includes both for $195, which is more cost-effective than buying the Wi-Fi module later). The app doesn't let you adjust programs, but it will let you do the basics.
Buy the Venstar ColorTouch from Amazon
Buy the ColorTap Venstar with the Skyport Wi-Fi Module on Amazon
Venstar ColorTouch Thermostat Venstar ColorTouch Thermostat Buy Now On Amazon $239.00
Despite the dominant popularity of the Nest, there are a number of other smart thermostats you can install; the five above are some of the best, but there are even more options available.
Of course, there's a reason the Nest is so popular:It's really good at what it does, and it can do a lot of things you didn't know about 13 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With a Nest Thermostat 13 Things You Didn't Know You could do with a Nest Thermostat You might be surprised at how many little tricks you can pull off with your new Nest Thermostat! Read more . But if you're looking to separate yourself from the crowd (or save some money), any of the above options will do just fine.
Do you use a smart thermostat? Which one do you use? Do you plan to buy one in the future? Share your thoughts below!
