Winter is on its way, and for most Clark County residents, the cold season brings some of the highest energy bills of the year. Smart thermostats are one way to simplify saving energy while staying comfortable throughout the year.
“Home heating and cooling are typically the biggest contributors to home energy bills,” said Trevor Frick, energy services residential programs manager at Clark Public Utilities. “The good news is temperature control is an area where smart technology and behavioral changes can work together and dramatically bring down monthly energy expenses.”
Setting a mechanical thermostat a few degrees lower than normal, or several degrees lower when you’re away from home for an extended period, will help reduce energy expenses, but remembering to do it can be difficult. Plus, there’s always the lag time between setting the thermostat and getting to temperature.
A programmable thermostat can set to adjust temperatures at specific times, which will help lower energy bills, but they aren’t always easy to use and can’t take into account fluctuations in your schedule.
A smart thermostat will do it all, and will learn the preferences and schedule of your household over time to get the most out of every watt the heating and cooling system needs to keep your home comfortable.
“The bottom line is a smart thermostat takes the guesswork, and the actual work, out of cutting out wasted energy,” Frick said. “Plus, they can usually use the existing thermostat wire and installation can often be done by the homeowner.”
Personal experiences will vary, but Clark Public Utilities customers who use smart thermostats can expect to save up to 10 percent on annual heating and cooling costs.
For models with schedule-learning capabilities, the thermostat will know your personal temperature preferences after about a week and begin to automatically adjust to your comfort zone throughout the day. It’ll also factor in your home’s ambient conditions and local weather patterns before making any adjustments.
All smart thermostats have an occupancy sensor and can turn the temperature down when everyone has left, to conserve energy when the home is empty. Users can also control the thermostat remotely to kick the heat on before returning home.
For those who like the data, smart thermostats can offer reports about energy consumption to see how much energy has been saved and learn how to increase efficiency even more.
Residents of Clark County with electrically heated homes may be eligible to receive a free or deeply discounted smart thermostat using Clark Public Utilities’ new online marketplace that offers smart thermostats with an instant rebate.
At clark.gpfulfillment.com, qualifying customers can choose between one of two Google Nest thermostats or two ecobee smart thermostats, one of which includes an indoor air quality monitor. Prices vary depending on the model chosen and rebates are applied instantly — one option is totally free, along with free shipping, and only the sales tax is required.
“Our smart thermostat program makes these units accessible for many customers, just in time for the colder season,” said Frick.
Customers who don’t want to use the online marketplace can get their rebate through the mail; just call the utility’s Energy Counselor of the Day during business hours at 360-992-3355.
Some qualifications must be met. The offer is available only to residential customers with an electric forced-air furnace or heat pump. Homes with a gas heating system or a dual fuel system don’t qualify through Clark Public Utilities, but natural gas-heated homes may qualify for a similar rebate through Energy Trust. Visit energytrust.org for more information.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668 or call 360-992-3355 during business hours.
