Geofencing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Geofencing is a feature that creates a boundary around your home using the GPS on your phone and the smart thermostat\u2019s app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you, or specifically your phone, are within that boundary, the thermostat keeps your settings at your preferred \u201cat home\u201d temperatures. When the app detects that you\u2019ve left that boundary, it will adjust the temperature to be more energy efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geofencing is great for people who don\u2019t have set schedules or who come and go a lot during the day. If you have a consistent home and away schedule and want to lean on the learning features of a smart thermostat, you may prefer to keep this feature deactivated unless you\u2019re going out of town or otherwise breaking from your schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many models offer geofencing, but they differ in compatibility. Check to make sure that the smart thermostat you choose supports geofencing with your phone\u2019s operating system. Some only allow one phone to be connected per household, while others allow multiple phones to be tied to the geofencing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If multiple phones are connected, the thermostat would switch to your away settings only once the last phone left the boundary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High-voltage heater support<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you have a central HVAC system, you basically have your pick of smart thermostats. Those with high voltage heaters like baseboard, radiant, or forced fan convectors will have to look for a model designed to work with those systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most smart thermostats like the Ecobee and Nest are made to work with a low voltage system. Hooking them up to a high voltage system can be dangerous and the workarounds that exist can negate the energy savings you\u2019re trying to achieve. Stick with one meant for your high voltage heater like the Mysa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensors<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

While geofencing is an easy way to automate your home and away settings, sensors can give you more precise control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most brands have additional smart sensors that can be linked to your thermostat. Those sensors can be placed in the rooms where you need better climate control. If a room you spend a lot of time in tends to run hot or cool compared to the rest of the house, your system will run until that room is at the preferred temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prioritizing the temperature in certain rooms can be a way to keep your thermostat from wasting energy on regulating the temperature in rooms that aren\u2019t used as often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These sensors also detect motion so that the system will return to \u201cat home\u201d settings when someone is in those rooms, as opposed to relying on a connected phone for geofencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the smart thermostat models have motion sensors in the unit itself for detecting when you\u2019re home or away and some can also link to door or window sensors that are part of your smart home set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smart home system integration<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re already a smart home enthusiast, you\u2019ll want to make sure that the thermostat you choose is compatible with the smart home system you already use. The top of the line models work with many of the most popular systems like Amazon Echo, Google Home, IFTTT, Apple HomeKit and Samsung\u2019s SmartThings, but there are exceptions like the Nest not working with Apple HomeKit, so double check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a smart thermostat is your first step into home automation, many of the brands have additional devices like smart cameras and window and door sensors to easily expand your setup if you wish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

User interface and design<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A smart thermostat can have all of the best features, but if you can\u2019t figure out how to use them, you\u2019ll never benefit from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our top picks not only look great on the wall with clear displays and sleek designs, but the controls are easy to read and intuitive to use. That goes for the connected apps as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A smart thermostat\u2019s design should make it easy to utilize its energy saving features, not be a hindrance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n