When it comes to making your home more energy efficient and saving money on your bills, smart thermostats are one of the easiest and most effective upgrades you can introduce.
These clever gadgets offer more than just remote access, they learn your habits, optimise your heating and help you cut down on energy bills. At SolarTherm UK we’re all about smarter energy that works for you – and smart thermostats are a perfect fit alongside your solar PV system.
What is a Smart Thermostat?
A smart thermostat connects to your heating and/or cooling system and lets you control the temperature of your home via a smartphone, tablet or voice assistant like Alexa. A smart thermostat will adjust the temperature settings automatically, and create custom heating schedules based on your daily routine, local weather conditions and real-time usage patterns. Over time they thermostat will learn when you’re home, away or asleep and will adapt your heating accordingly.
Benefits Over Manual Thermostats
Unlike manual and digital thermostats, smart thermostats do the hard work for you. Some of the best advantages are:
- Lower energy bills – no more heating an empty house, a smart thermostat will reduce energy use when you’re not home, saving around 10-20% on your annual heating bill.
- Convenience – you’re able to control your heating on the move via a smartphone or tablet – so when you rush out the door forgetting to turn your heating off, you can still change the settings.
- Reduce carbon footprint – less energy used means fewer carbon emissions
- Smart integration – many models now connect with other smart home devices like voice assistants and CO detectors.
Things to Consider Before Installation
Here are a few practical points to consider before your installation
- C-wire requirement – while most newer homes have one installed, older homes may need a workaround which can incur additional costs. Always check with a qualified installer first on any wiring needs.
- WiFi connection – to make the most of your smart thermostat and all it’s features, you’ll need a stable WiFi connection.
- Smart device access – to benefit from voice control and remote access, you’ll need a smartphone or tablet to control and customise settings on the move.
Is it Easy to Use?
Most smart thermostats are designed to be user friendly. You’ll need to make a few manual changes when first installed, but over time your system will learn your routine and take over.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work With My Solar?
A smart thermostat and solar PV system complement each other really well, because they both focus on optimising when and how your home uses energy. Together they can work to maximise your solar energy use. A smart thermostat can be programmed (or will learn) when to run your heating when your solar panels are generating the most electricity, and instead of exporting excess solar back to the grid at a low rate, your thermostat will help you use that in your home, keeping more savings in your pocket. Your smart thermostat can connect with energy monitoring apps and smart plugs, meaning you can coordinate heating, hot water and even EV charging to run when solar generation is high. Your smart thermostat will also know when to draw electricity from your battery over using expensive grid electricity.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Smart thermostats work well alongside new gas boiler models, heat pumps and smoke and CO detectors. The are also compatible with most voice assistants (Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri) making voice commands easier to run. A smart thermostat also works well alongside a solar PV installation to help reduce your energy bills further. Paired with other smart technology such as smart plugs and timers, your system can be used to run high energy appliances while you are out the house or running on solar.
Popular Smart Thermostat Options in the UK
- Nest Thermostat – Nest was one of the first smart thermostats on the UK market and is still one of the best. The Nest Smart Thermostat (gen 3) uses AI to create customised heating and cooling schedules to save you money. It is easily integrated with other smart technology and comes with a remote room sensor to ensure even temperatures throughout the house.
- Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat – Honeywell have been making thermostats forever, and their commitment to making high end affordable smart thermostats shows. The T9 comes with an additional room sensor allowing you to monitor two parts of your home at once and integrates well with Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT. It does have it’s limitations on integrating with other smart technology so if you have multiple smart products, it may be worth looking at a different option.
- Hive Thermostat – although one of the cheaper models on the market, the Hive Thermostat reduces the costs by excluding technology that is needed to make the most of the system. Radiator valves, motion detection and automatic controls are not included as standard. The Hive Thermostat is however good for those looking for an easy to use smart thermostat that can be connected to a smart speaker such as Alexa, Google Home or Apple Homekit.
So, Are Smart Thermostats Worth It?
If you’re looking to future proof your home, reduce your energy bills and gain more control over your heating system, a smart thermostat is an excellent investment, especially when paired with a heat pump and solar PV system and other smart technology.
Take the First Step to a Smarter Home
A solar PV installation from SolarTherm UK can help you save even more on your energy bills when paired with a smart thermostat and other smart technology. Contact SolarTherm UK today for a free bespoke design package, tailored to your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice.
