The right thermostat helps reduce utility bills without sacrificing comfort. Programmable and smart thermostats allow you to customize your HVAC system’s functions to meet your unique needs. But they don’t all offer the same benefits and features.
We have a few recommendations to help you find the best thermostat for cutting energy costs.
The 7 Best Thermostats to Lower Energy Bills
These seven thermostats offer a variety of features, so there’s sure to be one that meets your needs. Learn more about how they work, what they cost, and more below.
One of our top picks is the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, a highly rated thermostat that can help you save money. It has vacation mode, a hold option, an external sensor, and a phenomenal display that makes it easy to use. We love this one for people who have ever-changing schedules and take frequent trips.
While it lives up to its premium reputation, the price is high. It costs $250, one of the higher price tags on our list. However, it’s an excellent investment and cost-effective choice in the long run.
If you want total control over your home’s heating and cooling, we recommend the Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat. It’s a fully programmable thermostat that connects to a mobile app, so you can control your HVAC system anytime, anywhere. Set schedules, select specific rooms, and more.
One of our favorite features is its monthly energy reports, giving you an insightful breakdown of your energy use. This can help you curate a cost-effective, energy-saving schedule. But it does require room sensors for peak performance, and costs between $150 and $210, depending on where you buy it.
The 4th-generation Google Nest Learning Thermostat is a fan favorite, but not right for everyone. The sleek and elegant design is a wonderful way to get HVAC control without a bulky or techy addition to your walls. But it costs around $250.
The advanced learning features justify the price. It utilizes AI to track your heating and cooling habits, predict your behavior, and keep your home comfortable without intervention. Some find these features exceptional, but the model doesn’t work for people who want more manual control.
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is a stellar choice for people on a budget, as it only costs about $80. It offers seamless Alexa integration, making it perfect for people who already use Amazon smart products. However, the controls can be tedious and slow. Some complain the mobile app is prone to crashing.
For the price you pay, this is a brilliant option. It’s just not as fancy or advanced as other thermostats discussed here. It’s also our top pick if you plan to install it yourself, as the ease of installation is top-notch.
This thermostat is ideal for people who want more advanced features but aren’t ready to completely move on from traditional thermostat models. The biggest con with this one is it doesn’t have an eco-mode specifically designed to save energy. But it’s easily programmable, allowing you to set it to use less energy according to your preferences.
The Sensi Touch 2 works with a convenient mobile app and suits various smart home systems, making it pretty easy to use. This can reduce energy usage, but only if you monitor your HVAC closely. It usually costs around $200.
The Mysa Smart Thermostat (v2) is only suitable for electric baseboard heaters, making it a more niche option. However, it’s one of the top options for anyone with baseboard heaters. In fact, it’s one of the only desirable options for baseboards.
Like the Nest, its refined and attractive appearance provides a modern aesthetic. It offers scheduling, geofencing, and eco-mode capabilities, which can do wonders to cut down your energy bills. It costs between $150 and $200. The installation can be tricky, so you may want to hire a professional to help.
The Cielo Smart Thermostat is our last recommendation if you want to reduce your energy bills. It has an attractive design, but not as sleek as the Nest or Mysa. You can enjoy geofencing, voice control, a mobile app, scheduling, and assistant support.
The scheduling can be a little funky, but it’s useful once you figure it out. People also complain about an unresponsive touchscreen, but using the app can solve that issue. It costs around $125, depending on where you buy, so it’s affordably priced for the many features you get.
How to Choose the Best Thermostat for You
You have to consider a variety of factors when selecting a thermostat, including your HVAC system type, desired features, wiring compatibility, energy-saving features, budget, and lifestyle.
If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Schwantes. We’re knowledgeable about all these products and how they can help you save money and make your home more comfortable, so contact us for help!
