There are a lot of different types of thermostats that are suited to all different lifestyles, from programmable thermostats to smart and learning thermostats, and much more. What about thermostat geofencing, though? What is it? Is it worthwhile? What lifestyle does it best suit?
What Is Geofencing?
Geofencing uses the GPS in your smartphone to know when you’re home and when you’re not. It places a virtual border around your house and tracks your location in relation to that border.
Venturing outside the border signals to your thermostat that you’re not home, so it can switch to energy-saving mode. That way, you’re not paying for air in an empty house. Coming home, as you cross back inside the border, it signals your thermostat to switch back to home-comfort mode and keep your house your ideal temperature. The border can be placed a few miles away from your house, to give your HVAC system some time to make things comfortable before you arrive.
To use a thermostat with geofencing, you’ll need to have your phone with you all the time. You’ll also need a special app and to put your GPS on the most accurate setting.
Who Is Thermostat Geofencing For?
Programmable thermostats let you program your schedule, so they know when you’ll be home and when you won’t. However, what if your schedule varies from day to day? Maybe you’re in and out of the house all day. Sometimes you work the night shift, other times you work days, and it changes regularly.
Geofencing makes things simple. Whenever you’re home, your thermostat makes you comfortable; whenever you’re not, it saves energy, whether you know in advance when those times will be or not.
Is geofencing for you? If you keep a predictable schedule, then maybe not. However, if you have a hectic or unpredictable lifestyle, then thermostat geofencing can bring a little bit of order to it and keep you comfortable whenever you’re around.
To learn more about thermostat geofencing, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin trust us for all their home-comfort needs.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area