Best Smart Thermostats for Your Solar Powered Home

If you’re concerned about rising energy costs, you might have considered investing in solar panels alongside smart solar thermostats. We’ll explore the benefits of solar power thermostats and how they can work together with your solar panels to reduce your energy bills.

How Do Smart Thermostats Work?

Smart thermostats are devices that help save money by learning your temperature preferences. They adjust your home’s temperature based on your habits, making energy use more efficient.

For example, if you like your house cooler at night and warmer in the morning, the thermostat will make these changes automatically. It tries to use as little energy as possible while keeping you comfortable.

These thermostats also let you track your energy use. When combined with monitoring your solar system’s output, you can better control your overall energy consumption.

Smart thermostats are especially useful for homes with solar panels. They reduce energy use when you’re not home, so you don’t have to manually adjust the temperature.

Another handy feature is remote control. You can change your home’s temperature using your smartphone or tablet, even when you’re away. This ensures your home is comfortable when you return.

By learning your habits and giving you more control, smart thermostats help you save energy and money while keeping your home comfortable.

What Smart Thermostat Features Should You Look For?

1. With a smart thermostat, you can manage the heating in your house remotely using a mobile app or an internet connection.
2. Smart thermostats that can remember your preferences and use information gathered by their sensors to change HVAC settings automatically. Such a smart thermostat can modify the interior temperature of a house in accordance with the local climate.
3. Smart thermostats that can “learn” by stored data
4. Geofencing
5. Motion sensors

Compatibility with your HVAC system

You can use practically any type of thermostat if your HVAC system is low voltage. If you have a high-voltage system, you should study the manufacturer’s instructions or contact them to find out which one is best for your system.

Maximizing Your Best Thermostats for Solar Power

So, how can solar panels and solar smart thermostats work together to save you even more money? If you have solar panels, you might be able to use them to power your smart thermostat. This means you won’t have to rely on your home’s electricity to keep your thermostat running, which can save you even more money. You can also set your thermostat to use less energy when your solar panels aren’t generating electricity, which can help you save money on your energy bills.

How much can solar panel thermostats save you on your electric bill?

The Department of Energy believes that you can save as much as 10% on your heating and cooling expenses with most types of heating and cooling systems if you can bear to lower your thermostat by 7° to 10° F for 8 hours a day.

Do you really need a smart thermostat?

You do not really need a smart thermostat. However, if saving money is the ultimate goal with investing in solar panels then it might be something to consider. 

What Is The Most Efficient Way to Set a Smart Thermostat?

The US Department of Energy is one of the best resources for information about thermostat settings. According to their research, by simply lowering your thermostat by 7° to 10°F for eight hours a day, you can save your HVAC bills by as much as 10% yearly.

You Should Also Consider The Seasons

Summer

When you are at home, we advise setting the thermostat to 78 °F. Although it might make your home a little warmer than usual, this does help to significantly lower the cost of your energy bill.

You can save even more money in the summer by keeping your house even warmer when you’re gone for longer than two hours. To help you save up to 10% on cooling expenditures, set your thermostat to 85–88 °F throughout the summer while you’re away from home.

Winter

You should feel comfortable with a winter thermostat setting of 68 °F during the cooler months (a sweater and warm socks could be beneficial as well). You can cut your heating expense by 5-15% by decreasing your thermostat by 10-15 °F for eight hours, saving about 1% for each degree.

Spring and Autumn

Set your thermostat to 78 °F during the day if it’s going to be warmer. If you plan to leave the house, set it at 86 °F. Set your thermostat to 68 °F when you are at home and awake during chilly months. When you go to bed, lower it to 65 °F. Lower it even more to 60 °F if you’re going out of the house.

Here are some great Smart Thermostats to consider

Smart thermostats that work well with solar panels are available from various manufacturers. Designed for solar power systems, these devices are designed to increase energy efficiency and optimize solar energy advantages. There are numerous smart thermostats that come with solar compatibility, and we highlight a few below:

Nest Learning Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat works well with solar panels. It learns your schedule and adjusts your home’s temperature to save energy. Its Energy History feature shows how much energy you’re using, which helps you understand how your solar panels are working.

Ecobee Smart Thermostat

The Ecobee SmartThermostat is solar-friendly and highly rated. It uses room sensors to control temperature in different parts of your home. It also connects with your solar panels to show your energy use and production, helping you make smart energy choices.

Sense Energy Monitor

The Sense Energy Monitor isn’t a thermostat, but it works with your current one. It gives real-time info about your power use. It shows how much energy your solar panels make and how much your house uses. It can even tell which devices are using power. This helps you use your solar panels more efficiently.

Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat

The Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat works with solar panels and lets you control it from your phone. It can adjust the temperature based on whether you’re home or away. Like the Ecobee, it uses room sensors to manage temperature in different areas. It also gives reports on your energy use to help you save more.

The Wiring Of Your Home

Good wiring in your home is key to saving energy and money on your electric bill. When wires are installed and maintained correctly, they help your electrical system work better.

Well-designed wiring reduces resistance in the system. This means less energy is wasted as heat, and more power gets to where it’s needed. It’s like having a smooth road for electricity to travel on instead of a bumpy one.

Proper wiring also helps prevent power surges and voltage changes. These can damage your appliances and make them use more energy than they should. By avoiding these problems, your devices last longer and use less power.

To get the best results, it’s important to have a professional install or check your wiring. They know the right codes and standards to follow. This makes sure your system is not only efficient but also safe.

Investing in good wiring might cost more at first, but it pays off over time. You’ll waste less energy, which means lower electric bills. Plus, your home will be safer and your appliances will work better.