Best Smart Thermostats 2021: Nest, Alarm.com, Ecobee and more
In this post we will be looking at some of the top smart thermostats of 2021. Let’s get started!
There are many ways that we can make our homes more environmentally friendly. One way to do this is to cut down on your home’s energy consumption per month. There are several different ways to do this, but one really great way to achieve this is to invest in a smart Z-Wave thermostat. So what exactly is Z-Wave? Z-Wave is a wireless communication protocol that allows devices that use this type of technology to connect and work with a variety of other smart home and security devices. Most security and home automation equipment use Z-Wave technology. If you already own or are in the process of purchasing a home security or home automation system, you may be looking for a Z-Wave thermostat.
Home owners who use smart Z-Wave thermostats have seen their home’s energy bills reduced, and there are several top smart Z-Wave thermostats out on the market today. More and more people are realizing the importance of switching to smart thermostats for energy efficiency, conservation and to cut down on energy costs. There are several smart thermostats out on the market today, and in this post we’ll be going over the most popular ones, including the Ecobee, Nest and Alarm.com thermostats.
Ecobee4
The Ecobee4 is one truly amazing smart thermostat. It is a smart thermostat that is small and sleek, but is packed with power. Smart thermostats like the Ecobee4 have become a must-have item if you’re looking to make your home more eco-friendly (check out an equally impressive thermostat we sell here at Link Interactive by Alarm.com). The Ecobee4 will allow you to adjust the temperature remotely, set custom timers for when your heating and cooling system should come on and adjust individual temperatures for each room.
Temperature reading
The Ecobee4 is able to read temperature in different spots of the house instead of giving just one overall reading. Most smart thermostats do not demonstrate this capability. The Ecobee4 comes with a room sensor to help manage hot or cold spots in specific areas. When the Ecobee4 is placed in a room, it will detect occupancy as well as read the temperature allowing you to find the perfect temperature for the specific room where the thermostat has been placed.
Built-in voice control
The Ecobee4 comes with the Amazon Alexa voice service built-in. This allows the Ecobee4 to be completely hands-free and controlled easily by voice commands. It has a great range of sound detection so you don’t need to be very close to use verbal commands. The Ecobee4 goes above and beyond what normal smart thermostats can do because of the integrated Amazon Alexa voice service. You can ask the Ecobee4 any questions that you can ask Amazon Alexa pertaining to temperatures, recipes, music etc. This is a great feature to have and people generally find great benefit from it.
Cost and energy savings
Many people decide to make the move to smart thermostats to help with energy costs which in return helps to protect the environment. The Ecobee4 will save you up to 23% in heating and cooling bills per year. The Ecobee4 is Energy Star certified which means that it is energy-efficient and good for the planet too! One really outstanding feature that we personally thought was amazing is the Ecobee4’s Smart Home Away function. This function automatically enables the right mode for energy savings when it senses no one is home. If you are looking for exactly how much energy you can save by using a smart thermostat, the Ecobee4 offers free energy reports showing how much energy you have saved and how much energy your heating and cooling equipment is using each month.
User-friendly
The Ecobee4 is really easy to control. Control on the go directly from the app (iOS or Android), Apple Watch or directly via verbal commands. If you’re ever away for an extended period of time, you can simply make a ‘vacation event’ (even after you have already gone on your vacation). The app also lets you control the volume of the Ecobee4 along with many other controllable features.
Installation
The Ecobee4 is super easy to set up. It takes an average of just 30 minutes to get it up and going. The Ecobee4 comes with an easy to follow installation guide and an in-app step-by-step setup guide making installation hassle-free. The Ecobee4 starter kit comes with everything you need to get your thermostat up and running including a Power Extender Kit for homes with no common wire (C-wire).
Reviews and ratings
The Ecobee4 has some really great reviews on Amazon. It rates 4 out 5 stars on Amazon with over 1,000 reviews. Some of the positive reviews talk about how great it is to be able to have customizable temperatures for each room. Most customers also seem to be very pleased with the integrated Amazon Alexa feature that the Ecobee4 has to offer. The negative reviews for the Ecobee4 mostly talk about the length of time consumers had to wait online to get support for their devices if they ever ran into any trouble.
Pricing
The Ecobee4 has a few options when it comes to pricing. You can buy the Ecobee4 Smarter Bundle directly from their website for $313. This bundle includes the Ecobee4 thermostat along with 3 room sensors. This is the perfect starter kit if you’re looking to cover multiple rooms. If you are looking for a smaller package, Amazon offers Ecobee4 with 1 room sensor for $229.99. You always have the option to add sensors later on ,and generally the sensor packs come with 2 room sensors for roughly $79 dollars.
Our takeaway
The Ecobee4 has a lot of great features to offer. It’s a great option to consider if you’re interested in cutting down on energy costs or making your home energy-efficient. Definitely worth giving a shot!
Nest Learning Thermostat
The Nest Learning Thermostat is the first thermostat to have received the ENERGY STAR certification – it is an eco-friendly thermostat that doesn’t use a lot of power and it can save you a lot of money by cutting down on your monthly energy cost. Studies that have been done on the energy saving power of Nest thermostats have shown that users save an average of 10% to 12% on heating costs and up to 15% on cooling costs. The Nest Learning Thermostat has energy cost reports that show daily and monthly usage of energy and suggests ways for users to cut down on energy uses. When you change the temperature, it will show a little green leaf showing you that the change you have made is saving energy – this makes energy conservation super easy!
Temperature reading
The Nest Learning Thermostat works by learning your heating and cooling schedules. It learns what your temperature preferences are and builds a schedule around them. The learning process of this thermostat takes about a week. After the week is up, it will start to program itself. This way you do not have to worry about constantly adjusting settings to save energy. The Nest Learning Thermostat will allow you to control specific temperatures in different rooms. This works by placing the thermostat’s sensors in the rooms where you want the temperature to be monitored. These sensors not only show the temperature in the rooms where they are placed but will also alert you when there are drastic temperature changes in those areas, such as a fire or a drop in temperature that could cause damage to your pipes and plumbing. The Nest Learning Thermostat also has a bright digital display making it easy to see the temperature, time and weather.
Installation and cost
Installation of the Nest Learning Thermostat is super easy and only takes about 30 minutes to set up. It also comes in at a really great price! You can purchase it directly from Nest’s website for $249. There are a couple of bundle options on the site if you’re looking for more than one thermostat, and sensors can be purchased for $39.
Reviews and ratings
The Nest Learning Thermostat is highly rated with an average of 4.5 stars on Amazon and over 13,000 reviews. It is currently Amazon’s best seller when it comes to smart thermostats. Some of the positive reviews talk about how easy it is to install, the wide variety of energy saving features and its ease of use. Some of the negative reviews seem to come from those who may have received a faulty thermostat.
Radio Thermostat CT32 7-Day Programmable Thermostat
The first Z-wave thermostat we will be covering is the Radio Thermostat CT32 7-Day Programmable Thermostat. This Z-wave thermostat has a touchscreen control panel, and works with a majority of HVAC cooling and heating systems. The Radio Thermostat CT32 7-Day Programmable Thermostat works by connecting to your home’s WIFI network, but you do not have to use WIFI to use this device. This thermostat also includes a 3000 series Z-wave communication protocol which makes this thermostat even more compatible with a wider variety smart home and security devices.
Using this thermostat can cut down on your home’s energy costs by using its programmable temperature feature which allows to program when your heating and cooling system comes on up to 7-days. You can remotely control your thermostat using the Radio Thermostat app. The Radio Thermostat app allows you to also set geo fences when are invisible fences that can detect when you leave or return to your home, and when you cross one of these fences your heating and cooling system will either come on or go off. You can purchase a Radio Thermostat CT32 7-Day Programmable Thermostat for around $75.00 USD.
The Radio Thermostat CT32 7-Day Programmable Thermostat is pretty great thermostat. We really like the fact that is has a newer Z-wave protocol so that you can use it with more devices. It also has a pretty decent price when compared to other Z-wave Thermostats. The only issue with this particular thermostat is that some users seem to have a problem using this thermostat after they had logged out of the Radio Thermostat app.
2GIG CT100 Z-Wave Programmable Thermostat
The next top Z-wave thermostat we will be looking at is the 2GIG CT100 Z-Wave Programmable Thermostat. 2GIG is a trusted name in the home and automation and security world, and they are known for the high-quality products like their CT100 Z-Wave Programmable Z-Wave Thermostat. The 2GIG CT100 Z-Wave Programmable Thermostat has a brightly lit touchscreen that is easy to see and use. It has a thinner design than some of the other Z-wave thermostats that are similar to it, making it easier to place. It powered by four AA batteries with a battery life to up to 2 years. It is compatible with most HVAC heating and cooling systems.
WIFI is not a requirement to use this particular device, and it works really well with other 2GIG products such as the 2GIG Go Control security panel. The features are very similar to that of the Radio Thermostat CT32 7-Day Programmable Thermostat. You can set timers for when your heating and system comes on and goes off, and it works really great with the Alarm.com services. The Alarm.com app will allow you to customize the features of the 2GIG CT100 Z-Wave Programmable Thermostat along with being able to remotely control it and use geo fences. You can purchase 2GIG CT100 Z-wave Programmable Thermostat for around $75.00.
The 2GIG CT100 Z-Wave Programmable Thermostat is a great thermostat to purchase if you are already using 2GIG equipment. We really like the fact that this particular thermostat is produced by 2GIG because of the ability it gives you to use it with other 2GIG products. We also like how simple it is to install, and normally it only takes a user about 10 minutes to get this thermostat up and running. The one feature we did not like is that the 2GIG CT100 Z-Wave Programmable Thermostat uses an older Z-wave protocol which make it less compatible with newer Z-wave devices.
Honeywell Z-Wave Enabled Programmable Thermostat
The last Z-wave thermostat we will be covering today is the Honeywell Z-Wave Enabled Programmable Thermostat (YTH8320ZW1007/U). We really like Honeywell products due to their reputable name along with the variety of security and home automation devices they have to offer. The Honeywell Z-Wave Enabled Programmable Thermostat has a lit touchscreen that not only displays the temperature, but it also displays the other customizable features of this thermostat.
The Honeywell Z-Wave Enabled Programmable Thermostat allows you to program your heating and cooling system’s temperature out up to 7-days which can help you cut down on your home’s energy cost per month. Because the Honeywell Z-Wave Enabled Programmable Thermostat uses Z-wave technology you do not have to have a WIFI connection for it work, and it is compatible with most HVAC heating and cooling systems. Because this Z-wave thermostat is Honeywell you should be able to use it with a variety of home security and automation hubs. Most of the current home security and automation hubs use an app which should allow you to control the Honeywell Z-Wave Enabled Programmable Thermostat remotely. You can purchase a Honeywell Z-Wave Enabled Programmable Thermostat for around $85.
The Honeywell Z-Wave Enabled Programmable Thermostat a really great thermostat and we think you will like using it. We really like the fact that the Honeywell Z-Wave Enabled Programmable Thermostat is compatible with a wide variety of other Z-wave enable devices. The features are pretty standard when it comes to other Z-wave thermostats. The one thing we didn’t like about the Honeywell Z-Wave Enabled Programmable Thermostat is the price. It is a little bit more expensive when it compared to other Z-Wave thermostats that are similar to it.
If you own a home security or home automation system then a Z-wave thermostat would be a great addition to your setup. Z-Wave thermostats are great at helping you cut down on the cost of your home’s energy cost per month and who doesn’t like to save money? The brands that we covered today are some of the top brands of Z-Wave thermostats for 2021, and we are sure you will be pleased with any of the ones listed above. If you are looking to purchase one of these Z-wave thermostats you can do so by shopping online or through a major electronic/home supplier.
Trane XL824 Nexia Control
The first Z-Wave thermostat we will be taking a look at is the Trane XL824 Nexia Control. The Trane XL824 Nexia Control is an Energy Star certified smart Z-Wave thermostat, so you know that this thermostat does not use a lot of energy.
The Trane XL824 Nexia Control is powered by being directly wired into a power source, and it will work for most HVAC heating and cooling systems. It works by connecting to your home WIFI network, and its Z-Wave protocol allows you to use it with other Z-Wave enabled devices. It has a superb 4.3-inch full colored touchscreen. The touchscreen displays the current time and temperature. It also displays your home’s current temperature along with several menu options.
The Trane XL824 Nexia Control has 5 heat settings and 2 cool settings which gives you a lot of customization in how you want to control your home’s temperature. You can download the Nexia app for smartphone devices to remotely control the Trane XL824 Nexia Control. With the Nexia app you will be able to set custom times for when your heating and cooling systems turn on and off, you can remotely turn on and off your Trane XL824 Nexia Control, and you will also be able to customize its features through the app.
There is some additional information you need to know about the Trane XL824 Nexia Control. To use and control multiple devices you will need to purchase the Nexia Gateway which is used to connect all of your devices together. Also, the Nexia app is not free to use. To be able to use the remote features for your Trane XL824 Nexia Control you will need to pay $9.95 per month. You can purchase a Trane XL824 Nexia Control for around $360.
The Trane XL824 Nexia Control is a really deluxe smart Z-Wave enabled thermostat, and you can tell that by its price. We really like the full colored touchscreen keypad. We also like the Z-Wave protocol that is used with the Trane XL824 Nexia Control as it allows for widespread compatibility with other Z-Wave enabled devices. What did we not like though was the fact that you will need a Nexia Gateway to be able to use multiple smart devices at once. Also, the price is very high compared to other smart Z-Wave thermostats.
GoControl Thermostat
The last smart Z-Wave thermostat will be going over today is the GoControl Thermostat. The GoControl Thermostat is made by 2GIG which is a trusted and reputable brand in the home security world. In fact, here at Link Interactive the GoControl Thermostat is our favorite - it works flawlessly with our state of the art Qolsys security system.
The GoControl Thermostat is actually battery operated and does not require WIFI for it to work. And of course, it uses Z-Wave protocol to connect to other smart security and home automation devices in the house. It is also compatible with most HVAC heating and cooling systems.
The GoControl Thermostat has a more simplistic design than the Trane XL824 Nexia Control. The display for the GoControl is a lit push-button keypad that displays your home’s current temperature along with a few menu options. It comes with 2 stage heat and 2 stage cooling. You can set custom timers for when your heating and cooling system comes on and goes off right from the GoControl Thermostat.
If you have other 2GIG branded devices, you can easily connect them together using the Z-Wave protocol that is included in the GoControl Thermostat. You will also be able to use other branded smart home and security devices by using the GoControl Thermostat’s Z-Wave protocol. If you have a security or home automation system that uses an Alarm.com powered smart phone app, you will be able to remotely control your GoControl Thermostat. Alam.com gives you the ability to set timers for your GoControl Thermostat, remotely control it while on the go, and it allows you to customize the GoControl Thermostat’s features. Link Interactive is one of the leading providers of Alarm.com smart home and home security services. Inquire here to find out more about the 2GIG thermostat and how you can use it in conjunction with a home security system.
We really like 2GIG branded equipment, and the GoControl Thermostat is a really great smart Z-Wave thermostat. We really like the fact that this smart thermostat can be used with other 2GIG devices which gives you the ability to really expand your home automation or security setup. It is also really simplistic to use and to install. The price is actually average when it comes other smart Z-Wave enabled thermostats that are similar to the it.
Best Z-Wave Thermostat
So if you want your home to go green then you should really think about purchasing a smart Z-Wave thermostat. Smart Z-Wave thermostats give you the ability reduce your home’s energy bill. They also are really compatible with a variety of other home automation and security devices which will give you a more complete home security/automation setup.
Do you research decide what’s best for you. With the importance of having a home security system on the rise, we do suggest that you take a look at our thermostats - they all work with our Link Interactive security system!
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