Totally agree on needing more solid data. A few quick thoughts from experience:
- Smart thermostats definitely help older, draftier homes more—there's just more room to save energy there.
- For newer builds with tight insulation and good sealing, the gains are minimal. I've seen homeowners disappointed after dropping cash on fancy tech.
- Behavioral shifts are probably the biggest benefit. Just seeing your usage laid out clearly nudges you into better habits.
Bottom line: they're useful, but not a game changer for everyone.
You've made some solid points here, especially about the behavioral shifts. Honestly, that's probably the biggest selling point I've noticed too. A lot of my clients initially get excited about the tech itself—controlling the thermostat from their phones, setting schedules remotely, etc.—but after a few months, it's the awareness of their habits that sticks around.
One thing I'd add, though, is that even in newer homes, there's sometimes room for improvement. Sure, insulation and sealing are usually pretty tight, but I've seen plenty of newer builds where the HVAC systems weren't properly balanced or calibrated. A smart thermostat can sometimes help highlight those issues by showing unusual patterns in energy use or temperature fluctuations. It's not a huge savings like you'd see in an older house, but it can still be valuable info to have.
Also, from a design perspective, I have to admit some of these thermostats are pretty sleek looking. I've had clients choose them almost purely for aesthetics—especially if they're going for a minimalist or modern look. It's not a reason I'd personally recommend dropping a ton of cash, but hey, if it fits your style and budget...
Bottom line, though, I agree they're not a universal game changer. Definitely worth considering carefully based on your home's specifics and your own habits before jumping in.
"I've seen plenty of newer builds where the HVAC systems weren't properly balanced or calibrated."
Yep, seen this more times than I'd like to admit. Smart thermostats can definitely flag those issues early—beats waiting until your upstairs feels like a sauna in July...
"Smart thermostats can definitely flag those issues early—beats waiting until your upstairs feels like a sauna in July..."
Totally agree with this. A few quick thoughts from my experience:
- Smart thermostats are great at highlighting HVAC imbalances, but they're not magic fixes. If your system wasn't balanced properly during installation, you'll still need a pro to recalibrate airflow and vents.
- I've worked on several projects where clients thought a smart thermostat alone would solve uneven heating/cooling. Usually, we ended up bringing in an HVAC specialist anyway.
- Bottom line: They're helpful tools for spotting issues early, but pairing them with proper HVAC calibration is key.
We installed a smart thermostat last year, thinking it'd be the end of our upstairs heatwave issues. It definitely helped us spot the problem quicker, but like you said, it wasn't a magic bullet. Turns out our ductwork was poorly routed, so we still had to get someone in to fix that. Still, I wouldn't go back—it's nice having the heads-up before things get unbearable in July...
