A smart thermostat is more than just an app

Some thermostats, such as the Nest Learning Thermostat, can be programmed to self-learn. This means that over a certain period of time the thermostat will get to know your lifestyle and will use this knowledge to heat your home just how you like it. If you normally leave the house at 08:00, the heating will switch off. When you come back at 17:30, the thermostat will switch on the heating at 17:15 so you can come home to a warm house.

Most smart thermostats use geo-fencing, to determine when you're close to home and switch on the heating. Geofencing works by connecting with the location of your smartphone and transferring that information to the thermostat so it can 'see' where you are. As soon as you leave the house, the heating switches itself off. When you are on your way home, the thermostat automatically switches on the heating once you get within a certain distance to your home. Other ‘smart’ thermostats rely on motion sensors and will only heat as long as they observe movement every once in a while.

Combine your smart thermostat with smart radiator valves so you can heat rooms (zones) separately. If you want the bathroom to be warmer than the rest of the house; with a traditional thermostat, you would have to raise the thermostat, increasing the temperature of all radiators around the house. A smart thermostat can heat individual rooms using smart radiator valves. This allows you to have your bathroom at 24 degrees whilst your living room is at comfortable 21 degrees, as an example. Zone-heating allows you to heat more effectively, saving you money whilst reducing your energy consumption.