Smart Vs Programmable Thermostat: What's The Difference For Energy Savings?

Even during the coldest winter storms, the sight of a high energy bill is enough to make anyone sweat. If you're trying to cut back on your electricity usage or reduce your energy costs, switching to a smart or programmable thermostat can help you achieve those goals. Either type of thermostat also lets you avoid the hassle of manually adjusting the temperature in your home throughout the day. However, while there are a lot of similarities between these two products, smart thermostats tend to come out on top for energy savings.

We'll explain how smart and programmable thermostats differ in terms of electricity savings shortly. But first, let's run through a few basics. For starters, both types of thermostats will let you automatically run heating and cooling at different times throughout the day. With a programmable thermostat, you'll have to set these schedules yourself. For example, raising the temperature around the time you wake up, then cooling again when you get home from work.

On the other hand, a smart thermostat learns your routines and habits and monitors indoor and outdoor conditions at your home. Then, it uses that information to adjust your temperature settings automatically — which can help you save electricity (and money) without even thinking about it. These WiFi-connected devices also come with smartphone apps, so you can track your usage and find opportunities to cut back and save even more.

If you have a programmable thermostat and are diligent about setting your heating and cooling schedules, you can save up to 10% on your utility costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, that's often easier in theory than in practice. According to a survey from Consumer Reports, 17% of people who own a programmable thermostat don't use these features. There are other common issues that can occur here, too. For example, if you forget to update the schedule while you're out of town or you override the settings and forget to change them back, your savings could go out the window. On the other hand, Google found that its Nest smart thermostats save customers an average of 12% on heating and 15% on cooling. Duke Energy, a utility company, says that these savings can be as high as 20%.

With that said, even though smart thermostats one of the best inexpensive products to lower utility bills, it may take you longer to break even after the initial investment. If your goal is to save the most money possible, consider the upfront costs of installing a smart thermostat. According to Home Advisor, smart thermostats range from $130 to $300 for the device alone. That's far more than programmable thermostats, which cost $20 to $150. For either type of thermostat, professional installation adds another $65 to $100 per hour of labor. 

Something else to consider: smart thermostats generally go into energy-saving mode when you're sleeping or out of the house. So, if you work from home or have residents who stay inside most of the time, there won't be as many opportunities to conserve electricity. In that case, a smart thermostat might not be much better than a programmable one.