Purchasing a smart thermostat starts with the consumer researching its benefits and asking the question, How exactly and exactly will this Smart Thermostat cut down on my heating bills?. Will it be easy to set-up? How will this technology make life easier for me?
Warmup’s Head of Smart Devices Division, Michael Hollins, looks at why most smart thermostats currently on the market are receiving a lukewarm reception from consumers and why a strictly technology based approach isn’t working. He says for a thermostat to be truly considered ‘smart’ it has to understand what users actually need from their heating, and not just provide technology for the sake of it. For the majority of homes, their heating needs are very simple; they want their home to be comfortable, for the lowest possible cost and with the least possible effort. According to Michael, any thermostat that doesn’t meet these requirements cannot be considered truly ‘smart’, and correctly implementing these ideas requires some advanced technology and insight into the way real homes use their heating.
The 4iE Smart WiFi Thermostat from Warmup 10 years in the making, and has research and development at its very core. The result of this is a thermostat that understands what you’re currently doing, like leaving for work, and combines it with the likelihood of what you’re going to do next, such as returning home soon, to calculate the most efficient settings for your home and control the heating automatically.
With the new MyHeating™ app on your smartphone and the recently added SmartGeo and EasySwitch™ features you can rest assured that your home will always be at the right temperature, and always be on the best available energy tariff. SmartGeo™ and EasySwitch™ features can lead to combined savings of up to £378 a year. With the 4iE Smart WiFi Thermostat and MyHeating™ app, Warmup promises to deliver a truly automated and effortless user experience. Read on to learn how.
How is the new SmartGeo™ feature in your Warmup 4iE thermostat going to save you money and keep your home warm when you arrive?
With SmartGeo™, the 4iE can control heating automatically and reduces heating usage by up to 25%. It works using the location services built into smartphones, as well as learning routines and the most efficient settings for the home. This means that 4iE sets lower, more efficient temperatures when you’re away and when you’re coming home, it starts warming your house up. Therefore your home is always cosy and comfortable when you arrive.
How is the new EasySwitch™ feature going to ensure that you are always on the best tariff?
With EasySwitch™, customers have the option to automatically switch to the best available tariff every year. So you will never get put back onto the standard rate, or overpay on energy bills again.
• Always on the best tariff
The 4iE works in the background to find the best energy deals. EasySwitch™ searches the market for better energy tariffs, recommends the best deals, and simplifies the process of switching energy suppliers.
• Automatic tariff switching
EasySwitch™ stops overpaying on energy bills, year after year. According to the latest figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, when customers switch energy supplier they can save on average £210. Once a contract on that low rate runs out (typically after 12 months) the supplier changes the tariff to their standard rate, so the customer is no longer receiving the best deal and is no longer getting the savings. EasySwitch™ can be set to switch you on to the best tariff automatically, so you’re always getting the best deal, effortlessly.
Is 4iE Smart WiFi easy to install?
Regarding the thermostat, Michael says “Whilst the technology is extremely forward-thinking, we recognised the importance of making the 4iE Smart WiFi Thermostat as simple as possible. With this in mind, we put a lot of work into ensuring that the thermostat had minimal programming - leaving users free to simply enjoy the technology, rather than having to spend time trying to understand it.”
So, whilst technology moves forward in leaps and bounds, it’s essential to take the necessary time and consideration to find the thermostat technology that will offer genuine value and benefits for your home - and wallet. Doing so is sure to result in cost savings and efficiency in the future.
Can a thermostat be a piece of design?
The MyHeating™ app for iOS and Android is free to download. The 4iE Smart WiFi Thermostat retails for £199.99 inc. VAT and is available in a choice of two colours, Onyx Black and Bright Porcelain. The 4iE is designed to look great in both modern and traditionally styled homes, with glass effect front faces and bevelled chrome edges to reflect wall colours. A range of vinyl overlays are available in bold colours and textured metal and wood effects. You can even use a custom photo to complement your wallpaper.
