Commemorate Earth Day With an Energy-Saving Smart Thermostat - firstenergyhome

76 views | April 22, 2020

In some ways, April 22nd is just another day of the year. However, every April 22nd for the last 50 years, millions of people worldwide celebrate it as Earth Day and another opportunity to stress the importance of environmental protection and conservation.¹

Earth Day is the ideal time to think about the health of the planet and the importance of safeguarding the environment. For many, Earth Day is every day, and one easy step towards everyday energy conservation is adding a smart thermostat to your home such as the Google Nest Thermostat or the Google Nest Learning Thermostat.

When thinking about climate change complexities, a smart thermostat may not seem like a big deal. Still, according to Energy Star®, if everyone used a certified smart thermostat, we could offset 13 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions.²

Personally, homeowners that utilize a Google Nest thermostat save on average about 10-12 percent on heating and up to about 15% on cooling costs annually.³ With the average household consuming almost half of their annual energy through heating and cooling, the potential savings could add up.⁴

It works like this: the smart thermostat “learns” temperature preferences and self-adjusts accordingly to prioritize conserving energy.

Google Nest thermostats are controllable from an app on a smartphone or tablet, and users can change the settings at any time, from anywhere on their mobile devices. Want to turn down or turn off the air conditioning while on summer vacation? No problem! Pull out your phone and adjust the temperature from that vacation destination.

The smart thermostat also sends alerts if anything is wrong, such as the temperature rising or falling past a certain threshold. This alert could mean the HVAC unit has issues and needs inspection; if it’s a significant issue, this feature can help prevent substantial damage. It also sends general notifications, like when the filter needs replacing.

Common Misconception

Everyone’s heard the argument; the unit has to work harder to achieve the optimal temperature after adjusting the thermostat, resulting in no savings and wasting more energy. Smart learning thermostats face this argument because of their ability to change temperature settings automatically.

That’s a false theory. The truth is if the house drops below its average temperature in the winter, it loses energy slowly, not quickly—the lower the indoor temperature, the home loses heat more slowly. If the house remains at a lower temperature longer, then the home saves more energy because it has lost less energy than it would have at the higher temperature. A higher indoor temperature will slow the outdoor heat from entering the house, saving AC energy in the summer.⁵

These efficiency claims have been verified using real-world data and user interaction with smart thermostats from independently certified EPA-recognized certification bodies.⁶

Smart thermostats like Google Nest can save energy when the homeowner leaves the house. The Google Nest Thermostat uses sensors and the smartphone’s location (geofencing technology) to verify if the homeowner is away before setting itself to an Eco temperature that will save energy.

Eco-Friendly Design

Almost everything about Google Nest and its thermostats is environmentally-focused and friendly, including their design and packaging. The Google Nest Thermostat, for example, is designed with recycled materials to reduce waste. Its plastic parts contain 49% recycled post-consumer plastic.

The Google Nest Learning Thermostat’s design is intentionally small to minimize its production, packaging, and shipping impact on the environment. For instance, its 96 percent paper and fiber packaging are lightweight for shipping and recycling.⁷

Both thermostats are Energy Star® certified, and the Google Nest Learning Thermostat was the first thermostat to earn the coveted Energy Star certification. This highly respected designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) means that the Google Nest Thermostat and the Google Nest Learning Thermostat have been carefully reviewed and meets the EPA’s energy efficiency guidelines.

When it comes to reducing energy consumption, get smart, the Google Nest Thermostats can save money and help save the planet. Make the Google Nest Learning Thermostat or the Google Nest Thermostat a present to the environment this Earth Day.

Thanks for reading, and happy Earth Day. For more information on smart home products and how they can save energy and reduce home energy costs, visit the FirstEnergy Home Learning Library.