By Tyler Tallman (Energy Advisor at Franklin Energy)

One of the most important things about the digital and information age is the ability to collect data and act on it. Today, homeowners can get to know how their house is working in real-time and from almost anywhere with a variety of smart home technologies. The landmark device in this new realm is the smart thermostat – for which customers can receive up to $150 in Energize Delaware program rebates.

The smart thermostat is an improvement over the baseline programmable thermostat because it is easier to use and more intuitive to program. In fact, some studies have shown that houses with just programmable thermostats have higher energy consumption than regular thermostats due to user error. In addition, smart thermostats help homeowners visualize their heating and cooling usage – along with the impacts to their energy bills – on a daily basis vs. the end of every month.

The ease-of-use that these devices offer, combined with the information they provide, is a great tool for customers and contractors alike. Plus, it might help the homeowner realize the need for future energy saving options, which is a win all around!