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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteUse your smart thermostat to ease heating or cooling while everyone is asleep or predictably away, then restore comfortable settings in time for waking and returning home. The best schedule follows your household’s actual routine—not a universal temperature target. Climate, insulation, HVAC equipment, occupancy and comfort preferences all affect what works.
Build a schedule around sleep, absence and arrival
Make small, practical changes to when your system maintains your preferred comfort setting. A thermostat can automate these changes with a schedule, learned routines, occupancy sensing or geofencing. ENERGY STAR describes a smart thermostat as “a Wi-Fi enabled device that automatically adjusts heating and cooling temperature settings in your home for optimal performance.” ENERGY STAR’s smart thermostat guidance explains that some models learn preferences and use geofencing to restore settings as residents approach home.
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While the household is asleep
Set an energy-saving temperature for sleeping hours if it remains comfortable. If the thermostat learns your preferences, check that the schedule it creates matches your real sleep and wake times; adjust it if it does not.
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Use a setback—an adjustment away from your usual comfort setting—during regular work, school or other absences. A fixed schedule works for predictable routines; occupancy sensing or geofencing may suit changing ones, provided the feature behaves reliably for your household.
#1 Best Overall
- ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Connectivity : Wi-Fi - 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz, 802.11a/n 5 GHz Wi-Fi., Wireless interconnect : Bluetooth Low Energy Please refer to the product description section below for all applicable legal disclaimers.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page
- The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory
- Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home. Lock feature: No
- Programmable thermostat that lets you create an energy efficient schedule in the Google Home app on your Android or iPhone
- Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
Before waking and returning
Schedule the home to reach your preferred setting around the time people wake or arrive, rather than maintaining it throughout the entire sleep or absence period. Some thermostats can pre-adjust based on learned patterns or geofencing. Check the result in practice and shift the timing if comfort is restored too early or too late.
For an extended trip
For a longer absence, ENERGY STAR’s smart-home heating and cooling tips say users can ease settings substantially and change them remotely before returning. Do not choose an extreme setting without considering freeze protection, pets, plants, plumbing and any manufacturer or local guidance for your home.
Rank #2
- An Alexa thermostat - Amazon Smart Thermostat is an easy way to switch from a traditional thermostats for homes and help reduce energy usage.
- Create comfort zones throughout your home by connecting to select Alexa devices to automatically adjust heating and cooling based on temperature readings or presence detection.
- Save money and energy - After purchase, Amazon will send you an email with details about home thermostat rebates that may be available from energy providers in your area.
- Save energy - According to EPA estimates, ENERGY STAR certified thermostats save an average of $90 on yearly energy bills.
- Programmable thermostat and automatic control - Create your own home, away and sleep schedules, or have Alexa automatically control the temperature with Alexa+ advanced features.
Choose temperatures by testing comfort, not chasing a universal number
There is no single ideal setting that fits every climate, home, heating or cooling system, and household. Start with a modest change during sleep or absence, keep the occupied periods comfortable, and adjust based on how the household feels and how the system operates. If a change causes discomfort, reduce it; energy savings are not useful if the schedule is abandoned or routinely overridden.
An older ENERGY STAR guide, Use a Programmable Thermostat Properly, gives historical examples rather than individualized or current smart-thermostat prescriptions. It suggests heating below 70°F during wake and evening periods, with a setback of at least 8°F during day or sleep; for cooling, it suggests above 78°F during wake and evening, a setup of at least 7°F during the day, and at least 4°F during sleep. The guide calls these starting points to adjust for schedule and comfort. Treat them as examples only—not requirements, guarantees or advice that accounts for your particular equipment or household.
Rank #3
- Save up to 23% every year on heating and cooling costs, adjusts to your set schedule to save energy when you’re gone and optimize comfort when you’re home. Compared to a hold of 72
- Compatible with 85% of systems, check your system’s compatibility with our online ecobee Compatibility Checker on the ecobee support page
- Change your temperature by easily tapping the color touchscreen or using the ecobee app. Plus, free software upgrades ensure you get the best out of your Smart Thermostat Essential, for years to come
- Automatically adjusts to your set schedule to save energy when you’re gone and optimize comfort when you’re home. Keep track of your energy consumption when you're on the go on the ecobee app
- Easy DIY install. No C Wire, no problem. Get the ecobee Power Extender Kit (PEK) for homes without a C-Wire and keep your walls looking nice with our trim kit – both sold separately
Use thermostat feedback to refine the schedule
Review the thermostat’s energy-use or HVAC-runtime information after changing the schedule. Look for whether the system’s operation changes over time and whether the household still finds the home comfortable; use what you observe to tune the schedule rather than assuming a setting saved energy. ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostats must offer schedules, feedback about energy consequences and HVAC-use information. Their certification criteria also include demonstrated runtime savings using field data.
The current ENERGY STAR smart thermostat certification criteria list annual runtime-reduction thresholds of at least 8% for heating and 10% for cooling at the lower 95% confidence limit of the weighted national average. They also list separate 20th-percentile thresholds of at least 4% for heating and 5% for cooling. These are product-certification thresholds based on field data, not a forecast or promise of savings for an individual home. ENERGY STAR notes that actual outcomes vary with climate, comfort preferences, occupancy, HVAC equipment and home characteristics.
Rank #4
- EASY DIY INSTALLATION: Do it yourself fast with a built-in level and simple step-by-step instructions. Works with the HVAC equipment found in most homes
- COMMON WIRE REQUIREMENTS: Common wire(C-Wire) required for heat pump and heat/cool only systems. C-wire not required on most systems
- SAVE ABOUT 23% ON HVAC ENERGY: ENERGY STAR-certified and packed with features that help you save money, including flexible scheduling, geofencing, remote access and usage reports
- PRIVACY PROTECTION: Sensi won’t sell your personal information to third parties or leverage your thermostat activity data for targeting or advertising purposes
- CONTROL FROM ANYWHERE: The top-rated mobile app for Android and iOS devices makes it easy to control your comfort from a smartphone or tablet
Check compatibility before changing equipment or buying a thermostat
A schedule can only help if the thermostat controls the HVAC system correctly. Before choosing a device, verify that it is compatible with your specific heating and cooling equipment, and follow the equipment and thermostat manufacturers’ guidance.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11- Specialized or high-efficiency equipment: Some very high-efficiency systems may work best with a controller from the same manufacturer. ENERGY STAR says variable-capacity heat pumps and air conditioners generally perform best with a manufacturer-recommended thermostat; confirm the recommended control for your model.
- Power and wiring: Some smart thermostats need consistent power for Wi-Fi and screens. Many use a C-wire, though not all do. If your wiring lacks one, check whether the thermostat supports your setup or requires an adapter before purchase.
- Wi-Fi: If the thermostat’s connection to your router is weak, ENERGY STAR suggests a Wi-Fi range extender. That is a remedy for poor signal, not a universal thermostat requirement.
ENERGY STAR certification is a useful product screen: certified models meet criteria for scheduling, energy and HVAC-use feedback, basic thermostat operation without provider connectivity, and support for utility programs while preserving the consumer’s ability to override grid requests. Certification is not a guarantee of a particular bill reduction in your home.
Check local utility programs separately
Some utility partners sponsor rebates, and ENERGY STAR says certified smart thermostats are designed to work with some utility programs. Availability, eligibility and terms depend on the local program, so confirm them with your utility or use ENERGY STAR’s Rebate Finder. If a program can request thermostat adjustments, check how the device lets you override those requests.
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