Property Management Toolbox

Programmable Thermostats: Using the Internet to Save Money on Energy - Earth Day Part III

Admin
Published Date: 2010-04-26

To honor Earth Day this year we have developed a three-part series to help you improve the energy efficiency of your furnished rental units. Remember, every little bit counts towards creating a better planet for us all. Did you know that you can use your home Internet network to do more than just surf the Web? By investing in a programmable Internet thermostat, you can control your property's heating and air conditioning systems from a remote location. You can then configure your thermostat to match your activities so you save money on energy and help the environment too. Some of the things you can do with a remotely programmable thermostat include:

• Change the settings on your thermostat at any time, even if you're not in the property.
• Override the previous setting should the temperature outside change.
• Turn off your HVAC system from work if you realize you left it on.
• Set up alerts to let you know if your home becomes too warm or cold.
• Monitor your rental property’s temperature and energy usage on a daily basis.

A remotely programmable thermostat can be particularly useful if you know your tenant is away on weekends (and you don't want them leaving the air conditioning or heating at full blast), and it's also great for times when your corporate rental is vacant - you can control the thermostat remotely without having to make any special trips to the property. As wonderful as a remotely programmable thermostat is, in reality, most thermostats are not connected to the Internet. However, they are still programmable and you should encourage your tenants to take advantage of this opportunity to save energy. Leave your tenants simple instructions on how to program the thermostat and ask them to kindly to do so. You may also ask your tenant, prior to their move-in date, what their typical hours in the house will be so you can even create a pre-set for them. It's amazing how a simple thing like a programmable thermostat can shave dollars off your energy bill and help save our planet. Remember, use only what you need. You can find Internet programmable thermostats at your local hardware store.