Thermostats and Smart Controls:

Taking a New Look at Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats have come a long way in the past five years. While they are becoming more prevalent in households, we are often surprised by the number of programmable thermostats left in override or manual mode. Whether people find programmable thermostats too complex or the programming options do not meet their needs, there is a large slice of the public who are not taking advantage of the potential energy savings.

To better address this issue we have adopted the Honeywell Vision 8000 Pro as our standard thermostat. The 8000 Pro is a truly revolutionary product that is both user friendly and works well. The programming on this thermostat is the fastest that we have seen and requires no manuals or literature. Most importantly, it works well in real world applications.

Beyond Thermostats – Automation and Control

Wouldn't it be ideal to have your thermostat automatically go into energy saving mode when you are not home? No programming, just push one button when you leave and the system automatically goes into energy saving mode. When you return, another push of the button brings the temperature up to your preferred setting. How about if this one button also sets your security system as well?

We work closely with a local security company to offer Elk Products - M Series. This line of electronics allows for the intelligent automation of heating and air conditioning equipment. The Elk Products system is an enhanced security platform that tells the home or office HVAC equipment how to operate most efficiently.  When you arm the security system in the away mode, the controller sets the thermostat(s) for energy savings.  When you return to the home or office, the system brings the space temperature up to occupied setting.  Beyond allowing for greater energy savings, the Elk Products system allows for monitoring of smoke detectors, water leak sensors and temperature/freeze alarms.