I like to work on my home and make improvements.
I’m always looking for ways to make the house prettier, more comfortable and add convenience. I’ve replaced light fixtures, windows, doors and appliances. After pulling out the old shag carpeting, I sanded down the hardwood floors and varnished them. I’ve painted, purchased new curtains, invested in high quality furnishings and bought all new cupboards and countertops for the kitchen. After years of making upgrades, I finally noticed our ancient dial thermostat. This plastic model had to have been at least twenty-five years old and required manual adjustment. It was not only unattractive but ineffective. When I started researching the latest innovations in thermostats, I was shocked by the advances made in technology. In the same way computers, phones and sound speakers have advanced, so too have thermostats. Today’s generation of controls include touchscreen interfaces, wireless connectivity and automated adjustment. I chose a square-shaped model that allows me to uphold photos to customize the display. For the first week after installation, the thermostat kept track of all of our various adjustments and then created a program to accommodate our schedule. It knows right when to raise or lower temperature to conserve energy in an empty house and welcome us back to ideal comfort. I get text message reminders when it’s time to replace air filters or schedule professional maintenance. Through an app on my phone, I can make changes, get information and access all the various features from virtually anywhere in the world I happen to be. Although the thermostat was fairly expensive, the energy savings recovered the investment in under a year.