Before we get into all that, let’s start by explaining what makes a thermostat smart…

Programable thermostats (thermostats that can adjust the temperature based on a pre-set schedule), have been around, in one way or another, since 1906. So why is everyone, “all of a sudden” (for the past 10 years or so), talking about “smart” thermostats, and what’s so smart about them anyway?!

For a thermostat to be considered “smart”, it just has to be Wi-Fi enabled. The most basic models just allow you to remotely adjust the temperature with a smartphone app. This is great because it allows you to set the thermostat to your desired temperature before leaving work after a 12-hour shift or from the tarmac after a weeklong vacation, while maintaining an energy-saving temperature while you’re away.

The really smart ones “learn” your preferences and routine (mostly through motion sensors) and automatically adjust to an energy-saving temperature when you’re asleep or away. Higher end models use features like geofencing to achieve your desired temperature by the time you get home.

In summary, smart thermostats use motion sensors and geofencing to figure out when nobody is home, and automatically go into energy-saving mode when your house is empty. They also make it extremely easy to set up a sensible heating and cooling schedule. According to real-world data gathered by the EPA, smart thermostats (that meet Energy Star criteria) save users an average of 8% on their electric bills.

For comparison, setting your programable thermostat 7 to 10° higher for 8 hours a day will save you an average of 10% on your electric bill, according to data from the Department of Energy, but research shows that 40 to 70% of programmable thermostat users don’t take advantage of this feature, so they don’t realize the same real-world

If you’ve purchased an HVAC system in the past 30 years, you’ve probably noticed the big yellow sticker labeled “ENERGY GUIDE” that points down to an Efficiency Rating or SEER.

SEER, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, is the ratio of cooling output (the BTUs) of an air conditioner or heat pump over the course of a typical cooling season, divided by the electrical input (the watt hours) required to run the unit in that same period.

Much like your vehicle’s MPG rating, a higher SEER rating means a more efficient air conditioning system, but just like MPG ratings, SEER ratings are affected by real-world conditions (you’re probably not getting the same mileage that was printed on the window sticker).

The Department of Energy (DOE) has enforced minimum SEER requirements since 1992, but previous testing methods did not accurately reflect real-world conditions, like poorly designed ductwork.

On January 1, 2023, new testing procedures known as SEER2 went into effect. These new SEER2 standards more accurately reflect real-world conditions, and they demand a lower energy efficiency rating so, in essence, you now have to get a better grade on a harder test.

What does this mean in practice?

The DOE divides the U.S into 3 regions (North, Southeast, and Southwest). In the Southwest and Southeast regions (which includes Florida), residential central air conditioning systems below 45,000 BTUs must have a SEER2 rating of 14.3, residential systems with 45,000 BTUs or more must have a SEER2 rating of 13.8, and heat pumps must have a SEER2 rating of 14.3.

More efficient units are cheaper to operate, but they’re also more expensive to manufacture which means that prices for these new, more energy efficient units will be higher.

If you live in Broward or Palm Beach, and you ’re about due for