News > A Year of Savings with Innovative Energy Solutions – WiFi Thermostats

A Year of Savings with Innovative Energy Solutions – WiFi Thermostats

October 2023

Throughout 2023, Stearns Electric will be featuring residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural EnergyWise programs, rebates and other cost and energy saving features in our Year of Savings with Innovative Energy Solutions. In October, we are featuring members Kari and Nate Court and WiFi Thermostats.

Member Interview

KARI AND NATE COURT
Members since 2022

WHEN DID YOU INSTALL YOUR WIFI THERMOSTATS?
We installed our WiFi thermostats when we built our home in 2022.

WHY DID INSTALL WIFI THERMOSTATS?
Building new, we planned on using WiFi thermostats. We installed two WiFi thermostats – one for our in-floor heat boiler and one for our air source heat pump (ASHP). We liked the versatility of the WiFi thermostat and that we can monitor our usage if we are away.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST BENEFIT?
The convenience of being able to adjust the thermostat from our phones wherever we are located. The thermostats are user friendly, give us peace of mind and there additional features compared to traditional or programmable thermostats. Our thermostats have learned our habits and adjust accordingly. For example, we have a built-in geofence feature in our thermostat, which allows the heat or air conditioning to kick-in when we are within 20 miles of our home, or turn off when we are further away.

ARE THERE ANY INCONVENIENCES?
The only inconvenience is when there’s no WiFi.

HOW MUCH DID YOU RECEIVE IN REBATES?
We received a $25 rebate for each of our WiFi thermostats.

HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU SAVED?
With our ASHP and electric boiler, we participate in the Dual Fuel EnergyWise program, saving with the lower energy rate. With the addition of our WiFi thermostats, we save about $50 more each year.

HOW MUCH ENERGY HAVE YOU SAVED?
Between our two thermostats, we save approximately 716 kWh annually. Most of the energy savings occurs in the heating months, but this summer, we’ve saved over 60 run hours on our ASHP with the WiFi thermostat.

WiFi Thermostat Rebate

Smart (WiFi) thermostats can be programmed automatically and monitored via WiFi to adjust the temperature based on your needs and energy goals. On average, smart thermostats save members between 10-12% on heating and 15% on cooling costs. The Cooperative offers a rebate of $25 for a qualifying WiFi thermostat.

WIFI THERMOSTAT FEATURES:

• Ability to learn your preferences
• App and voice control
• Geofencing
• Motion and proximity sensors
• Filter change alert
• Zoned heating

Visit the EnergyWiseMN store (https://energywisemnstore.com/) to explore some WiFi thermostat options. Being a Stearns Electric member gives you access to EnergyWiseMN store promotions and discounts throughout the year on WiFi thermostats and other energy-saving products for your home.

Stearns Electric offers residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural rebates for our member-consumers. By upgrading to more efficient equipment and enrolling in our EnergyWise programs, you will save money and energy every month. Contact Stearns Electric at (800) 962-0655 for more information.

Click to see the full October Innovative Energy Solutions feature here.