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Try these energy-saving thermostats this winter

Thermostat
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Written by Tim Barnes-Clay

Keep the whole family warmer (and your pockets a little richer) this winter with these four smart thermostats.

Life is so convenient these days that you can even toast the innards of your house to optimal comfort levels with the press of a button as you’re leaving work to pick up the kids before heading home.

Yes, smart thermostats are a revelation to families in that they allow you to control your home heating to the nth degree. Not only does this save you money in the long run, it’s also much better for the environment. Plus, it removes that “Darn it!” moment when you suddenly realise you’ve left the heating on halfway down the M1 en route to your family-weekend break destination.

If you don’t know where to start looking for one, here are four great smart thermostats to consider.

Nest Thermostat E

Nest Thermostat E, £199

The new Nest Thermostat E makes home life so much easier and cosier while saving money that you’ll never want to part from it. It works by downloading the Nest app on to your smartphone, which then lets you control the thermostat on your phone for total convenience. Setting it up is simple to do by yourself and you then have the power to do things like have the heating turn off when you’re asleep and out of the house – great for saving energy and pennies.

You can also turn the heating up or down with just your voice using the home assistant function. It’s a cheaper option than the Nest Learning thermostat and its cool white finish looks just as sleek anywhere in your home with its built-in stand. It’s compatible with virtually all central heating systems, from combi boilers to heat-only boilers. 

£199 | Buy from nest.com

Tado Starter Kit V3+

Tado Starter Kit V3+, £199

Tado has been making a name for itself as one of the go-to smart thermostats. And with the Tado Starter Kit V3+ Thermostat, we can see why. With aid of its newly designed smartphone app you have complete control over your home’s heating, including voice control and smart scheduling, whether you’re there or not. One clever aspect of this thermostat is the geofencing that changes the heat accordingly when no one is at home – to the point where it can turn on the heat ready for when you’re nearly home.

It even turns down the heating when it detects an open window, saving even more energy and money. We also love the Air Comfort Skill function, which helps optimise healthier indoor air, which is ideal for when you have little ones in the house. You can install it yourself following the easy instructions and its non-intrusive design means it’ll easily blend into your home’s furnishings.

£199 | Buy from tado.com

Salus iT500

Salus iT500, £99

A nicely designed thermostat with a large, easy to use touch-screen control box that shows you everything you need to know at a glance. You have full control of it through a smartphone app, so you can control it even if you’re not at home. For the price and what you get with it, you really can’t argue.

£99 | Buy from salus-controls.com

Honeywell Home Lyric T6

Honeywell Home Lyric T6, £143

This thermostat is designed from the ground up to give you room-by-room control – perfect for when have the family dotted all over the house – and loads of flexibility. You can access is through your smartphone or tablet and overall is ideal for larger family homes in particular. We also like its user-friendly interface.

£143 | Buy from amazon.co.uk