The digital, programmable thermostats – a type of Smart technology – is what truly sold us
A few years ago, our family started kicking around the idea of installing a swimming pool… Our three children were all for it, imagining pool parties, floating on foam chairs getting suntans, and generally staying cool during the hottest months of the summer. As the parents, my friend and I played devil’s advocate, pointing out the negatives of owning a pool, but for one thing, there would be strict rules regarding guests using the pool. Another thing that the kids hadn’t accounted for was the chores and service that they would be responsible for. And finally, my friend and I reminded them that owning a swimming pool only keeps you cool if you’re actually in the pool. What about staying cool inside of the house? The discussion was tabled, as researching central a/c wasn’t the kids’ idea of a great time, but so my friend and I (the adults) visited an HVAC store to look into installing central a/c. We already knew the convenience of adding a/c to our forced-air heating system, and my friend and I had already set aside currency to cover the cost. We were told that if my friend and I didn’t have existing air duct, the cost of the a/c upgrade would double the cost and the time of upgrade. The HVAC business suggested that my friend and I choose an energy efficient unit. We learned that the higher the seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER), the more efficient the system – leading to significant cost savings. The digital, programmable thermostats – a type of Smart technology – is what truly sold us. The possibilities for temperature control were amazing and impressive. Since my friend and I were the real decision-makers, my friend and I let the kids know that night that the pool was out – and cool air was in!