Smart controls: What is smart?

Smart controls:  What is smart?

In the last few years we have seen the market flooded with so called "smart" thermostats but how smart are they and who gets to decide?

Well the short answer is that as there is no real regulation of the controls market and the word "smart" is so subjective and vague that any manufacturer and installer can say pretty much whatever they like.

I saw an installation company advertising a salus RT500RF as a smart thermostat, it isn't "smart" by any stretch of marketing.  It is just a wireless on/off controller.  Many smartphone compatible stats are still just on/off controls and that is simply not good enough nowadays.

To make a thermostat or controller smart in my opinion it needs to do a few things, the first and most important is it MUST MODULATE!!!!  Pretty much every boiler from the last ten years has been capable of modulating according to the calculated demand based on return temperature and a large majority has been capable of receiving modulating data from the controller or thermostat.  If a control can't modulate the boiler then not only are you being sold redundant technology but if the meetings with and indications from BEIS is anything to go by it will be a legal requirement within six to twelve months.

Don't settle for shiny - The British Gas Hive controller is (at the time of writing) not a modulating controller, it can use TPI and has other energy saving gubbins but it really doesn't do much that a £40 wireless stat would do.  Heat Genius also doesn't modulate currently but have other whole house solutions that add to the efficiency and comfort.  Heat Genius are far better than Hive as you can attach radiator valve controls and room sensors.  Heat Genius are a great TPI option, and if you don't have a modulating gas boiler or if you have oil or air heating.