High Tech Thermostats: New Thermostats Meet Homeowner and Environmental Needs

(HIT) - Until recently, homeowners had little say in the design or operation of the thermostat that controls their heating and cooling system. But finally, a major manufacturer of heating and cooling equipment decided to ask consumers what they really wanted. "We did a series of interviews with groups of homeowners around the country and asked them outright what they didn't like about their current thermostats and what they'd like to see in the one we were designing," said Kim Warren of Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems. "This input was used to design a high tech thermostat that is attractive, easy-to-use, and uses environmentally safe materials."

Consumers Ask For Attractiveness And Ease-Of-Use

"Consumers told us they wanted an aesthetically pleasing product that would blend in with room decor," said Warren. "They wanted a product that would be comfortable and non-threatening to use, provide positive, useful feedback and alert them to any problems in the system. Consumers also said they prefer large, 'positive action' push-buttons made from soft rubber, such as is found on a television remote control, over the small buttons on many typical thermostats that are more difficult for adult-sized fingers to handle.

"They asked for a high tech, backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) for better viewing of time and temperature controls. If they get up in the middle of the night and try to change the temperature in the dark, without their glasses, they want to be able to clearly see what they're doing. In answer to their needs, we included these key features, and much more."

Among the visual displays provided for the convenience of the homeowner are a 24-hour room temperature display showing current room temperature, a desired temperature display, a "clean filter" indicator to alert the homeowner when to clean or replace the system's air filter and a reset filter button to restart the timer that calculates the time left until the next air filter changing or cleaning. For homeowners with two-stage air conditioners or heat pumps, an energy savings indicator shows when the system is saving energy by operating on the lower speed.

For the programmable models, a 72-hour backup feature that does not require batteries preserves the day and time readout in the event of a long-term power outage. The climate control program is never lost—once programmed in, it stays until the homeowner chooses to change it.

An optional outdoor temperature display shows the outdoor temperature on the LCD readout. "This tells homeowners what the temperature is at their house, not at the airport or another locale as reported on the news," added Warren.

Homeowners won't need to switch back and forth between heating and cooling modes, because the high tech thermostat adjusts automatically as needed. This feature is particularly useful in most climates during the spring and fall months, when daytime temperatures call for cooling, but nighttime temperatures require heating.

Long Lasting And Environmentally Friendly

Bryant's high tech thermostats are all electronic, meaning there are no mechanical components to wear down. A microprocessor-control functions as the "brains" of the system, comparing temperature set points with current room temperature to maintain a constant comfort level.

This allows for the elimination of a mercury-based switch, which is used in conventional thermostats to determine when to turn a system on or off. Although the amount of mercury used in conventional thermostats is not harmful, it presents a disposal problem when a thermostat is replaced. As with alkaline batteries, many municipalities across the country prohibit the dumping of mercury with regular refuse.

"By eliminating the mechanical switch, we've accomplished two things," said Warren. "First, there's no mercury to be concerned about, now or in the future. Secondly, by employing a microprocessor, we've created a more accurate way to measure and control room temperature than the old method, which relied on an electro-mechanical system of temperature sensing and system activation."

Constructed with the future of the environment in mind, the thermostat housings for Bryant's high tech thermostats will carry the universally-recognized "recyclable" symbol.

"The new thermostats are designed to last at least 15 years," added Warren. "And, we purposely left 25 percent of the microprocessor unprogrammed, so there's room to accept future system upgrades or add-on products. There's no need for a new thermostat when a home's heating and cooling system is eventually replaced or upgraded."

Bryant's high tech thermostats are affordable, too. Consumers should consult their local Bryant dealer to obtain an accurate estimate on installation costs. The six new thermostats include three programmable and three non-programmable models.

The Heart Of A Total System

The thermostat is the heart of an indoor climate control system, which includes a furnace and air conditioner or a heat pump for heating and cooling plus a choice of additional components such as a humidifier, heat recovery ventilator or zoning controls for indoor comfort.

"Our new high tech thermostat is compatible with all Bryant system components, including the Plus 90i furnace, which has an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of up to 96.6 percent -- the most energy-efficient residential gas furnace available," said Warren.

Incorporating a zoning system, such as Bryant's Zone Perfect Two Zone zoning system, allows homeowners to personalize their comfort while saving on monthly utility bills.

Zoning enables homeowners to independently control the temperature of separate areas of the home, such as the living and sleeping areas or the upstairs and downstairs. Temperatures can be individually set up or down by zone according to the family's use and schedule, improving comfort and increasing energy savings.

For more information about Bryant’s high tech thermostats and indoor comfort systems, look under "Heating" in your local yellow page directory, or visit Bryant online at www.bryant.com for the name of the nearest Bryant Heating & Cooling dealer.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center