FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SMART HOMES
WHAT IS A SMART THERMOSTAT?

Smart thermostats are devices that can be used with home automation and are responsible for controlling a home’s heating and/or air conditioning. They perform the same functions as a programmable thermostat as they allow the user to control the temperature of their home throughout the day using a schedule, such as setting a different temperature at night. Like a connected thermostat, they are connected to the Internet and they allow users to adjust heating settings from other internet-connected devices, such as smartphones. This allows users to easily adjust the temperature remotely. This ease of use is essential for ensuring energy savings: studies have shown that households with programmable thermostats actually have higher energy consumption than those with simple thermostats because residents program them incorrectly or disable them completely. Smart thermostats also record internal and external temperatures, time the HVAC system has been running, and can even notify you if your air filter needs to be replaced. This information is typically displayed later on an internet-connected device. Smart thermostats have been shown to save on energy bills.
HOW TO USE ECOBEE 4 THERMOSTAT
We have put together a walkthrough video series showing all the features of your new thermostat
WHAT IS LED RETROFITTING?

LED retrofitting means replacing your existing lighting with a new and better lighting technology, usually to increase the energy efficiency and the quality of light in the facility. Retrofitting is a term often used when converting older, outdated lighting technologies such as fluorescent, CFL and HID (metal halide) to a newer energy-efficient technology, like an LED system.
WHAT IS A HIGH QUALITY LED LIGHT BULB?

When you’re shopping for an LED light bulb, the best quality ones will provide the specifications that are most important to you. Consider the amount of light you need in the color of light you like, how the light emits from the bulb, the dimensions of the bulb and base, and the kind of warranty comes with the bulbs.
Important Specifications
Amount of light: Find LEDs with low wattage and high lumens. It should be easier to find LEDs with good wattage-lumen ratios than incandescent bulbs with good ratios. Investing in good wattage-lumen ratio LEDs can save you energy, and you’ll see the difference on your regular energy bill.
Color of light: When you’re looking for an LED light bulb, another thing to consider is the color of the light. Shades of white range from warm to cool; more yellow-y whites fall into the category of “soft white” while more blue-ish whites fall into the category of “daylight.” If you can find the CRI (color-rendering index) of the bulb, remember that the higher the CRI number, the greater the number of objects that will appear natural.
How light emits: While incandescent bulbs put off light in all directions, many LED bulbs are designed to send their light in one direction. If you’re looking for an LED comparable to 60-watt incandescent bulbs, find omnidirectional LEDs. They distribute the light around the bulb as well as from the top.
Dimension of bulb: The dimensions of LED bulbs are similar to standard incandescent bulbs, but not quite the same. Make sure that you get LED bulbs the size of your socket. Keep in mind that LEDs can also be heavier than incandescent bulbs, so you’ll want to be sure that your light fixture can support the extra weight.
Warranty: A good LED light bulb should come with at least a three- to five-year warranty, while the best LED bulbs have up to a 10-year warranty.
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THE BULB’S LIFESPAN FOR LED BULBS?
WHAT IS CONSISTENT LIGHTING?
WHY ARE SMART THERMOSTATS GOOD FOR RENTALS AND AIRBNB PROPERTIES?
WHAT OTHER SMART TECHNOLOGY DO THESE SMART THERMOSTATS CONNECT WITH?
WHAT IS A WIFI-ENABLED (OR SMART) SPRINKLER CONTROL?
An automatic sprinkler control that connects to the internet and will allow you to control your sprinklers from any internet connected device. They pull accurate weather reports which means if it’s raining, you won’t be watering your yard at the same time. When your neighborhood gets a new watering restriction, you can simply add that information from your smart phone, tablet, or computer, and your sprinklers will not water during those times. Plus, you can take a picture of your yard associated with each zone on your system and remove the second guessing of what area is which zone. Custom labels for each zone help keep this more intuitive as well.