We provide a supply and installation service of all the top thermostats. And if you are an existing Heat:Plan service customer you can benefit from a discount on the installation of a Netatmo smart control.

We also get asked a lot of questions about smart thermostats so we thought it was worth sharing our thoughts.

What are smart thermostats?

Smart thermostats or smart heating controls have been around for over 10 years already! But the technology gets better and better each year and there are now quite a few on the market.  

They are designed to connect your heating system to the internet meaning you can control your heating with your smartphone or device from anywhere, at any time.

Is a smart thermostat the same as a smart meter?

No. We can understand why you might think this and we have had lots of people ask us the same question. But they are not the same thing.

You may have been approached by your energy company to install a smart meter.

This is part of the Government’s current commitment to offer every homeowner one free of charge in order to provide automatic and accurate bills based on your actual energy usage.

It is important to know that smart meters are not compulsory, but if you are interested in having one installed, then you can contact your energy supplier. Or find out more about them here .

 What are the main benefits of using a smart thermostat?

 We think there are three great reasons to have a smart thermostat

1. You are in complete control

You can manage the heating in your home from anywhere by turning the temperature up or down whenever you need to.

2. Save money on your energy bills

By being in control of your heating you can make sure you have no unnecessary waste and, in so doing, help to keep your energy bills as low as possible (studies show that it is estimated an average household can save up to 10% on their annual gas bill by using a smart thermostat)

3. Save time and be really smart

As the technology develops, the smart controls take over. They can learn your daily routine and even track where you are via GPS to turn the heating up or down, whatever is needed and saving you time and money along the way.

How much does it cost?

There are lots of different types of smart thermostats, each with their own benefits. We have listed the most popular ones here.

We only install smart thermostats that we supply. The cost depends on the product you select. For example, if you are already a Gregor HeatPlan customer then we offer a discounted rate on the supply and installation of Netatmo smart thermostats for just £150 (inc VAT).

If you are interested in installing a smart control and not sure where to start, we will happily talk you through which one might be the best to suit you and your home and the costs involved. Just give the team a call today.

As you can see a smart thermostat is just the first step.

Did you know that you can also look at smart devices to manage your lighting and home security link too, but that’s for another blog!

The post Why a smart thermostat could be the way forward for your home this year appeared first on Gregor Heating, Electrical & Renewable Energy.

However, a report released earlier this month shows that home safety should be top of mind, because the number of home burglaries and break-ins in and around Bristol and Bath has risen year on year since 2013.

What would be more frustrating than to look back and realise how making even some small and not that costly changes could have kept your home safer.

The average break-in costs a household around £3000. But some simple steps can be taken to increase home security, meaning you can be safe in the knowledge that your family and belongings are protected.

A well-lit home

Research shows that when the clocks go back (Sunday 28^th October this year), burglaries spike by 38%! So the appearance of your property can make all the difference.

Outdoor home security lighting such as external floodlights and door lights that activate when they detect the presence of a large moving object such as a person, are a must. We especially recommend the JCC Niteflood high-output LED floodlight and Eterna external lighting.

With products such as the Phillips Hue, you can control your lighting using your smart device, voice, or even a wireless switch. This means you can turn on and off lights from wherever you are. Be sure that you always return to a well-lit home.

Keep an eye on what’s going on.

The Netatmo Presence outdoor security camera is one of our favourite pieces of smart tech. The clever camera detects movement around your property, and reports it live onto your devices, wherever you are.

It can detect the difference between animals, cars and humans. So whether it is a car entering the driveway, or a person entering your property, you can choose whether to be notified.

Keep things secure.

With added smart home security measures, there a few more good old fashioned techniques to try. Consider upgrading your locks on your windows and doors. This higher level of security has other perks too – it can result in a reduction for your home insurance premiums.

Need a hand keeping your home well-lit and secure? Contact the Gregor Electrical team to find out more.

(Sources of statistics: Home Office, Co-op insurance)

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The latest Smart Technology creates a flexible, efficient home that works with your schedule. Wherever you are – at home, in the office or even in another country – you can control your heating and monitor your home security from your tablet, phone or laptop. Here’s just a few great examples of Smart Technology recommended by our experts:

Smart Security
The Netatmo Presence outdoor security camera detects and reports in real-time onto any of your devices for extra peace of mind.

It can identify the difference between cars, animals and humans. So, if someone loiters around your home, a car enters your driveway or your pet is in the yard, you can see and decide whether to be notified. It records only when something happens so there are no hours of empty footage.

Smart Lighting
With products such as Philips Hue, you can control your lights using your voice, smart device or a wireless switch. From your bedroom to your backyard, you can have brilliant and energy-efficient LED lights with intuitive technology that’s also compatible with motion sensors.

Smart Heating

Coming home to a cold house is now a thing of the past. With the latest smart heating controls, such as Honeywell’s Evohome or Worcester Bosch’s Wave, you can control your heating from your mobile phone.

Smart thermostats learn how long your home takes to heat up and cool down, provide detailed reports on your heating usage and even detect when your pipes are at risk of freezing and put the heating on, meaning you save on your energy bills.

Want to find out more how you could benefit from smart technologies in your home? Contact the Gregor Heating team for a free smart home consultation with one of our experts on 0117 935 2400.

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