Living in Glenview, Illinois, presents some unique challenges.
The weather is difficult just about year round.
We experience extremely cold and long winters. It’s not unusual for the temperature to drop down to negative twenty. The heating system is an essential component for approximately eight straight months. We also deal with constant snowfall, accumulating far more than the national average. Our summer conditions are typically hot and humid, with temperatures climbing into the nineties. In-between, we expect spring and fall to be windy, wet and chilly. The cost of heating and cooling adds up and has a major impact on the household budget. I am always on the lookout for energy saving measures. I am diligent about replacing air filters in the furnace and air conditioner. I make sure to schedule professional maintenance for the heater in the fall and the cooling unit in the spring. Just recently, I finally made the upgrade to a smart thermostat. We had been managing with an old, manual thermostat that provided nothing more than temperature adjustment. The new system allows wifi access. Through an app on my smartphone I’m able to raise or lower temperature and utilize all sorts of helpful features. For the first week after installation, the thermostat kept track of every adjustment. It learned our preferences and scheduling and created a program to accommodate them. Now it automatically adjusts to conserve energy when the house is empty and welcomes us back to ideal comfort. Plus, the device offers energy tracking and responds to voice commands. The savings on my heating and cooling bills has quickly recovered the investment into the smart thermostat.