During the fall, we frequently hear tips about how to better weatherproof our homes for the cold winter season that lies ahead. I haven't read a tip list yet which didn't mention using a programmable thermostat, and that's probably because 50 - 70 percent of our homes' energy consumption is directly related to its HVAC system. A programmable thermostat not only makes saving energy easy, it also saves us plenty of money quite effortlessly.

I have to admit that I didn't think there were many differences between various models of programmable thermostats...until I discovered the Universal Internet Thermostat from Hunter Fan Company.  Ever been away from home and wish that you had done differently in regards to your thermostat's settings?  I know I have!  But now, with Hunter's Universal Internet Thermostat, a quick reprogram is immediately at your fingertips.  Keep reading to learn more!

The Hunter Universal Internet Thermostat is an Easy, Convenient, Energy Solution

Energy costs are one of the most expensive monthly items for consumer households.  Wouldn't it be convenient if you could control the thermostat in your house and manage your energy costs from – anywhere? You can with Hunter’s new Universal Internet Thermostat – all from your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.

My husband and I are very energy conscious and are always watching our home's thermostat like a hawk.  Unfortunately though, if you don't have remote access, you can't max out on your energy savings.  For instance, say you have your programmable thermostat set to cool down your house 30 minutes before you typically arrive home from work.  But then, something unexpected comes up and you go out with friends and don't arrive home for another 3 hours.

With the Hunter Universal Internet Thermostat, you can quickly adjust the settings to match your new schedule.  Just log in to the Hunter Fan app before you start back home and enjoy the fact that you just saved 3 hours of needless cooling or heating costs and your home's temperature is still nice and comfortable for your arrival.

I also love being able to remotely control our home's thermostat because now I can rest assured that our dog Noel is cozy at all times.  For instance, let's say that my family was out of town for the night and we didn't realize that a cold front was coming in later that evening.  Normally, our poor dog would be cold because we forgot to have the heater set before we left.  But now, thanks to the Hunter Universal Internet Thermostat, we can adjust the temperature perfectly with the touch of a button for one happy dog!  :dog:

Here's just a few of the Universal Internet Thermostat's many features:

Multiple Device Management

Does your home run on multiple thermostats? Maybe your bedroom is controlled by one and the man-cave upstairs by another…No problem! No matter how many thermostats you need, they can all be controlled by the same application. So if you've climbed in bed for the night but forgot to adjust the thermostat upstairs? Just open the application and make the changes directly from your phone.

Multiple Location Management

Have a vacation home you need to monitor? How about a parent’s home you’d like to help control? Anywhere you have one of these thermostats installed can all be managed though the same app. So whether you’re headed to your vacation home and need to lower the air or you want to help your parent set their thermostat schedule, you have the flexibility to do it. All from the palm of your hand, and all from one application.

Unlimited Scheduling

We all have busy lives these days – including a lot of disruptions. Add more than one person in a household and the complexity is amplified. Well, this thermostat lets you build as many schedules as you’d like. In less than a minute or so.

Assign Privileges

Does more than one person in your household need the flexibility of controlling your thermostat settings? Or perhaps you’ve let friends have your condo for the week? With this thermostat, you can invite family members and friends to help control your thermostat.

Weather Forecasts

View combined forecasts for all locations so you know what temperature adjustments need to be made without having to look anywhere else to figure it out.

Alerts

Did an unexpected cold front move in and temperatures drop drastically? Did you forget when you last replaced your heating & cooling system filters? No problem. Set an alert and we’ll tell you.

Additional features:

• Automatically changes between heat and cool
• Battery operation: uses 4 AA batteries for battery life of up to one year
• Optional battery-free operation using 24 volt “C-Wire”
• Limited five (5) year warranty

You'd think that the set up for a programmable internet thermostat such as this would be a nightmare, especially since it has to be connected to the internet router in your home...but it's not!  I was delighted at just how quick and easy it is, thanks to the included gateway wall adapter.  Simply plug this adapter into a power source and directly into your router using the included ethernet cable and you're ready to roll!  If you can install a regular thermostat, you can install this one too!

I never thought a thermostat could do so much, but frankly I was blown away by all of the innovative capabilities of the Hunter Universal Internet Thermostat.  I love checking my smartphone and monitoring the temperature both inside and outside of my home. I can just hear the sweet jingle from all that money being saved!  :money:

Disclosure:  I received the Universal Internet Thermostat from Hunter Fan Company in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my own personal experiences with this item and is completely honest and objective.