Perhaps surprisingly, our energy rates here in Colorado are a little less than the national average. Of course in Denver and the surrounding counties, heating and cooling rates are steadily creeping up. No one can remember the last Xcel rate-drop and even the most efficient home- heating and cooling systems need a strong “captain at the wheel,” in the form of a programmable thermostat!

At its simplest, a thermostat takes the temperature of its surroundings – your home – and based on your preferences, decides whether it needs to take action to fire up the heating system or switch on the air conditioning. It’s a very basic job that for years was relegated to basic one-function dial-type devices; a Lakewood homeowner would set the temperature at a comfortable level, and the thermostat would do its best to keep it there.