With a computer network in your home or business, you can do much more than just surf the web. For example, smart thermostats (also called internet thermostats) can save you money and help the environment by allowing you to control your building’s heating and air conditioning remotely, or even automatically respond to changes in the environment.

A thermostat is simply a small device that contains sensors and is used to control temperature. You probably have one that controls the heating or air conditioning system in your home or business. Thermostats are also installed in motor vehicles and vending machines to protect components from overheating.

A smart thermostat is a programmable building thermostat that can connect to an internet protocol (IP) network. Through an IP connection, you can remotely send instructions to an internet thermostat to turn it on or off or change its programming. These thermostats now often work with virtual assistants such as Alexa or Siri to incorporate voice control capabilities.

Some smart thermostats even have artificial intelligence built into them, which allows the device to learn. So, for example, if you come home from work at the same time every day, the device will learn to adjust the temperature in anticipation of your arrival. That’s the smart part of the smart thermostat.