The benefits of smart thermostats: Celebrating our 1,000th Switchee installation
This year, we’ve been busy installing smart thermostats called Switchees in customers’ homes, and we’re thrilled to have recently reached the milestone of installing our 1,000th Switchee.
Now that over 1,000 homes in Chelmsford have a Switchee installed, 10 percent of the homes we provide are being supported by this technology. Smart thermostats have many benefits; they can reduce carbon dioxide emissions, lower heating costs, improve communication with customers, and highlight potential hazards to customers early.
Flagging risks
Switchees often highlight potentially unknown risks, like damp conditions or mould growth, before they become a problem. They can also detect things like fuel poverty. Their advanced sensors monitor the home environment and securely transmit the data to our housing teams. This means we can address any issues before they start affecting a customer’s home environment and health, and offer support to those who need it.
Lowering heating bills
Customers with Switchees installed also can potentially even lower their energy costs, as the device offers customers more control over their heating and hot water systems via a touchscreen display or mobile app. They can create custom schedules for their heating, or use ready-made ones, and even turn their heating on remotely so it’s ready for them when they get home.
An independent report by National Energy Action (NEA) found that homes with Switchee devices installed saw an average of a 17 percent reduction in heating costs.
Reducing CO2 emissions
Not only does energy efficiency lower costs for customers, but it also helps us on our way to achieving carbon Net Zero as an organisation.
Improving communication
The Switchee system makes communication between us and customers easier than ever. We can send appointment reminders or satisfaction surveys through the device, achieving response rates of over 90 percent.
Emma’s story
CHP customer, Emma, recently had a Switchee thermostat installed, and said, “Switchee for me has been a blessing. I am registered blind, so the clear screen on the device has been brilliant because I can read it. I can control the temperature in the house with an app, so if I wake up cold I can turn up the heating from my bed or turn the heating on before I get home if I’m out.
“The device is really responsive and it doesn’t take long to adjust the temperature, which is perfect for me. The installation was quick and easy and took about two hours with three operatives working together to make sure that the set up was perfect, and they also tested the device before they left. I’m really pleased with my Switchee device.”
Looking ahead
Following the success of Switchee devices so far, we’ll be looking to install more than double the amount by this time next year. This will help us to offer targeted support to customers who need it, help save on heating costs and energy, and improve the long-term health and sustainability of the homes we provide.