They say when you move into a new house that you should expect something will break immediately.
In my case, it was the HVAC system.
Within the first week of moving in, I had to have an entirely new heating and air conditioning system installed. When the HVAC technician asked if I wanted to go ahead and install a smart thermostat for a small fee I agreed. I was having an entirely new HVAC system installed, I might as well have it upgraded, right? I am so glad that I did. Later, in the winter months, I ended up with the flu—despite getting my annual influenza vaccination. I was so miserable; I could barely lift my head and the achy chills were constant. One morning, while I was lying in bed—wrapped in four covers and suffering through a high fever—I remember feeling so cold and helpless because I was too sick to get up and the thermostat at the other end of the house. Then it occurred to me; the smart thermostat! I stretched my hand out from beneath the covers and turned up the heat on my phone. Later, when my fever had finally broken, I was also able to turn the temperature back down from the utility room where I was washing my sheets. Certainly, the smart thermostat is useful in the type of dire straits I was in over the winter but even during my everyday life it’s nice to be able to set the temperature in my home while I’m away—to save money on the electric bill—or when I’m simply too lazy or comfortable to get out of bed to make a minor temperature adjustment.