August 1, 2011

By: Martin LaMonica

EnergyHub is making smart thermostats smarter by hitching them to a large database.

The residential energy company today announced a software system that works with connected thermostats in people’s homes to optimize settings for energy savings. Called Mercury, the software is aimed at broadband providers, utilities, and thermostat manufacturers, which will offer the service to consumers.

Programmable thermostats are one of the most effective ways to lower energy consumption, but many consumers don’t own them or don’t take the trouble to program them. With EnergyHub’s software, people will be able to program HVAC systems through a Web site or a smart phone application with a far simpler interface, according to EnergyHub CEO Seth Frader-Thompson.

Read more at CNET.