I live in one of the hottest cities on the planet during the summer months, and am planning on listing my first sit during that time, when electric bills more than double from the A/C usage. I’d never want a guest to be uncomfortable, but also wouldn’t mind a way to discourage anyone from habitually leaving the place like a meat-locker when no one’s home. This is probably one of those things that falls under the honor system & just vetting your sitter thoroughly, though I can’t help but be curious about the technology that could eliminate the problem altogether. I can’t say how well they work, but some “smart” thermostats can actually detect an empty house, and adjust accordingly. Simply making a guest aware of this function may be enough to change behavior, but if I am up front about all of it, would it be all that unusual or off-putting? Too big-brotherish?
We have a smart thermostat that senses when someone is about. It does save energy, but of course works only if someone trips it. Since my home office is the size of some studio or one-bedroom apartments, it’s annoying to have to get up once in a while just to make sure the thermostat knows I’m still there. I don’t want to say think of that as I’m working or meeting. I don’t want to think of my thermostat at all. YMMV.
As sitters, we wouldn’t be put off at all by this. We are always very cognizant of heating bills, air conditioning etc. when we do sits. When we do sits in apartments, we usually ask if the use of a fireplace is included in the monthly condo fees.
We have presence sensors that would turn off AC if no one is home. There are several other ways of doing it as well (door sensors etc etc) Considering how much you would save on boarding your pets I would just live with it but kindly ask the sitter to be conscious of the situation. I’m sure most would be frugal as long as they are comfortable.
As a sitter I really like it when owners are clear about their expectations around energy usage. My favourite approach is saying something like “we usually keep the temperature set to x during the day when we’re around; y when we go out without the dog and z when we all leave. At night it’s usually set to x/turned off/we use ceiling fans.” It’s very nice if you then also add that sitters are welcome to adjust these temperatures if they aren’t comfortable.
Totally get it—summer heat can be brutal! Smart thermostats are pretty cool for that exact reason; they can sense when a place is empty and adjust the A/C to save energy. Being upfront about it isn’t too big-brotherish, and it can actually help set clear expectations for your guests. Plus, most people appreciate the heads-up and might be more mindful about their A/C habits if they know it’s being monitored. It’s all about keeping things comfortable and efficient for everyone!
Also, consider installing solar panels to give your electric bill a major break. They can offset your A/C costs and reduce your reliance on the grid, which is especially handy during those peak summer months. It’s a solid investment that not only saves money but is great for the environment too! Plus, there are often government tax incentives that can make the investment more affordable.
Edited to remove links as per forum guidelines
Absolutely wouldn’t bother me as a sitter. I would like to think most fellow sitters would feel the same way and be considerate of their energy use when sitting but I can’t speak for them.
I personally try and avoid AC use and much prefer fresh air and a breeze supplemented by a fan in hot climates but totally understand this isn’t always feasible in some cities particularly when air quality is also a concern.
If there was a smart device that regulated temperature automatically I would see it as one less thing I had to worry about.