‍At a glance: 

Multi-location business owners need to maintain control over their thermostats to avoid wasting energy, keep bills down, and to keep ops running smoothly. Ways you can prevent changes to your thermostat include: 

• Low-lift approaches like signage saying “Do not touch!” pasted next to your thermostat, or using thermostat lockboxes. 
• A smart thermostat, which allows you complete remote management through a mobile app.
• Pairing your smart thermostat with an energy management platform that allows comprehensive remote management and automation, plus expert advice.

Read more to see the benefits and drawbacks to each thermostat control solution. 

The headaches and challenges of thermostat interference

‍Ever spent your day driving between locations to check up on your thermostat settings? Or had an electricity bill that made your jaw hit the floor, only to realize one of your thermostats had been set to 50° F for weeks on end? 

You’re not alone. Many business owners we work with report that the push-and-pull of employees changing thermostat settings is one of their biggest energy headaches. It’s critical for your operations and bottom line that your settings stay in place – while making sure that your employees and customers are happy and comfortable. 

We know you have better things to do than play thermostat police. Read on for our top tips on you can regain control over your thermostat – and with it, your business’ energy costs – while maintaining goodwill with the folks you work with each day.

The case for implementing thermostat access control

At this point, you’ve probably talked with your employees or location managers about the importance of appropriate thermostat use. You know proper use is important, but just how important is it really? The reality is that thermostats, when configured incorrectly, can make a difference to your bottom line to the tune of six figures. 

When it comes to thermostats, it’s important to consider both your electricity bills and the system your thermostat controls. Overtaxing your HVAC system with improper use can lead to loss of efficiency and even damage to your system, which can cost $100,000 or more to replace. And when you’re heating and cooling unnecessarily – like in the case of one Juice Press franchise where staff changes resulted in permanent holds as low as 50° F – it can cause your electricity use and energy bills to rise out of control. 

Here are a few reasons why you need a system in place to control your thermostat:

• Stress reduction: Reclaiming time spent worrying how your thermostat is being used, whether it’s being turned back down to a manageable setpoint, or even time spent physically checking up on your thermostats.
• Reducing run time: Smart thermostat use will allow you longer periods between HVAC maintenance intervals, saving you money.
• Energy efficiency: Preventing changes altogether, or allowing temporary changes that return to a healthy setpoint outside of operating hours, allow you to be a more efficient and responsible consumer of energy.

The downside to locking up your thermostats? It might not sit well with your employees. People work best when they’re comfortable, and as the folks on site they often know the clearest details of what’s happening inside a space! Whether it’s a restaurant manager cooling a space to comply with customer complaints, or a fitness instructor turning up the temperature to fit the class they’re teaching, there often are valid reasons to change the temp. It’s all about finding the middle ground – let’s dive into ways you can make it happen.  

4 ways to prevent unauthorized changes to your thermostat

Let’s get into the important stuff: How to keep your thermostats from changing temperature when you don’t want them to. Whether you’re a new small business owner figuring out all things temperature control for the very first time, or a seasoned manager trying to troubleshoot the impacts of employees changing your thermostats, we’ve got your back. Read on for a breakdown of our top 4 thermostat-control options, and the pros and cons that come with each.

#1: Set ground rules

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This is what most people picture when they think of thermostat control: signs that let folks know what the thermostat rules are, whether it be settings guidance or warnings – hands off!

Pros: Zero investment upfront, easy to implement – all you need is pen, paper, and tape.

Cons: Difficult to enforce – people often ignore these signs; monitoring this might require you as the business owner to be hands-on in managing energy usage. 

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#2: Use thermostat lockboxes

Another easy, low-tech approach we see frequently is quite literally locking up your thermostat, using a lockbox that only select people have a key for. This is effective as it physically prevents employees from touching or changing the thermostat, and lockboxes like these are readily available on Amazon or at hardware stores.  

Pros: Minimal set-up required, no ability for settings to be changed.

Cons: Low flexibility, as any temperature changes require you to be on-site with the key. Can be seen as a “drastic” measure and a sign of lack of trust between you and your employees.

#3: Upgrade to a smart thermostat

For a more modern approach, we recommend trying a smart thermostat. Popular brands include Honeywell, Ecobee, Nest, and Mysa all have them. These options allow you to remotely control your thermostat and settings from an app, so you can reconcile changes directly from your smartphone.

Pros: Offers you remote convenience and control, so you don’t have to be onsite to manage temperature. Ability to set schedules easily. Allows employees to make changes if needed without having to deal with restrictions like lockboxes – or if you do choose to lock them, manage remotely without having to unlock. .

Cons: If you have multiple thermostats across different locations, keeping an eye on all of their individual settings in the app can be time consuming and cumbersome, even digitally. These solutions typically don’t include alerts, so you still may deal with employees making changes. There’s also an initial investment in setting up the right SOPs for each thermostat, and making sure they’re being adhered to.

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#4 Pair your smart thermostat with an energy management platform

The benefits of smart thermostats, designed for multi-unit operators. When you choose an energy management platform that integrates with multiple thermostats, you can enjoy remote access and visibility with everything in one place. This is exactly what David Energy was designed to do: A platform like ours allows you to monitor and manage multiple locations from a single dashboard, plus smart tools to keep things running smoothly. 

Pros: View and adjust all your thermostats from one simple dashboard; Auto-Reset feature allows employees the flexibility to make changes during the day and returns to your programmed schedules every night; custom support from our team to ensure your thermostats are programmed for improved energy efficiency, a comfortable space, and help you participate in savings programs.

Cons: We've designed the David Platform to be perfect for businesses like you, so we like to think there aren't any! Of course, our platform isn't the perfect fit for everyone – but you can always get a free consultation to learn more about our offering, pricing, and see where we might work for you.

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Choosing the right thermostat management for you

Now that you’ve learned the pros and cons of each option, let’s talk about what’s right for you. If you’re looking for a quick, scrappy option and can take on the lift of being on the ground to monitor your thermostat or deal with employee complaints, then consider the signage or lockbox option is right for you. It’s a lower lift and definitely gets the job done. 

But if you’re looking to improve control over your settings while adding convenience, support from experts, and empowerment for your employees, then a more modern solution – especially paired with a management platform like ours – may be right for you. 

This modern option is certainly what the energy experts here at David recommend. Our take? Your thermostat is more than just a box on the wall – it’s an integral part of your business’ energy operations, efficiency, and comfort. 

Beyond thermostat management, the David Energy platform supports holistic energy spend management to keep you operating efficiently, effectively, and at a cost that works for you. Go beyond just thermostats, and try us for:

• Reducing energy usage: Our thermostat management tools and custom programming advice ensures your HVAC is set up to deliver optimal efficiency and operational ease.
• Scam protection: We safeguard your business from slamming scams and ensure you are charged fairly.
• Bill monitoring: Our automated tools continuously scan your bills for discrepancies and notify you of any issues.
• Access to incentive programs: We offer participation in incentive programs like demand response to maximize your savings.