If you are looking for lower cost, reliable thermostat options PSG Controls has a line of thermostats that should fit your needs.
I caught up with Terry McFadden, the president of PSG controls, at the 2011 CGNA Vendor showcase and was

impressed with what Terry showed me. PSG is a US based manufacturer of thermostats for residential and light commercial applications. PSG offers a low cost upgrade for mercury bulb thermostats ( according to Terry millions have still not upgraded their mercury bulb thermostats).

The PSG Accustat is well know in the HVAC industry. The Accustat is the thermostat that has the snap in set point sensors which prohibits anyone from tampering with the set point because there is not a set point. The new generation of Accustat thermostats is called the Independence Series.

PSG is also know for their line of fan coil thermostats and Terry told me that the Freedom series of thermostats is doing very well in the HVAC market place.

Although, PSG has been around for years, I have never sold one so I call on the Controltrends community to weigh in and give me the scoop on PSG. Please tell me your experience with PSG in comments.

In this video see the four simple steps it takes to connect your Honeywell Redlink enabled programmable thermostat to the internet. Way Cool !!

We caught up with the great folks from Viconics at the CGNA Vendor Showcase and continue to be impressed with their innovative HVAC controllers and thermostats. In this video check out several new products including the Viconics VC3000 line voltage fan coil retrofit kit and the VWZS wireless zoning system

For more information on Viconics products including the Viconics Wireless Zoning system and fan coil retrofit solutions contact your friends at Stromquist & Company. If you are outside Georgia or Florida you can conatct one of our affiliates at Controls Group North America for Viconics products.

Check out this video that shows how quick and easy it is to set up and program Honeywell’s Prestige Thermostat. 

Refer back to my previous post on the Prestige to see the features and benefits of this state-of-the-art Honeywell thermostat.

They call it “Big Blue” and one look will tell you how this White-Rodgers thermostat got its nickname.  The Big Blue universal touchscreen thermostat can be used for single stage, multi-stage, or heat pump applications, and it’s available in programmable and non-programmable models.  White-Rodgers set an industry benchmark with the Blue™ Touchscreen Thermostats.  Now, the Emerson® Big Blue™ Touchscreens offer even more features, delivering a new level of comfort.

Simple and logical installer menu set-up, programming and operation are enhanced with audio confirmation of touchscreen entries. Features like variable touchscreen security to prevent tampering, temporary and vacation overrides, and filter change reminders add convenience. The Big Blue touchscreen thermostats include humidity control, programmable fan and remote sensing, as well as the exclusive Cool Savings™ feature and heat pump dual fuel control, providing the ultimate in comfort control. The 12-square-inch touchscreen display is blue lighted for easier low-light viewing, and larger, easy-to-read character size along with extra-large touch keys make for easy operation. A clean, uncluttered touchscreen display provides easier navigation.

Exclusive Big Blue™ Features

Large, 12-square-inch blue-lighted display with 10-second backlight

Exclusive Cool Savings™ feature saves energy during peak A/C demand periods

Dual fuel capable with Smart Fuel™ Logic Program or outdoor temperature sensor

Humidity control

Remote sensing indoor or outdoor and at the thermostat

Programmable fan and circulator fan cycling

Automatic daylight savings option

Programming

Choice of 7 day, 5/1/1 day programmable or non-programmable (installer selectable)

4 time and 4 temperature settings per program (2 setbacks) heat and cool, or selectable – 2 time and 2 temperature settings (1 setback)

Energy savings up to 33%

Patented pre-programmed schedule simplifies time and temperature programming

These thermostats are available exclusively for the professional trade and can be purchased through Stromquist or one of our CGNA affiliates.

Many commercial thermostats can now do so much remotely thanks to technology. My team is very familiar with web based thermostats for commercial applications. They have been around for years and have enabled our commercial customers numerous benefits including energy savings and remote monitoring and programming. The price of these web based thermostats put them out of reach for most home owners.

Finally, there is a great web-based residential thermostat for the home owner. Ecobee, a Canadian manufacturer, has designed a thermostat for those of us who have the need or desire to monitor and control the temperature in our homes without actually having to be there. Just think… you head away on vacation for a couple of weeks and remember that you forgot to reset your thermostat to constant night mode. No problem! Go on your Apple or Android smart phone, tie into your Ecobee smart thermostat via a free downloadable app, and set it to vacation mode. And don’t forget that you can check it any time you wish. You can even set it to notify you via email if there is a problem. The best part is that this thermostat solution is priced for the home owner.

What really impresses me about this thermostat is how simple it is to setup and program. As long as you have WiFi at your home, this unit finds it and connects with ease. Then it walks you through the programming step by step by asking you the pertinent questions. I was able to set up one in less than five minutes.  Now that IS simple!  Don’t worry about compatibility — one model can be used for up to 4 heat, 2 cool, dual-fuel, heat pump, variable speed and humidifier/dehumidifier control.

Ecobee also manufactures a commercial model of this stat for those who have a commercial web-based thermostat application but can’t justify the cost of more expensive options.  Stromquist is happy to now be set up as a distributor for Ecobee, so we can start offering this great product to our customers. If you are a homeowner we will be glad to put you in touch with one of our qualified installing contractors. If you are an HVAC Contractor and are interested in getting setup to install the Ecobee web-based thermostat please contact me at paul@stromquist.com

Although we mainly focus on building automation and industrial wireless control products I am very impressed with the Honeywell Wireless Thermostat and the Red Link wireless technology that makes it all work. As one of the authorized stocking distributors for the Honeywell Wireless thermostat in Georgia and Florida all I can say is WOW, sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words so check out this video
I think you will agree there is a wireless thermostat and then there is the HONEYWELL WIRELESS THERMOSTAT.If you like what you see check out Stacie’s post on the Honeywell Focus Pro, and how to install a Honeywell Wireless Thermostat.

Stromquist & Company can take care of all your wireless thermostat needs in Georgia and Florida. If you are not a Stromquist & Company customer or are located in Georgia or Florida one of our affiliates at Controls Group North America can take care of your wireless thermostat needs.

Honeywell’s newest thermostat, the Prestige, is the first high-definition, full-color thermostat. It redefines not only how a thermostat looks but also what it can do.

• Simple Touchscreen Technology — no hidden doors or complex buttons
• High-Definition, Color Display — visual clarity of the display is 3 times better than typical thermostats
• Graphics — uses a graphical user interface to display information in a way that’s easy to understand
• User Friendly — consumers rated up to 10 times easier to use than other thermostats
• Tri-Lingual — English, Spanish and French installation and display options
• Temperature Control On-Demand — sense and remotely adjust temperature from anywhere in the home
• Added Information — outdoor temperature and humidity displayed on screen

A Prestige thermostat installs in minutes and programs itself. The patented, interview-based setup screens use natural language to ask questions like “How many stages of heating are you running?” to guide installers through setup with no need for an installation manual. The same interview process is used for homeowner setup. After the questions are answered, the thermostat programs itself. If there are problems, the on-board manual gives definitions and directions for every screen.

Another great feature of the Prestige is the ability to download information. After installing Prestige for a specific type of equipment, simply download the settings to a standard USB drive and transfer them to all future jobs where you use Prestige with the same type of equipment.

While Prestige thermostats are wired, they are enabled with RedLINK™ Wireless Technology inside to offer endless possibilities for controlling and monitoring comfort with Honeywell system enhancements like the Portable Comfort Control, Wireless Outdoor Sensor and TrueSTEAM™ Humidification System.

Stromquist & Company is very impressed with the new Honeywell FocusPro Thermostat. The really cool thing is that it is wireless. Check this video out to learn more