Energy management · Smart thermostats

Stop Paying to Cool Empty Units

Smart thermostats, lighting, and plugs let you set guardrails for vacant and occupied units, automate schedules, and spot HVAC trouble before a resident calls — all from the same dashboard as your locks and cameras.

TX License #B30802201Alarm.com Authorized DealerSBE & SBE-Plus CertifiedInsured & BondedDFW Metroplex
Hand holding a phone with a smart-home app showing thermostat set to 70 degrees

By the numbers

Small Device, Measurable Savings

~8%

average savings on heating and cooling bills from ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats.

Source: U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR
72%

of renters are interested in, or would not rent without, a smart thermostat.

Source: NMHC & Grace Hill Renter Preferences Survey, 2024

Where savings come from

Guardrails, Schedules, and Early Warnings

Vacant-unit setpoints

Hold eco temperatures while units are empty, with minimum and maximum limits that protect pipes and equipment.

Schedules that follow operations

Pre-condition units before tours and move-ins, then return to eco mode automatically.

HVAC problems flagged early

Out-of-range temperature and humidity alerts help maintenance find issues before they become emergencies.

Capabilities

Energy Control Without Taking Comfort Away

Chart of a vacant unit's cooling setpoint held at 82 degrees, pre-cooled to 74 degrees for a 2 PM tour, with HVAC paused when a patio door is left open

Vacancy and tour schedules

Different modes for different situations: vacant, showing, move-in, and occupied. The schedule does the switching so staff don’t have to remember.

  • Eco hold with min/max limits while vacant
  • Pre-cool or pre-heat before tours and move-ins
  • Freeze-protection minimums in winter
  • Resident control within limits you set
Technician and resident at a front door reviewing a smart-home setup on a tablet

Automation rules

Rules connect devices to each other. A door or window sensor can pause HVAC when something’s left open; exterior lights can follow dusk; lights can switch off after checkout.

  • Open door/window pauses HVAC on supported platforms
  • Lighting and plug schedules
  • Geofence and occupancy-based modes where supported
  • Rules applied across units or portfolio-wide
Wireless temperature sensor with an Alarm.com high-temperature alert

HVAC health monitoring

Supported smart thermostats report temperature, humidity, and runtime data. Alerts help maintenance prioritize — and help you document conditions across units.

  • Out-of-range temperature and humidity alerts
  • Offline and low-battery thermostat alerts
  • Wiring compatibility checks (including C-wire) during the site walk
  • Heat-pump compatible models available

Retrofit-first

Keep What Works. Layer Smart Capability on Top.

Powerhouse Guardians focuses on retrofitting and enhancing existing security infrastructure with AI integration. We keep the cameras, readers, panels, and cabling you’ve already invested in when they’re compatible and in good condition — and add only what’s missing. No rip-and-replace required.

Request an existing-system review →

Itemized keep / enhance / add recommendations
One system of record per site
Installation and monthly service quoted together

How we work

From Property Walk to Ongoing Support

Property walk & system review

We document what’s installed — cameras, readers, panels, wiring, and network — and how your team operates.

Design & scope

Itemized keep / enhance / add recommendations, with one-time installation and monthly service quoted together.

Install & integrate

Licensed technicians handle cabling through cloud setup, scheduled around residents and staff.

Configure & train

Roles, schedules, alerts, and access plans configured for your team, plus hands-on staff training.

Support & optimize

Ongoing service, device-health checks, and tuning as your portfolio and policies change.

FAQ

Common Questions

Do residents lose control of their temperature?

No. Residents control their own comfort through the thermostat or app, within the limits you set. Vacant-unit and protection settings apply only when you configure them.

Which thermostats do you install?

We install ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats compatible with the selected platform, after checking each unit’s HVAC equipment and wiring.

How much will we save?

It depends on climate, equipment, unit size, and how units are used. ENERGY STAR reports average savings of about 8% on heating and cooling bills for certified smart thermostats; vacant-unit schedules are an additional lever we can estimate during the site walk.

Are there utility incentives?

Some Texas utilities and retail electric providers offer smart-thermostat programs. Ask your provider; we can supply the model information they require.

Next step

Put Your Vacant Units on a Schedule

We’ll check your HVAC wiring, recommend thermostat models, and show what a vacant-unit schedule could look like across your portfolio.

Powerhouse Guardians Corp · info@powerhouseguardians.com · 7300 State Highway 121, Suite 300 PMB 1008, McKinney, TX 75070 · TX License #B30802201

Imagery shows representative scope; platform screens are illustrative. Features vary by platform, device, and plan. Alarm.com is a trademark of its owner.

[1] U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR — certified smart thermostats (average savings on heating and cooling bills) — www.energystar.gov

[2] 2024 NMHC & Grace Hill Renter Preferences Survey (share of renters interested in, or who would not rent without, each feature), as summarized by BBC Magazine — bbcmag.com