Company’s second “Smart Home Data Privacy” survey of 2,000 U.S. homeowners shows increase in smart home tech usage, decreases in confidence about data privacy Copeland, a global provider of sustainable climate solutions, announced today the findings from its second ‘Smart Home Data Privacy’ survey which aimed to determine how both smart thermostat users and non-users Read more
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Company’s second “Smart Home Data Privacy” survey of 2,000 U.S. homeowners shows increase in smart home tech usage, decreases in confidence about data privacy
Copeland, a global provider of sustainable climate solutions, announced today the findings from its second ‘Smart Home Data Privacy’ survey which aimed to determine how both smart thermostat users and non-users feel about data privacy and the security of their smart home products. While ownership of smart home devices – including smart thermostats, TVs and appliances – are significantly higher than when the study was first commissioned in 2022, homeowners were also more likely to be concerned about data privacy in 2024.

“As we can see by the rise in ownership of smart home products, homeowners are increasingly looking for convenient ways to automate their lives and expand control over their home environments to save on energy costs,” said Lisa Plaggemier, Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance. “But what’s most concerning is that more than half of homeowners don’t understand how data from their smart thermostat is collected and used – particularly as AI becomes nearly ubiquitous. This should be a resounding call for transparency among smart tech manufacturers.”
While the study shows that homeowners with smart home devices are more concerned than ever about the security of their data (27 percent in 2024 versus 23 percent in 2022), their understanding of and attitudes toward smart tech and data privacy show a critical gap:
- More than half of homeowners (52 percent) don’t have any idea of how data is collected from smart thermostats.
- Homeowners who don’t own a smart thermostat are less likely to be confident that manufacturers use their customers’ data responsibly compared to those who own a smart thermostat (58 percent versus 73 percent), which could be evidence of a barrier to purchase.
- Only 14 percent of homeowners who owned smart thermostats said they researched a manufacturer’s data privacy policy before purchasing a smart thermostat.
And yet, seven out of 10 homeowners are willing to replace their thermostat with one that provides more privacy, with millennials more willing (80%) than other groups.
As a leading innovator in the HVAC industry and the company behind the top-rated Sensi thermostat platform, Copeland was one of the first manufacturers to create a formal privacy pledge in 2022 and has since been a leader in protecting its users’ personal data, never using smart thermostat activity for targeting or advertising purposes. The company has also never sold a user’s personal data to anyone and does not make changes to thermostat settings based on usage assumptions.
“There’s always a role for data, particularly as it relates to a homeowner’s ability to optimize their home comfort and gain energy savings in the process, but those settings are theirs and theirs alone,” said Brendan O’Toole, vice president, smart home and energy management for Copeland. “As demand for smart home products continues to rise, it’s imperative for manufacturers to adequately disclose their privacy policies and educate consumers about the importance of data security,”
For more information about how Copeland’s lineup of Sensi smart thermostats respects and protects consumer privacy and to download the full report, visit sensi.copeland.com/dataprivacy.

Ingersoll Rand expands the Trane® Residential and American Standard® Heating & Air Conditioning brand capabilities with the launch of the XL824B and Gold 824B smart thermostats to include a cloud-based adaptive technology masterfully designed to save energy without sacrificing home comfort. By turning on the new Energy Savings mode, users can experience a 10-20 percent reduction in HVAC energy usage. The Trane Read more
Ingersoll Rand expands the Trane® Residential and American Standard® Heating & Air Conditioning brand capabilities with the launch of the XL824B and Gold 824B smart thermostats to include a cloud-based adaptive technology masterfully designed to save energy without sacrificing home comfort. By turning on the new Energy Savings mode, users can experience a 10-20 percent reduction in HVAC energy usage.
The Trane XL824B and American Standard Gold 824B connected solutions also comes with built-in Nexia bridges, bringing integrated smart home comfort to the homeowner’s fingertips by allowing them to remotely control their home and energy use.
The Trane XL824B and American Standard Gold 824B both allow 7-day programming with most traditional HVAC systems. They can control up to two indoor air quality products, such as, home humidifiers, dehumidifiers and fresh air ventilation systems.
Built-in Nexia Diagnostics determines any HVAC system issues or required maintenance needed, and with the homeowner’s advance permission, can proactively notify a Trane or American Standard service technician. Real-time updates allow the local specialist to remotely monitor the details surrounding the HVAC system’s performance.
The internal Nexia Bridge also allows easy access for the whole family. By downloading the app, your family can adjust the temperature to create optimal comfort for everyone.
Additional Key Features:
- ENERGY STAR Certified
- 4.3” Diagonal Color Touchscreen
- System Alerts
- Remote Temperature Sensors
- Remote Humidity Sensors
- Full Humidity Control (BK Terminal)
- C-Wire Power Included
- Emergency Heat
- Voice Control with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
For more information about Trane and the brand’s residential products, please visit www.trane.com/Residential. For more information about American Standard Air Conditioning and Heating, please visit www.americanstandardair.com.