4 in 5 homeowners are concerned about smart thermostat manufacturers having access to personal data

For virtually all U.S. homeowners, the pandemic redefined how we view the role of the home. Overnight, spare rooms in the home became classrooms, offices and gyms. This newfound emphasis on making the home more functional and “smarter” to accommodate these changes has led many to purchase more connected electronic devices. 

According to a Forbes report, the average home in the U.S. now has 20.2 connected devices. Most of these devices include smartphones, tablets and smart televisions, but there’s been an uptick in the number of connected appliances used in the home as well. In the same report, findings showed that between 2021 and 2022, there was a 19 percent increase in the number of smart thermostats in smart homes. While smart thermostat adoption is on the rise, one major concern remains: data privacy. 

In honor of Data Privacy Day (January 28), Sensi released its “Smart Home Data Privacy Survey,” in which 2,000 U.S. homeowners aged 18-76 answered questions that focused on smart home product use as well as adoption. Among its key findings was that 4 in 5 homeowners are concerned about smart thermostat manufacturers having access to personal data. This blog highlights other results from the survey, as well as Sensi’s commitment to user privacy. 

 

Examining concerns related to data privacy 

One of the major takeaways from the survey was that while homeowners are becoming more interested in home automation, until they fully understand what they’re trading away in terms of data collection, they’re reluctant to fully embrace all the features of a smart home. 

In the survey, smart thermostat owners, who are significantly more likely than non-owners to be early adopters (53%) and comfortable with new technology (58%), provided additional detail regarding what was being shared, whom it was being shared with, and the impact of this on their purchase decision: 

• Most expect that their thermostat might track relevant data like heating or cooling usage (49%) and temperature settings (45%). 

• They aren’t sure what kind of data is shared with manufacturers or what those manufacturers would use their data for. Around 1 in 5 respondents (19%) admit that they’re not sure what kind of information is shared. 1 in 3 were “much more concerned” about using their smart thermostats after learning more. 

• 7 in 10 would be likely to replace their current thermostat with a brand that did not share data with third parties or use it to target advertising. 

Non-owners who were surveyed said they were also influenced by data collection and privacy when it comes to smart thermostat purchases: 

• They’re far less likely to agree (63%) that smart thermostat manufacturers are using their data responsibly. 

• 45% say they’d be more likely to buy in the next 12 months if they knew of a brand with greater privacy protection.