Think about how every room in your home has its own light switch. You would never control all your lighting with one switch. Yet most homes use a single thermostat to control the entire HVAC system. One thermostat cannot keep every floor and every room at the right temperature, and it often leads to wasted energy.

Zoning solves this by letting each area of your home control its own comfort. You are not heating or cooling rooms that are already comfortable or not being used. HVAC makes up around 40 to 50 percent of most utility bills, so zoning can help you cut down on energy waste and monthly costs.

Homes with just one thermostat usually have hot and cold spots. The baby’s room cannot be warmer for sleeping while the parents keep their room cooler. On a hot summer day, the kitchen and family room may need more cooling even if the upstairs bedrooms are empty. Zoning gives you the flexibility to keep every area comfortable without wasting energy.