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Programmable thermostats were first certified by Energy Star in 1995; however, they were removed from the government-backed program in 2009 because, on their own without proper programming, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) disqualified them as energy-saving products.

The smart thermostat market is expected to grow rapidly at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.7 percent through 2022, according to a report by Grand View Research. One of the major drivers of the market is increased consumer awareness of the economic and environmental advantages of these devices. But, when making the switch from a regular, old thermostat to a smart, brand-new one, contractors across the country are finding that homeowners have some concerns.

It's no secret that the world is going digital. You check your bank account balance on your iPhone, pay your energy bill via email, and can tell Amazon Echo to play your favorite song — or adjust the temperature in your home — it's a digital world. So, thermostat manufacturers are keeping this trend in mind while developing products that will pique customers' interests.

According to Navigant research, worldwide shipments of communicating and smart thermostats are expected to grow from 926,000 annually in 2014 to 9.2 million by 2023.

As homeowners become increasingly aware of home performance and the benefits it offers, home-performance contractors must continue to find ways to promote and differentiate themselves from their competitors. Training and certification is a crucial differentiator, and it has the added bonus of making contractors more trustworthy to prospective customers.

Here are some reasons why you should consider adopting new, cordless technology as well as a brief list of some must-have tools to add to your arsenal.

The home energy market is heating up with the steadily increasing number of homes that have undergone energy ratings by certified professionals. The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) recently announced that more than 2 million homes in the U.S. have now been rated with a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index Score, which is designed to measure a home’s energy efficiency. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has completed 71,352 Home Energy Score ratings as of Sept. 17 — 25 percent of which have been conducted since Jan. 1.

In a world of ordinary mortals, more than 1,000 dedicated tradespeople descended upon Las Vegas from all over the globe to obtain the intellect, indomitable will, and super hero prowess necessary to grant them near invincibility in the HVACR, plumbing, and electrical trades.

In this age of information, homeowners are more educated than ever before. How could they not be when the answers to their questions are a simple Google search away?