HVAC Triple PlayCheck out these standout offerings in the HVAC thermostat category.

To save money on lower-cost houses, many home builders include only one or two heating and air-conditioning zones; since homeowners normally have a temperature comfort zone that they apply to the entire house, this makes sense. However, within a single zone, the actual temperature can vary by as much as six to eight degrees.

If you don't want to increase the number of zones, consider Indianapolis-based Jackson Systems' Comfort System, which can virtually expand a single zone into up to nine zones using a series of dampers controlled by thermostats and a central controller. (www.jacksonsystems.com)

Most consumers love browsers. They find the mouse-click interface familiar and the large windows easy to navigate. Westford, Mass.–based Proliphix glommed onto this trend by ditching awkward buttons and small screens in favor of a Web-based interface for its Proliphix Network Thermostat.

The thermostat connects to the Internet via an Ethernet connection inside the wall. Homeowners can then use the Proliphix Web site to view and change settings. (www.proliphix.com)

The Aprilaire Communicating Thermostat by Madison, Wis.–based Aprilaire frees consumers from the finger gymnastics often required to use thermostats with tiny buttons. It communicates with a large number of control devices, so homeowners can manage the thermostat with the same keypads they use for other home functions.

The thermostat can also display data from other home devices. Besides thermostat settings, it can show weather conditions, security system status, HVAC servicing alerts, even caller ID information. (www.aprilaire.com)