Statement of Needs

Low power design means a longer battery life, which results in a greater user experience for customers due to the extended periods between battery changes. 

Sensors can be damaged by heat, rain, snow, etc. So, it is best to add protection to the sensor. 

The system can predict future loads from weather forecasts and operate accordingly (e.g. bring the house colder than desired at night if the next day is expected to be particularly hot) 

Communicates with smart thermostats (Nest, EcoBee, Honeywell, etc.) to read the desired temperature set by the user.

Python was chosen initially because it comes with many standard libraries useful in collecting, parsing, and storing data from the web.