Abstract: The present invention supports the remote control of an environmental unit based on an effective temperature that is indicative of a comfort index to an occupant of a controlled environmental space. The remote controller obtains a plurality of environmental factors, e.g., temperature, relative humidity, and air speed, in order to determine an effective temperature. When the effective temperature is sufficiently different from a set point temperature, the remote controller activates an environmental unit to change the effective temperature in accordance with the set point temperature. The environmental unit may include an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump. Also, the remote controller may communicate with at least one remote sensor over a wireless communications channel in order to obtain the environmental factors for determining the effective temperature.