A method of controlling, from a mobile device, an environmental control system including at least one appliance for influencing one or more environmental parameters at a premises; wherein the mobile device comprises an application for sending commands to the environmental control system, the application having at least: a foreground state for controlling the environmental control system based on a plurality of user-adjustable parameters for the one or more environmental parameters, wherein the application is arranged, using a screen of the mobile device to interact with a user, to present the user with an option to adjust one or more of the user-adjustable parameters in the foreground state; and at least one background state, wherein the application is arranged to generate user notifications in the background state; the method comprising the steps of, when the application is in a background state: determining that the mobile device has crossed a predetermined geolocation threshold; upon determining that the mobile device has crossed a predetermined geolocation threshold, determining that an environmental parameter of the premises satisfies a condition; upon determining that an environmental parameter of the premises satisfies a condition, displaying, on a screen of the mobile device, a notification to a user, the notification comprising an option to initiate a command effecting control of at least one appliance; detecting that the user has selected the option to initiate the command; and sending to the environmental control system a message to effect the command; wherein the method is performed without the application transitioning to the foreground state. a foreground state for controlling the environmental control system based on a plurality of user-adjustable parameters for the one or more environmental parameters, wherein the application is arranged, using a screen of the mobile device to interact with a user, to present the user with an option to adjust one or more of the user-adjustable parameters in the foreground state; and at least one background state, wherein the application is arranged to generate user notifications in the background state; the method comprising the steps of, when the application is in a background state: determining that the mobile device has crossed a predetermined geolocation threshold; upon determining that the mobile device has crossed a predetermined geolocation threshold, determining that an environmental parameter of the premises satisfies a condition; upon determining that an environmental parameter of the premises satisfies a condition, displaying, on a screen of the mobile device, a notification to a user, the notification comprising an option to initiate a command effecting control of at least one appliance; detecting that the user has selected the option to initiate the command; and sending to the environmental control system a message to effect the command; determining that the mobile device has crossed a predetermined geolocation threshold; upon determining that the mobile device has crossed a predetermined geolocation threshold, determining that an environmental parameter of the premises satisfies a condition; upon determining that an environmental parameter of the premises satisfies a condition, displaying, on a screen of the mobile device, a notification to a user, the notification comprising an option to initiate a command effecting control of at least one appliance; detecting that the user has selected the option to initiate the command; and sending to the environmental control system a message to effect the command; wherein the method is performed without the application transitioning to the foreground state.