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New tech is exciting, until we start to take it for granted. The light bulb, automobile, space shuttle and mobile phone all seemed like amazing advancements until they became, well, ho-hum.
I imagine when the thermostat was invented it was a feat of wonder. No longer did you have to turn your heat on and off to achieve the optimal temperature. Programmable thermostats, where you can set your temperature according to your schedule, must have been front page news for weeks on end.
Okay, maybe not weeks. Or even days. But seemingly minor advances in technology can have a big impact on our daily lives. The thermostat controls the use of 46% of the energy in your home‡ so improvements can have a big impact on energy consumption.
The people who looked at your music and invented the iPod also looked at your thermostat and invented the Nest.
The Nest thermostat uses smart technology to learn your habits and regulate the temperature accordingly, saving money and energy. You don’t have to program the thermostat, though you can if you want to. Just set the temperature and Nest will learn your schedule and adjust the heating and cooling based on the way you live.
The Nest is $250, available in the US and Canada from the Nest website and other retailers. While $250 may seem like a lot to spend on a thermostat, the promised savings may make this device pay for itself over time.
This video from Nest explains how it works:
http://youtu.be/5thQRIX3Rio
Energy Savings
The Nest is designed to help you save energy. Whether your motivation is saving the planet, saving money or both, the Nest can help you achieve your goal. According to Nest, only 10% of programmable thermostats are actually programmed, but the Nest solves that problem by learning your behavior and making the necessary temperature adjustments.
You can set the Nest to its Green Leaf setting to minimize energy costs – a green leaf displays when you adjust the temperature to an energy-saving level. The Nest has other unique features to maximize energy savings:
- Auto-Away detects when you’ve been away from home for over two hours and adjusts its setting accordingly.
- Air-Wave turns off the air conditioning but keeps the fan running when the air has reached the desired temperature. According to Nest, this feature can save up to 30% in energy costs.
- Time to Temperature shows you how long it will take your home to reach your desired temperature after you set it.
Do these innovations really help you save energy? You can be the judge. You can see your energy history on the device or from the Nest website to see how much energy you’ve used. You can compare energy usage over time to see which settings save you money.
The Design
The Nest combines form with function. Nest has a design that’s a combination of cutting edge and retro.
The Nest illuminates – blue if it’s cooling, orange if it’s heating, or black if it’s in the Away mode. You can set the Nest to remain dark until you walk past it. If the Nest is in your bedroom, it won’t keep you awake with either light or noise. The Nest works stealthily to keep you comfortable.
Installation
Even if you’ve never installed a thermostat before, the Nest makes it easy. Everything you need comes in the package, including a proper screwdriver and a built-in level (brilliant). The step-by-step written instructions are clear, but if you need extra help watch this YouTube video for more guidance.
When we installed the Nest at our house, the installation took a total of fifteen minutes. No one in our home is a frequent visitor at the hardware store, nor known for being particularly handy. But within a quarter of an hour we were marveling at our new toy/tech/thermostat.
If you aren’t comfortable with installing the Nest yourself, you can buy the Nest Concierge service, a/k/a professional installation, for $119 for the first installation and $25 for each additional device.
There’s an App for That!
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that there is a Nest app. Using the app you can set the temperature from anywhere you are connected to the Internet. You can change the temperature of your home when you are at the office or from the comfort of your sofa.
If you leave on vacation and want to lower the temperature of the heat in your home, a quick visit to the Nest app will take care of that, saving you energy and money while you’re gone. Too cold in the middle of the night? Reach for your phone and adjust the temperature without getting out of your warm bed.
The app shows the current temperature of your home town which can be very useful if you’re away on vacation and want to know instantly what the temperature is back home.
The free Nest app is available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch in the iTunes App Store and for Android phones at Google Play. The Nest app is not yet compatible with Android tablets or Windows or BlackBerry phones.
Programming
The Nest will learn your schedule, but if you want to be more hands-on with your temperature, you can program the settings manually. Programming the thermostat is as easy as installing it, if not easier. You can set a schedule, lock a range of temperatures (so no one cranks the heat above 77°F/25°C, for example), and set an “Away” schedule. You can even lock the settings with a PIN if you want to prevent others from making changes.
The Nest connects to your Wi-Fi network so you can program the Nest from three places:
- the Nest thermostat itself
- the Nest website
- the Nest app
Programming from the Nest
You can program the Nest from the device by pressing on it. Intuitive instructions guide you through the programming process. You spin the cover and press it to make your selections. This method is simple and fun, though probably not the most efficient way to program your preferences. Think of scrolling through your songs using your original iPod versus finding them in your iTunes Library. Spinning is only fun for so long. Since the Nest is a quick learner, you may not have to make the journey from fun to annoying as you spin the dial to enter your settings.
Programming from the Website
Using the website can be the most efficient way of programming the Nest. You create a Nest account and then manage your settings on the website.
Programming from the Nest App
Programming from the Nest app is possible but challenging. The smaller screen requires precision and patience for exact settings. The app is best suited for making a minimal change, such as adjusting your temperature or engaging the “Away” setting.
Bottom Line
The Nest lets you save money and energy conveniently.
Have you been looking for ways to cut your energy bills? Do you have a programmable thermostat that you actually program? Does the idea of controlling your thermostat over the Internet appeal to you? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section below!
‡ 2007 Buildings Energy Data Book, Table 4.2.1
Hi Carolyn,
This device might be useful in the UK. I would use it mainly to save money on heating. I don’t have a routine, so the programmer I have now can cope. It controls at least 80% of my energy usage. It would be handy though to use a smart phone to tell your heating to turn off when you left home and turn on when you were returning home. That way you don’t waste energy while you’re away, but return to a warm home.
I tried another browser, it was Google Chrome that was the problem. It switches on zoom and magnifier, not just when I’m browsing, but also when I’m using other programs such as MSN. I tried Internet Explorer, but it’s slow so I might download Firefox.
We have just had yet another storm, it’s really distracting when you’re trying to write. The weather was better in winter for photography!
Hi Mike, Yes, the Nest would be very handy in the UK. UK energy prices tend to be higher than those in the US so having a thermostat that saves energy conveniently would be very useful. I hope Nest brings its technology to the UK soon!
Yes, I enjoy adjusting the temperature from my smartphone. If I am working and realize I am not comfortable with the temperature, I just grab my phone (I did that this morning in fact).
I’m glad you identified that the problem was Chrome and not your computer. If you have any Chrome extensions, disable them to see if they are the culprit. If not, try deleting Chrome from your computer and re-loading it.
I imagine the Winter is better light for your photography, though the daylight hours can get short then!
Wow. I’d love to have the Nest in my home. We spend a lot of money on electricity, especially during the winter. And we don’t have anything close to the Nest here.
I hope they’ll make it available in Norway sometime soon 🙂
Hi Jens, I hope that Nest comes to Norway and other countries soon. The technology really is exciting, plus it helps to save energy costs. I imagine energy costs in Norway during the Winter months can be significant.
I don’t know, sliced bread and the single nozzle faucet on your sink are still pretty high on the list….
I’ve heard of Nest before, but I don’t recall where; have you posted about this before?
We have manual at the house but rarely gets adjusted. Our house is very energy efficient and I think the electric bill is $120-$140 for a 3200 sq ft house. Comparatively speaking, that’s pretty good for our area.
Hi Bill, yes, I grew to appreciate single faucets much more when I moved to England. They’re hard to come by there!
Yes, that is a very low electric bill for you. Your house must be very energy efficient!
I definitely want to get one of these. Unfortunately, I just spent $350 on an electric lawn mower. 🙁
I wonder if there have been any studies out there on how much it can actually save!
Hi Craig, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Congratulations on your new lawn mower.
Great question. I could not find any studies that showed that information, but The Nest site does show you how you are using your energy with the thermostat so you can track it over time.
We just installed ours over the weekend so it’s too soon to tell for us what our savings are.
I haven’t heard about this but I could see the applicability. Here, we use air conditioners the whole year round; it is hot and we need it at cooler temperatures. But yes, would be nice if we could save on energy bills. The lesser, the better! 😉
Hi Hajra, yes I think the Nest might be especially effective in extremes climates where energy consumption is high.
Our climate isn’t extreme, but I anticipate we will be able to save quite a bit on our energy costs with the Nest’s smart technology.
Hi Carolyn,
Saving energy is the major issue right now besides global warming.Many Developed countries are using every source of energy at a much higher rate that its impossible to maintain the momentum of our resources for future reference.Although we might establish alternative means but what the real thing can provide no other can.
Saving energy in any form is must and it seems NEST is doing the same.
Hope more people will understand the need for saving the energy resources.
Hi Aditya, I agree, energy savings is vital for the health of our planet. What I love about the Nest is that it’s so easy to save energy. The thermostat does the work for you! :-bd
This is the most advanced thermostat I’ve found until now. From the concept is already making me amazed and in particular the tool has its own application. This thing really cool.
Hi Erwin, Yes, this is a very advanced thermostat. How many thermostats have their own mobile app? I find it very handy to control my environment and my energy usage!
Now that seems like a pretty cool devise Carolyn. But just like me not being up to date on technology, I’m pretty old school still with my air.
I live in a condo complex and we have the told chiller system still. This complex was built in 1965 and we all share the air conditioning so we don’t have individuals units. Plus, my electricity bill is included in my maintenance fee so we have a locked in rate with the electric company for our entire complex. Our system is also either set on cool or heat. No thermostat will be able to do that for us I’m afraid.
I’m so use to it being this way since I’ve lived here for 22 years. But that’s still a cool system.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, When I lived in New York City, we had radiator heat without a thermostat (though we still had to pay for electricity) so the Nest wouldn’t have been useful for me there. I know not everyone has a need for the Nest, but this tech was so cool and could help many people so I wanted Wonder of Tech readers to know about it.
Nice one carolyn, am sure this will save tons of energy and money for all homeowners. The app looks promising and convenient to be made available on the go.
Hope it comes to India by the time we move back there 🙂
Hi Praveen, Yes, it’s great to learn of the options we have to save money and conserve energy.
I didn’t know you were moving back to India, Praveen. Are you going soon? I hope you will keep publishing your wonderful blog!
Carolyn – I do not have any fixed plans as of now, but am sure i will never give up blogging no matter where I am 🙂
Hi Praveen, That is one of the many wonderful aspects of blogging, you can do it wherever you are connected to the Internet. Best wishes to you for much continued success wherever your home might be! (*)
Awesome piece of tech, Carolyn.
It is amazing how we really don’t appreciate (that much, compared to other tech gadgets) the tech that we use daily, like the thermostat.
Small innovations, but big impact.
I am sure that this piece of gadget will help us to save energy (of course, we have to teach it the right habits).
I think the app and the fact that we can control the thermostat online are two cool features (Especially, when we are on a long trip and when we are coming back, we don’t have to set the thermostat and wait for it to cool/heat the house – instead we could just control it online and set it to heat 30 or 40 mins before we get there, right?).
I have read somewhere about android controlled home appliances (From Refrigerator to Dryer) as part of future technology (this might be just the first of its kind).
Hi Jeevan, Yes, a year ago Google announced that Android apps would be used to control smart houses, but that hasn’t happened yet and Google has been silent on its progress.
You’re right, this is very cool tech, but it’s tech with a purpose. Some tech is just fun, but this tech is very useful and good for the planet and our wallets.
I look forward to using this technology when I have been away from home for a few days and adjusting the temperature to be at a comfortable level when I return. Very cool!
Being a former electrician in a far off past life I can tell you that thermostats are very simple to install. Today’s thermostats give very good instructions on replacing them too. I have installed various one’s over the years and I have never found one that lives up to the expense. I will say though I truly like the idea of it being able to turn on the fan motor at non peak times to keep the air circulating. I don’t think any of the ones I have had in the past were able to do that (even some high dollar programmable ones)
Aaron
Hi Aaron, Wow, I had no idea that you were an electrician in a former life. Then you would have no problem installing the Nest. But I’m betting you would marvel at the built-in bubble levels.
Did you ever install one of the old school thermostats I have pictured above? How did people get those to be level, I wonder.
My grandfather was a union electrician and my father was a union electrician. Consequently, I learned more things than the average person would ever care to know about electrical work. I even worked with my father for a bit until I had a major back injury which made me have to refocus my life on something else.
Unless the basic round thermostat has changed a lot (and I don’t believe it has) it was made level because of the subbase (the part you place on the wall to attach the thermostat too) Most of the bases have a flat area on the top to place a level on it to adjust it. Once it is level (you can adjust the subbase clockwise or counterclockwise because it is screwed into a wall) you tighten the subbase to the wall and you would then place the thermostat on it and it the mercury inside would be level based on manufacture specs. (not like the much more modern ones that can level for you) The older style is still widely used today. I hope that answers your question for you.
Aaron
Hi Aaron, Wow, that’s fascinating. Yes, I didn’t think about having a rectangular subbase for a round thermostat but that makes perfect sense. The subbase for the Nest is round.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us, Aaron! 🙂
I’d love to have one of these just for the coolness factor: “blue if it’s cooling, orange if it’s heating, or black if it’s in the Away mode.” 😉
But I liked your intro, because we do take this type of “invisible” technology for granted. The humble little thermostat is one of those technologies, but there are mangy others. Did you ever see this skit by Louis C.K.? It’s really great “Everything is amazing now, but nobody’s happy 😉 … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk
Hi Craig, Yes, I think of this constantly, Craig. I guess it’s the nature of what I do, but for each new invention I marvel at what came before to get us to where we are today.
Yes, I love that bit by Louis CK. I embedded that video way back when I first started The Wonder of Tech: https://wonderoftech.com/polls-your-choice-your-voice/ It’s one of my favorites. It’s funny and very true!
Yes, Louis does the best job ever of reminding us all of the wonder of technology 😉
I really should dedicate this blog to him! :-bd
Hey Carolyn
That is one cool piece of kit. Shame it’s not available in the UK.
We’re just about to move house with my wife’s job and won’t have to pay energy bills but I’d still like it for the coolness factor. Even more impressive that it has an app as well.
Thanks for sharing Carolyn.
Tim
Hi Tim, Yes, this is very cool. Yes, when we lived in the UK we didn’t have to pay our energy bills either. The last month we were there (which was May-June) we had an £6000+ bill for gas heat. I tried to convince the energy company that there must be a mistake but they didn’t seem to think that there was anything wrong with my bill. My husband’s company was left to sort out the mess after we left but I’m thinking the Nest might have paid for itself with that issue!
I hope the Nest comes to the UK soon. I will be contacting the company to let them know about all of the interest in bringing it there! :-bd
Hi Carolyn
This really sounds awesome. I would love to be able to control my thermostat over the Internet from a smartphone. Energy is not cheap in Denmark and it sounds like it could save me some money too. Do you have these babies all over the house or just a single one installed?
Hi Thomas, We just have one installed, but my husband wants to get more. He’s a big fan of them now that he has used one!
I hope the Nest comes to Denmark soon, Thomas!
I love the idea of this! Have you seen anything that you think could be improved?
Hi Janice, Great question! If I could change anything about the Nest, I would make it available worldwide and I would reduce the price. But both of these issues might be solved in time. Tech has a tendency to drop in price. Plus I imagine that this product will continue to be successful so the company will want to expand internationally.
Are there any features you would like to see on the Nest?
That’s pretty interesting! I’ve not seen or heard of that thermostat – I wonder if they are available in Canada?
I like the idea that it is both programmable and self-learning – my own schedule is such that it can be quite random, and it’s just not a good thing for me to always have my thermostat set to turn down the heat in the winter at 1oPM. Maybe 2AM some nights 🙂
Nice review – I’m interested!
Hi John, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m glad you found this interesting. Great news! The Nest is available in Canada. You can buy it from the Nest store.
I agree with you, my schedule is pretty random as well, but Nest told me that it learned my schedule so maybe my life isn’t as random as I think it is? Also, Nest automatically sets itself to Away if you have been gone for over two hours so that would be a way that people like us with random schedules could benefit from the Nest.
Thanks for the reply and link! Much appreciated. I’m very interested in this – good to know that having an uncommon schedule is not so uncommon 🙂
You’re very welcome, John. I hope you enjoy your Nest! 🙂