Thermostats are boring. You stick them on the wall and they keep your house warm or cool. What could be interesting about that? But Google’s new Nest model might just prove that there is such a thing as an exciting thermostat.
What to Know Before Buying a Nest Thermostat (All 3 Models)
Google engineers have tackled one of the biggest and most expensive problems in heating your home. Why turn on the heat or air conditioning when no one is home? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for nearly half of the average household’s energy bill. To solve this problem, Google added a sensor that can tell if there are people in the house or in a specific room.
The $129 Nest is a disc-shaped device that uses Google’s Home software and a radar system-on-a-chip to sense whether people are inside and want things warmer or colder. It also has a slick design and a revamped interface. I’m surprisingly excited to try it out when it’s available for preorder.
After staring at Nest product pictures for too long, I’m starting to realize that looks do matter, even when you’re eyeing a thermostat. I’d never realized before how ugly the thermostat on my wall is. It’s the cheapest, nastiest piece of plastic from Home Depot, and it has one of those old-fashioned dials that you turn with your thumb to turn the heat up or down.
