Product Spotlight: Nest
By now you’ve probably heard of the Nest thermostat — Nest Labs was a start-up company founded by a former Apple engineers that introduced the “Nest Learning Thermostat” in 2011 as their first product. Google acquired Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in January 2014.
There have been multiple generations of the thermostat as the product evolves and gets improved – currently it’s on it’s 3rd generation after coming to the market in 2011.
The Nest is known as a “learning” thermostat, that is, one that remembers the temperature settings you make and then will automatically adjust to that based on your preferences.
A unique feature of Nest is it’s “Rush Hour Rewards” program that helps save energy during peak hours in the summer. Depending on who your energy provider is, you could earn approximately $20-$60 back per Nest thermostat you own, per summer. Nest will cool your home ahead of peak hour times and then shut down your system – the energy company rewards you by using less energy during these peak hours where the system can get overloaded. Availability in Virginia is limited, however, with this program but growing slowly as energy partners come on board.
Benefits:
- Adjust your home’s temperature from your bathroom or Australia, via an app
- Pre-heat your home as you return from vacation
- Receive email alerts when your home gets to a certain temperature
Is Nest the right product for YOUR home? Call Ace today and we’d be happy to have a representative discuss the right thermostat for you.