Special offer

Your thermostat controls 50% of your home's energy usage.

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

There's something that appeals to me about this new Thermostat called "Nest", that's currently available.  It's form and functionality are incredible.

It's a little bit of a throwback to the old Honeywell thermostat that used to hang on the walls of 90% of the homes that we grew up in, but with a new high-tech look.  It's circular, and works similarly, as you just grab the edge and turn, just like the old ones.

But better is that the Nest Thermostat learns from your adjustments.  Rather than needing to learn how to program your programmable thermostat... Nest learns from your habits.  You adjust the temperature up and down to make yourself comfortable, and Nest learns from those activities and starts adjusting for you.

Eventually it learns your habits so well, that you don't even have to fiddle with it anymore.

Additionally, it has a sensor that can tell when you're home, or when you're asleep, and adjusts accordingly.  It's also connected to the internet, and the controls can be accessed from any internet-connected computer, ipad, or even your iphone.  C'mon, that rocks!!

According to Nest's website, your thermostat controls 50% of your home's energy usage, and Nest will help you save money on that portion.

And, no, I don't get a free "Nest" for blogging about this cool new thermostat... but I wouldn't turn one down, if they wanted to send me one.

Whaddya think guys?   Guys..??   Anybody there???


-12

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments(66)

Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Jim - there is something about Apple's design and functionality.

cgfh dfger - buh, bye... spammy spamster.

Tammy - I'm around... give me a holler.

Sussie - I know, it's attractive in its simplicity.

Eric - didja "click" on the cricket?

Bobbie - I just learned about it myself.

Kathy - I thought so, too.

Endre - that's what wives have been doing for years! "Honey! turn up the temperature!"

Christine - we've left our programmable alone for years, simply because it's just too complicated to change.

Joy - technology is great... when it works.

Ridhl - simple, but creepy... that could be their new slogan... no?

Evelyn - now don't start pickin' on husbands.

Rob - I'm not gonna ask.

Joan - it's cutting edge.

Ed - the sides are shiny to reflect their environment.

Justin - It's only about $100-$150.00 more than the average programmable.

Tammie - full disclosure if one shows up in my mailbox.

Rob - and we could all use that 10%, couldn't we?

Wallace - I think that's the way it is in many households.

Cheryl - the cost is around $250.00 and they have a "self-installation" video that makes it look pretty darn simple.

Bob - I can't even imagine.

David - that's the idea... it's intuitive, like many Apple products.

Gabe - me, too.

Kathyrn - around $250.00.  Yeah, that's a big price tag, but the savings should more than make up for it.

Craig - I'm afraid I can't do that.

Larry - well, the weather in Nashville might be a touch too moderate to achieve the savings?

Dianne - so be Goode for Goodeness sake!  hey!  (c'mon... double-punny).

Julie - this one seems simple... at least on the surface.

Rock Realty - well, I'll see what I can do.

Scott - oooh, a great father's day gift!

Laura - only the round one with the mercury switch inside. (and yes, that's real mercury!)

Sandy - no... it doesn't learn the combatants... but maybe it declares a winner?

Robert - I think the thing would start smoking.

Mike - it does monitor local weather, through the internet.

Sean - a sudden dip in the weather, and you could adjust the temp on your ride home.

Kimo - you're welcome.

Tim - I can open the window when it's too hot, too.

Liane - that's what I've heard... maybe a touch pricey, but you could save that much in one season.

May 31, 2012 02:09 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

I'd be happy with a thermostat like that as long as it doesn't start monitoring my other habits and start telling me that I spend too much time on the computer or that I should eat healthier foods.

May 31, 2012 02:18 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Alan $250 sounds pricey for the average person to me. It does do quite a bit for the money and it is sure High Tech .  Wouldn't you be the lucky one if they did send you one for this blog. You know they should great promo here . :0)

May 31, 2012 02:49 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Malcolm - can you imagine your thermostat asking you "are you going to eat ALL of that?"

Hannah - I sure would be the lucky one.

May 31, 2012 03:08 AM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

On all of those days when I left the house without turning the heat (or a/c) lower - I imagine this would save me a chunk of change!

May 31, 2012 03:27 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Wayne - and even if it didn't automatically change (which it would)... you could always change it on your i-phone, or online.

May 31, 2012 06:08 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Cool and scary at the same time....am I the only one who remembers "Hal"?

May 31, 2012 07:31 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Karen - I'm sorry, Karen... I'm afraid I can't remember that.

May 31, 2012 07:50 AM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Alan- Hadn't heard of this but, it sounds like pure genius to me. If it's $250 I don't see where you could go wrong. If they don't send you a Nest thermostat, they should. This post earned one!

May 31, 2012 10:26 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Amanda - let them know... willya?

May 31, 2012 11:37 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

I wonder what it will learn and react to with my wife and I turning it in opposite directions every 5 minutes.  Like the idea though, I cannot operate these new ones.

May 31, 2012 12:08 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Alan - That sounds pretty cool.  I have issues with the newer thermostats that never seem to do what I want them to do.

May 31, 2012 02:51 PM
Patricia Marie Kelly
Marie Kelly Unlimited - Crystal Lake, IL
Award Winning Home Staging & Lifestyle Design Expe

Alan - Any piece of equipment that can learn from ME for a change, instead of me learning from it, is a welcome change of pace and worth looking into. Thanks for sharing !!

MKU logo

Patricia Marie Kelly, Home Stager & ReDesigner, Marie Kelly Unlimited

Jun 02, 2012 12:54 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Gene - it will grow up to be confused, never marry and live with 9 cats.

Christine - you mean "do what I meant, not what I said"?

Patricia - ain't it the trooth?

Jun 03, 2012 02:33 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Way cool Alan!  Sorry, behind on featured blog reading.  I really like the way it has the "smarts" to adjust to your habits.  That would be really helpful to those 2nd homeowners that we have, affectionately called "snowbirds."  They could adjust the temps when they land here!  Great post!  Gotta give this the old G+

Jun 03, 2012 07:12 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Jan - it's really helpful for those of us who are "programming-challenged".

Jun 03, 2012 10:44 PM
Mike Hill & Rita Norman
Norman- Hill Properties /Crown Key Realty - Concord, CA

Alan: Sounds like a great device... HOWEVER....got to wonder about the effect all these nice, convenient AI (Artificial intelligence) devices are having on us lazy humans. We can't even pick up a real book anymore.

Rita and Mike

Jun 06, 2012 12:29 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Rita & Mike - I'm more than willing to allow my thermostat to think for me.

Jun 06, 2012 01:30 AM
Wayne Jackson
Lakeshore Realty 208-714-4109 - Hayden, ID
North Idaho Realtor, Serving Coeur dnullAlene and Hayden Lake

Alan, This looks cool but I really like the programmable with the large touch screen than glows all night. The initial programming took about 10 or 15 minutes and the re-programming each spring and fall takes about 1 minute. I can't see spending $250 for something that may not do what I want. I'm gurssing we'll see these used on eBay a year from now.

Jun 10, 2012 11:20 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Wayne - I'm guessing that you won't.

Aug 07, 2012 04:00 AM