Nest Alternatives Considered – Rolling Stone

You have enough bills to pay each month and not all are negotiable. Your energy bills should not be on this list. Although we have been conditioned to mount our thermostats when we are home and to go down for the day, the rise of smart home technology has made it easier and more efficient than ever to control your energy consumption. energy – and your bills.

This new generation of smart thermostats allows you to control your temperature settings from the comfort of your phone or tablet (or the Apple Watch!), So you never have to worry about leaving the air conditioning in. walk when no one is at home. Even better: many of these thermostats continue to work even when you are at at home, monitor your presence to automatically adjust the desired temperatures for different rooms and areas. The best part: a WiFi network and a smartphone or tablet are all you need to get started.

Some of the brands on our list claim that switching to a smart thermostat could save you an average of 10 to 12 percent on your heating bills and more than 15 percent on your cooling bills. Depending on your use, this smart thermostat could be profitable in just a few months. Now, what's smarter than that?

1. iDevices Smart Thermostat

Go home with pleasant temperatures with the iDevices smart thermostat, which allows you to use Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant to heat or cool your space. Download the iDevices app and control your settings wherever you are, even if you're away from home.

What we like: The thermostat lets you set up custom "scenes," like "go to bed," to automatically change the temperature to your favorite settings. You can also use it to program different areas, from the bedroom to the basement, so that every part of the house is always heated or cooled. Synchronize it with your Apple Watch and warm up your home with a simple wrist gesture.

Critics say the iDevices thermostat is easy to install and mount, while the glossy white finish integrates easily with your décor, no matter what your decorating style. Quick note: Users say the thermostat's "automatic" setting does not have as wide a range as other models on the market, but as long as you do not live in a city where the temperature drops significantly in the morning at 40 and below at night), this should not be a big problem. Buy: 88.75 USD on Amazon.com.

2. Emerson Sensi WiFi Thermostat

With 4.4 stars on more than 1,300 reviews online, the Emerson Sensi Thermostat is one of the best values ​​on the market at the moment. For about one hundred dollars, you get a very intuitive and easy-to-use smart thermostat that, according to critics, can be installed in just 15 minutes. The 5-inch LCD displays all your information in a clear and concise manner (no decryption required!)

What we like: The Sensi controls your temperature settings in two ways. Use the connected app to manually change the temperature from your phone or tablet, or let Sensi do the work for you. Thanks to its integrated geolocation technology, Sensi can detect the location of your phone to reduce heating or cooling when you're away, then turn it on again when you're near you. The Sensi will also monitor the air in your home looking for extreme temperatures or irregular humidity and tell you if your system is not working properly. Critics say Emerson's technical support team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is extremely convenient if small bugs or problems occur. Buy: 104.90 USD on Amazon.com.

3. LUX Kono WiFi enabled intelligent thermostat

For the design-oriented package, you will not find anything prettier than the LUX Kono Smart thermostat. Available in an elegant black stainless steel finish, the Kono stands out as much for its appearance as for its sophisticated features.

Control your thermostat from the free iOS and Android compatible app, which also allows you to monitor your energy consumption and your running time. The app also includes useful tips on saving energy and a practical utility cost estimator. You will never be caught off guard when the bills arrive at the end of the month. Geolocation technology means that you will not heat your heating or cooling when no one is at home, while an integrated air quality mode will warn you of any sudden change in temperature.

What we love: LUX has been making technology gadgets for the home and office for over a century, and their products are designed right here in the United States, at their headquarters in Philadelphia. As for the thermostat, keep it as is with the black cover included or exchange it against one of these contemporary colors, with a nice design, that fit quickly. Buy: Kono Smart Thermostat $ 149.00 on Amazon.com | Kono Thermostat Decor Cover, 6.82 USD on Amazon.com.

4. Nest Learning Thermostat

That's one of the reasons the Nest Thermostat is a bestseller, with its ultra-slim design, large, simple display, and many features that turn everything from sensors to complex algorithms to deliver optimal performance at home or in the office. Actively working to save energy, Nest uses "near and far" field activity sensors to determine if a person is in the room. Otherwise, it will begin to reduce the settings until you return.

This third generation model is the most advanced to date, with thoughtful and intuitive updates that connect not only the Nest to your phone, tablet or laptop, but also to other smart devices. Combine it with an intelligent washer and dryer and your washing machine will only run your laundry load when energy demand is low. Pair it with your smart light bulbs and your lights will turn off when the thermostat is set to the 'absent' mode. The same goes for your smart plugs. It will turn off your appliances and small appliances when you are away, to prevent short circuits and overheating.

What we like: The Nest screen turns on when it detects a person approaching and instantly tells you the current time and temperature. Also look for the Leaf icon that lets you know that you choose a temperature with an energy efficiency setting. The Nest Learning Thermostat is the first thermostat to achieve ENERGY STAR certification, which means it has demonstrated "demonstrated energy savings and environmental benefits, as well as reliable performance, as well as convenient features. , intuitive and controllable. Purchase: $ 206.67 on Amazon.com.

5. EcoBee4 Smart Thermostat

With a ton of solid feedback, the EcoBee4 smart thermostat is one of the best alternatives for Nest. Like the rest of the choices in our list, you can program and control the time using any device, but Alexa's built-in EcoBee feature also lets you move the dial with your voice. However, the main selling point of the EcoBee is its included room sensor, which better monitors the occupancy and temperature settings for a more accurate reading of the time of day at home or switching to economy mode. energy.

Ecobee says its users have saved up to 23% a year on their heating and cooling costs, and critics say the system installs in less than 30 minutes. What we like: download the app to monitor your energy consumption and get personalized advice based on your consumption. The app will also send you alerts when the thermostat needs servicing. You will be able to solve the problem or update the settings before you are literally caught off guard. Purchase: $ 229.00 on Amazon.com.

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