There’s no doubt that the Nest Thermostat is popular. The Google-owned company has pretty much single-handedly made the smart thermostat a hot item to have in the Electronic House. However, does it actually deliver on its claims?
We know that it provides remote access and even has learning capacities. And according to three recent studies, it can also save you money. Of course, the report is coming from Nest Labs. However, in addition to Nest’s own research, the white paper includes results from independent studies that were conducted by Indiana’s Vectren Energy and Energy Trust of Oregon.
After compiling all of the information, the report claims that on average, Nest Thermostat users saved between 10 and 12 percent on heating bills and 15 percent on cooling bills annually. That comes out to about $131 to $145 per year. Of course, your results may vary based on your location. Still, according to these numbers, the Nest Thermostat (which retails for $249) could pay for itself in a mere two years.
All three of the studies looked at Nest users in the United States, measuring their energy use before and after they installed the Nest Thermostat. According to Nest, the information not only shows how the Nest Thermostat can help homeowners to save money, but programmable thermostats in general.
Of course, the Nest Thermostat claims to be even more efficient. That because of those learning features, which allow the thermostat to more closely mimic a user’s schedule.
“Nest is committed to being the industry leader in measuring and sharing energy-saving results,” said Ben Bixby, general manager of energy services at Nest. “While we always knew that the Nest Learning Thermostat helps people save energy, we now have independent, third-party evidence of how much it can save. With this information in hand, customers can feel even more confident about investing in a Nest Thermostat and our energy partners can be assured that energy-efficiency programs involving Nest will have an impact.”
Nest Thermostat users can check out the website’s support section for tips on how to get more out of their thermostats. The company also recently launched the option to speak to a live Nest Energy Advisor, who can provide additional guidance.
For more information on the study, you can download the Nest Thermostat energy-savings white paper.
Leave a Reply