By Molly McLaughlin on January 17, 2012 in
Wouldn't it be great if your house or apartment were always the ideal temperature? We've all had those moments where our home is too stuffy on a mild winter day or drafty on an unseasonably cold spring evening - so imagine if your thermostat could not only learn what temperature you like to keep your home, but also know what the weather is like outside. That's what Nest is all about, a stylish(!) thermostat that was on display at CES, alongside digital cameras, cell phones, HDTVs and more.
The Nest thermostat is made to track and adapt to your habits - learning when you typically turn up and down the heat throughout the day - and the week. According to the company, it can distinguish between weekend and weekday habits. It also has a sensor that will detect if anyone is home - and will turn down the heat if no one walks by after a period of time. (You can override the Nest at any time - and it will continue to learn as you correct it and change your habits.) Nest is also connected to the web so it can access weather information on the fly and make suitable adjustments. This also means that you can control the Nest thermostat from your computer or smartphone.
This smart thermostat is not only about making you more comfortable but also about conserving energy - and saving you money. It displays a green leaf when it detects that you're saving energy. Another very helpful feature is that, when you adjust the thermostat, the Nest will tell how long it will take to heat up or cool down to that temperature. This is because many people tend to make adjustments of 5 or more degrees when they're feeling too warm (or cold), thinking that will make the temperature change faster - when just one degree will make a noticeable difference. The New York Times tested the Nest, alongside two other "smart" thermostats, and found it quite effective - and easy to install. The company says it can be installed in place of most thermostats - and the Times says that their website has an easy-to-use guide that will help you determine if the Nest will work in your home.
CES this year was about WAY more than home theater and gadgets - a number of companies were showing off new ways to use technology in unexpected ways - including razors and bi-focals, believe it or not. You can see more pictures of the Nest as well as electronic bi-focals and other interesting products in our CES photo gallery.