Photo: Nest
The Nest Learning Thermostat is getting a whole lot smarter thanks to a new firmware update.
The biggest new feature in the update is an added Auto-Schedule mode, which learns new schedules and adapts more quickly to change — potentially saving you up to 6% on your heating and cooling bills.
“We knew most people didn’t program their thermostats – it’s just too complicated,” says Nest founder and head of engineering Matt Rogers. “So Auto-Schedule just learns the temperatures you like … No programming necessary.”
The new mode means that whenever your schedule changes, with summer ending or the kids going back to school, Nest’s algorithms will quickly catch on to changes that are part of a new ongoing pattern rather than one-off alterations. As Rogers explains:
“Push the ring once and you’ll see weather, outdoor temp and humidity. Turn the ring and you’ll see a quick summary of everything you need to know, like how much energy you used yesterday or what’s next on your schedule. Instead of having to scroll through settings and menus, all the info you need for the day will be right on the display.”
There’s also a System Test mode that will walk you through basic functions so you can spot and solve any issues.
The accompanying iOS Nest app will be updated this week to reflect the changes. You can download it here.
Nest was co-founded by Tony Fadell, a former Apple exec and the brains behind the iPod. A recent profile of Fadell notes the many Apple-like qualities he applies to his work at Nest. The company was acquired by Google for a whopping $3.2 billion earlier this year.
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