Targeting consumers who want to consume less energy but also enjoy shiny new gadgets, Canadian Ecobee has developed a smart thermostat that enables easy remote control of a home's energy use.
Installation involves hooking up the device to a customer’s existing wifi network and then registering it online, so that users can log in to Ecobee's portal and control their thermostat from wherever they can access the web. While regular programmable thermostats stick to fixed routines, Ecobee’s online access means that users have flexible control over home heating and cooling, adjusting as needed if they’ll be home earlier or later than expected.
The Smart Thermostat is priced at USD 385 plus shipping and installation, plus USD 35 per year access to Ecobee’s portal. Besides direct sales to consumers in Canada and the US, Ecobee is also pitching its device and platform to utility companies. By adding pricing visualization to the thermostat's information mix, utilities can make consumers even more aware of their energy use, which could have the added benefit of reducing peak loads. (Related: Home security with an energy-monitoring twist — Home energy monitoring, delivered by Google.)
Website: www.ecobee.com
Contact: info@ecobee.com
Spotted by: Amanda Bond
This seems a little unnecessary. It's too expensive for normal people like me who would like to save money, so this is probably a green chic gadget for people who can afford such things and want to feel better about themselves.
And why pay $35/month if it stills piggybacks on my wifi? If it's meant to tattle to the utilities, they can use the same over-the-wire tech that my power meter already uses to report usage.
I am agree with you Chris on the price. I am not familiar with over-the-wire tech, but I think WiFi makes it more standard. The $35/year (no month) is for using the portal, that with current web technologies I consider it a little bit expensive. So far, it is great idea to save energy, it only needs to go to the masses to be better on price.
Jaime
Hi Guys
I work for ecobee. We have eliminated the annual service fee so there is no charge to use the portal. It is included in the cost of the thermostat.
Thanks
Stuart
Great idea. We love this product. We may be featuring it shortly on our gadget site, www.asongo.com. Love the remote control function and glad the annual fee was eliminated.