5 ms·
Seems like a solution in search of a problem.
by seanos 15y ago
Seems like a solution in search of a problem.
- Maakuth 15y agoWell, probably most of us don't see their utility bills as a problem per se but wouldn't mind 50% reduction. And Nest claims to deliver that. Certainly that claim is to be taken with a grain of salt but I don't think that it's a bad idea. EDIT: No they don't actually claim that, my bad.
- batterseapower 15y agoDo they actually claim that? Their page claims that 50% of household energy usage is governed by the thermostat, but they are very careful to avoid any specific claims about how much Nest would reduce this usage.
- seanos 15y agoAssuming the learning algorithm is perfect and always gives the desired temperature, then a saving of 50% means that your desired temperature pattern is 50% cheaper than the temperature pattern you would program with a regular thermostat. That could be true, or it could even be more expensive. Also, it might be annoying to have a thermostat trying to second guess what temperature you want through a "learning" algorithm, rather than the deterministic temperature you have programmed or adjusted manually.
- Maakuth 15y agoMy guess is that most of the savings come from the auto-away feature that's apparently backed by some sensors (motion detection?). I don't doubt that auto-away could save energy as most people probably don't either care or remember to adjust their thermostats when leaving home. I don't think that the auto-adjustment really is that much more annoying than programming a regular dumb thermostat. Of course the end result being annoying depends on the algorithm design more than anything else.
- glenra 15y agoThey sense three things: (1) light, (2) motion (close-range) (3) motion (wide field/longer range). Presumably if nobody turns on the lights at night or walks past in a while, it decides nobody is home and gradually lets the temperature drift closer to the "nobody is home" range. Then brings it right back up as soon as it senses activity. It makes sense to start out selling this as just a thermostat, but I wonder how long it'll be before they add a "burglar alarm" module?
- pyoung 15y agoI don't know anything about their algorithm, but I highly doubt that it 'guesses' the desired temperature. It looks like it simply records the users preferences based on time of day and day of week, and then tries to mimic those preferences. It will be interesting to see if they also provide a web based interface that allows users to have more direct control over the algorithm (for example hard coding certain scheduled times for the thermostat to turn on or off)
- beatpanda 15y agoSee also: everything critics of the iPad said the week after it was launched
- mbesto 15y agoDisagree. Two problems: 1. High utility bills (any solution that saves you money is a solution to a problem) 2. Global warming
- colomon 15y agoEvery time all winter my wife asks me to get out of bed to go downstairs to change the thermostat that's awkward to use and hard to see in the available light, you can bet I'm going to be thinking about how I could have a Nest and just adjust it from bed using my phone. Combine that with plausible claims of it saving us $100+ a year in energy bills, and this is a very appealing product, IMO.
- watty 15y agoI think the "problem" he's referring to is the learning aspect. Web based thermostats and home automation have been around for over 10 years.