http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/ Engadget Comments for Ecobee debuts energy-saving, WiFi-connected Smart Thermostat http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 1:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 8:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 1:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 16th 2008 10:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 1:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 1:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Maybe one could save money with this and only buy shorts.

I really would like a thermostat that has a wireless remote I can put upstairs in case I forget to take the hold off before bed or I need to adjust the temp upstairs. Maybe I need a ranch? Na]]>Oct 15th 2008 4:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 1:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 1:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 1:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 2:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/]]>Oct 15th 2008 2:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 2:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
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Unless there's some lower limit on the little temperature sensor in there, I can't imagine WHY it would have a lower limit on what you could set it to. Anyhow, the lower limit you're looking at there is only the temperature display. It isn't the "program" mode, it's just an overly-pretty thermometer. ]]>Oct 15th 2008 7:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
And the price is a little high.]]>Oct 15th 2008 2:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/]]>Oct 15th 2008 2:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 2:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 2:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
With cheap, programmable LCD thermostats at Home Depot for $40, it's pretty simple to change the thermostat settings maybe 3, 4 times a year. If you happen to have the day off, you can always walk over and adjust it.

I can bear the cold/heat for the 10 minutes after I walk in after work until the home is heated/cooled, or I can set the thermostat to kick in 10 minutes before I get home.

I admit, it would be nice to secretly use my laptop to reset the thermostat after my evidently cold-blooded wife sets it up to 85 once again in mid-October. She always nabs me walking over to the thermostat, but if I can do it wirelessly...]]>Oct 15th 2008 2:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/

]]>Oct 15th 2008 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
When it's winter up here, you dress warmly. Some people don't seem to get that and lay around in summer clothes complaining that they're cold.]]>Oct 16th 2008 4:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
Dislike: Replacing my $35 unit with one that costs 10x as much and won't save me the difference for MANY years.]]>Oct 15th 2008 2:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
Funny thing is, used to be that a thermostat was the simplest piece of control mechanism imaginable - just a bimetallic strip with a couple of contacts... ]]>Oct 15th 2008 2:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
I had one of the old mercury contact-coil thermostats. They worked great, until someone bumped it up to 90 on their way out the door. Then my gas bill was 10x what it should be.

Plus, with wireless alerts, I could finally have that thing that all fathers are SUPPOSED to have in their heads, a thing that tells them when the thermostat has been touched.]]>Oct 15th 2008 7:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 3:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
My friend lives in New Mexico, and they use one.]]>Oct 15th 2008 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 5:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 3:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 4:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 5:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
Yes, it's expensive. But if these guys do what I'm sure they really want to, you won't be paying them $400 for the thermostat. Your utility will be paying them that price (- bulk discounts), and including it in some energy-saving rollout program, and maybe charging you a monthly fee to control this, and other energy-related devices in your home.]]>Oct 15th 2008 3:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.cpsenergy.com/Residential/Rebates_Programs/Programs/Peak_Saver/index.asp]]>Jan 30th 2009 9:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 3:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 3:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 4:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 5:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
I have the Proliphix nt20e and can access/control it from the web, perl, php, or whatever because it has an API. Make up your super duper program. Also, I think it about 1/2 the price of this Ecobee unit...]]>Oct 15th 2008 4:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/]]>Oct 15th 2008 10:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Mar 24th 2009 7:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 4:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 5:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 6:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 15th 2008 7:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/Oct 16th 2008 12:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/ecobee-debuts-energy-saving-wifi-connected-smart-thermostat/
Thanks for the really great comments. Here are some responses to some of your comments:

We recognize that we are not the cheapest thermostat on the market, but we believe that our features, including internet accessibility, ease of use and convenience provide good value.

You can find the proliphix thermostat here http://www.proliphix.com/ . According to their web site prices range from $300 (including power adapter) to over $600 (http://www.proliphixstore.com/prse1.html). Unfortunately, adding internet connectivity adds significant cost to any thermostat. We decided to use wifi instead of wired ethernet because we felt it was easier than asking homeowners to pull an ethernet cable to their thermostat location.

The apple iphone application is a great idea and it is on our roadmap although I can not give you specific date. A $5 iphone application will be great, but note that it needs to connect to a networked thermostat.

We would appreciate any feedback or suggestions you have - info@ecobee.com



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