Nest, the company behind intelligent home management systems has made available its Intelligent Thermostat and Nest Protect devices.
The Nest products are available in Harvey Norman retail stores, as well as online at Google Play and www.nest.com/ie.
Watch this space for a hands on report as TechCentral is having its own installation today.
Nest was acquired by Google in January of this year.
According to Eurostat, a Directorate-General of the European Commission, estimates are that around 44% of the average household energy bill is spent on heating, which is equal to €876 per year. Nest recently completed a study on potential energy savings users could experience with the Nest Thermostat.
The company found that heating bill savings for Irish users of the Nest Learning Thermostat may range from 5% to 27%, resulting in annual savings from €12 to €306, based on comparing simulations of energy usage associated with typical set-point schedules versus set-point schedules that could be generated by the Nest Thermostat’s energy-saving features.
The Nest Thermostat for Europe takes away the hassle of programming, according to Nest. When users simply turn the thermostat up and down like a manual unit for about a week, Nest will then create a personalised schedule that is refined over time. Also, with its built-in sensors, the Nest Thermostat knows when no one is home, implementing the Auto-Away feature, which can automatically turn down the temperature, helping to save even more energy. Users can control the temperature from a smart phone, tablet or computer.
For users who do not have thermostat wires available in the wall, want to replace wireless thermostats, or just want to change where the thermostat is located, says Nest, the Stand for the Nest Learning Thermostat is available to place the device in a preferred location.
The smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detector is more than your average device too.
The Nest Protect does much more than just sound a shrill alarm when there is danger in the home, the device speaks, telling people what and where the problem is. It will even alert via the Nest app phone when something is wrong. It knows when there is a little smoke or a lot of smoke, and when there are emergency levels of CO, a danger that cannot be smelled or seen. As soon as Nest Protect senses there is a problem, says the maker, it gives a “friendly Heads‑Up” warning, allowing householders to address the problem or evacuate the home. And at night, Nest Protect’s Pathlight glows white to light your way in the dark as someone passes below it.
“We’re excited to transform the Irish consumer’s relationship with these previously unloved products, and by the opportunity to help them save energy, stay comfortable, and improve home safety,” said Lionel Paillet, general manager for Europe, Nest. “The launch of Nest products in Ireland is particularly timely given new legislation regarding carbon monoxide alarms and Ireland’s continued focus on energy conservation.”
Installation and Compatibility
Because the Nest Thermostat connects to the heating system using high-voltage cables, professional installation is highly recommended. Working with Sierra Support Services, Nest has trained installers throughout Ireland who can be found at www.nest.com/ie.
The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with almost all central heating systems, including:
- Combi and condensing boilers
- System and heat-only boilers
- Hydronic underfloor systems
- Air source and ground source heat pumps (heating only)
- Zoned systems (one Nest Thermostat per zone)
- Switched live systems
- Low-voltage (dry contact) systems
The Nest app is available for Android (from Google Play and Amazon Appstore) and iOS (from Apple’s App Store) devices at no cost. A Web-based version can also be accessed at home.nest.com
Pricing and Availability
The Nest Learning Thermostat has a suggested retail price of €219 and the optional Stand, sold separately, is €35. Nest Protect: Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm will be available in two versions, wired (230V) and battery-powered, and will have a suggested retail price of €109.
www.nest.com/ie
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