GigaOM » learning thermostat

Nest launches slimmer, smarter learning thermostat

Katie Fehrenbacher — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:00:51 +0000

Startup Nest Labs is ready to launch the next generation of its connected learning thermostat. The device, which you can pre-order now and which ships in mid-October, is 20 percent slimmer than the original thermostat, and has new features that make it compatible with 95 percent of heating and cooling systems in the U.S.

Nest launched its original learning thermostat back in October of 2011 to much fanfare and it was immediately sold out for months. The device was designed by Nest CEO Tony Fadell, who was head designer of the iPhone and iPod for Apple, and the connected thermostat has smart algorithms that learn your habits and help you shave off 20 to 30 percent off of your energy bill. Fadell will be talking about the power of design to disrupt industries at our RoadMap conference on November 5 in San Francisco.

The first thing you’ll notice about the new Nest is that it has one moveable ring on its circumference as the physical interface. The previous ring design only took up part of the real estate of the circumference, and the other part didn’t move (see below). Making the ring all one piece makes the device slimmer and more clean looking.

The new Nest:

The first generation Nest:

As you can see, Nest also did away with the grill on the bottom of the face of the thermostat. They needed the grill for the occupancy (motion) sensors that can detect when people are nearby. But for the new thermostat design, Nest was able to switch the grill out with transparent, black plastic that still enables the sensors to “see.”

In addition to the hardware on the front, the back of the Nest is completely redesigned. The team made the circuit design circular to add more space, and Nest used that extra space to add two important new connectors: a spot for a wire called the Y2, which controls a second stage of AC, and the star connector, which enables new wires to control options like emergency heating and a whole home humidifier.

With these new wires, version 2 of thermostat is compatible with most types of heating and cooling systems, including forced air systems, radiant systems and heat pumps. Nest has included all types of new software functions that enable owners of these systems to cut energy in different ways.

The new Nest contains version 3 of its software — version 2 of the software was upgraded in April of this year. The new mobile software also is compatible with Android tablets like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire (GigaOM’s Kevin Tofel will like that: His in-depth review here).

The new Nest will cost the same as the original Nest: $250. The original Nest will be on sale for another couple of weeks and is being discounted down to $229 until supplies last.

Nest also updated me on its lawsuit with Honeywell. Back in February Honeywell slapped Nest with a patent infringement lawsuit over seven aspects of Nest’s smart thermostat technology. Nest tells me that the case is currently on hold, and Nest requested, and was granted a stay in the case. Nest also requested a re-examination of the original Honeywell patents in question, and Nest says 5 of the 7 Honeywell patent claims were accepted for reexamination, and those 5 patent claims were rejected.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

Nest scores first utility deal in Texas

Katie Fehrenbacher — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:11:48 +0000

The Nest learning thermostat is now winning over utilities, too. On Monday, startup Nest announced that Texas energy service provider Reliant has started offering its learning thermostat through one of its energy efficiency programs.

Customers that sign up for Reliant’s conservation program get a Nest thermostat in exchange for signing a contract for two years of fixed electricity prices. Texas energy service providers like Reliant are interested in offering customers attractive services and devices as a way to keep them from changing providers. It’s a competitive market in Texas, which makes the state an interesting ecosystem for energy startups.

Cracking the utility world is a pretty big deal for Nest. While Nest is first and foremost and consumer-focused company, utilities can act as a strong distribution channel for the thermostat, and can also use the thermostat to collectively curb energy consumption during peak grid events. This type of service is called demand response, and the saved energy per household helps utilities manage their grids during really hot summer days. Nest tells me that Reliant will not be using its thermostat for demand response through this service.

Nest’s thermotat has a ZigBee chip installed in it, so it could potentially also connect with utilities’ smart meters. Nest says that home owners can save 20 to 30 percent on their energy bills using the thermostat, which is one of the highest estimated ways to curb home energy use on the market.

In recent weeks Nest has also expanded its consumer-focused distribution channels, and has started selling the thermostat through Apple’s online site and Amazon’s online store. For a detailed review of the Nest thermostat check out Kevin Tofel’s impressions.

Nest, founded by former Apple designers and backed by tens of millions in venture capital funding, launched at the end of 2011, with its smart learning thermostat. The idea was to create a cool, coveted device that would get people actually interested in their thermostat, and then use learning algorithms to help the customer cut their energy consumption and save money on their bill.

The company was sued by Honeywell earlier this year, but hired Apple’s former legal counsel to fight back.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

Apple starts selling the Nest smart thermostat

Katie Fehrenbacher — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:08:53 +0000

In a huge win for startup Nest, which makes a connected learning thermostat, Apple has now started selling the Nest thermostat through its online store (hat tip The Verge). If you recall, Nest founder Tony Fadell was the former chief architect at Apple where he led the development of the iPod and the first three versions of the iPhone. He left Apple three years ago to start Nest.

Not surprisingly Apple and Nest share a similar design sensibility, and the Nest thermostat can also be controlled via an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Mac. When Nest first launched its thermostat, I called it “a thermostat Steve Jobs would love.”

The Nest thermostat (in cooling mode).

Not to be too dramatic, but I think this is the most important move ever for a next-generation digital thermostat. Most consumers don’t care a lick about their thermostat and most thermostats are not ever programmed, which leads to major inefficiencies and wasted home energy. If Nest can make its learning thermostat a cool and coveted item (like the iPhone), it could change consumers’ relationships with thermostats and home energy and could lead to significant reductions in home energy consumption.

If you’ve been following Nest, then you probably know that thermostat giant Honeywell slapped it with a lawsuit earlier this year, alleging patent infringement. Nest responded to the lawsuit by bringing on Apple’s former Chief Intellectual Property Officer Richard “Chip” Lutton as its new vice president and general counsel.

Apple started selling Nest’s thermostat after the lawsuit was filed. The thermostat is also being sold via Best Buy and via Nest’s online store.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

The details behind the Honeywell, Nest lawsuit

Katie Fehrenbacher — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:26:54 +0000

On Monday morning, thermostat giant Honeywell surprised the world by slapping startup Nest, and retailer Best Buy, with a lawsuit over patent infringement for smart thermostat technology. According to the lawsuit document, Honeywell says that “Honeywell — not Nest Labs — is responsible for many of the ideas that Nest Labs touts as revolutionary, and that many features of the Nest Thermostat infringe Honeywell patents.”

Nest sent me its official response this morning which is: “We have not yet reviewed the actual filing, which we learned about this morning through Honeywell’s press release. We will provide comment once we’ve had the opportunity to review it.”

So what technology is Honeywell talking about specifically? Oh, only the some key features of the Nest device including the outer controlling ring dial, the interview questions to start programming the thermostat, tech around being able to control the thermostat via the Internet, the Nest “Time to Temperature” function, and the way that the Nest thermostat diverts small amounts of power from the house’s electrical load to power itself. Here’s the details:

Natural Language Installer Setup for Controller (504): This is essentially the set of questions that programmable thermostats can ask the owner, like “What temperature do you like when the heat is on?” and “What time do you get up in the morning?” and “What time do you go to sleep at night.” Honeywell says it already offers this type of question set for its Prestige 2.0 smart thermostat line and it owns a patent for this.

Controller Interface with Dynamic Schedule Display (948): This pertains to interface features that make it easier to operate a thermostat and reduce energy like Nest’s “time to temperature” function. The time to temperature function displays how long it will take for the room to heat up or cool down to the desired temperature, so that the user isn’t tempted to set the thermostat too high or low to speed up the time to comfort.

Profile Based Method for Deriving a Temperature Setpoint Using a Delta Based on Cross Indexing a Received Price Point Level Signal (958): This patent includes methods for reducing energy costs by controlling a thermostat with information stored in a remote location. This is essentially about controlling a thermostat remotely through the Internet. This seems like a broad one, so I’ll leave it to the legal buffs to make a call on it.

HVAC Controller (899): Honeywell says it has a patent for technology around the rotatable ring that is used to control the Nest thermostat. That’s Nests highlighted main design point: it’s Nest ring.

Thermostat with mechanical user interface (789) and Thermostat with Offset Drive (790): These ones discuss placing a non-rotating part near or inside a rotating part, while still enabling the rotating part to control the function. Essentially this is another patent that says the Nest Ring violates Honeywell’s IP.

Power Stealing Control Devices (988): This patent covers the way that the Nest thermostat powers itself by “diverting or skimming” small amounts of charge from the heating and cooling power load. This includes a switch and a circuit to divert power from the home’s electrical system to the thermostat.

And finally, while this isn’t a Honeywell patent, Honeywell includes an image of a Kohler temperature controller for the Mira Platinum Wireless Shower product, which it points out looks “strikingly similar” to the Nest design:

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.