Product Brief: Nest Thermostat E a Lower-Cost Alternative

Setting a high-water mark for residential thermostat retail pricing in 2011 with the launch of the original $249 Nest Learning Thermostat, the Palo Alto company has brought down the cost of entry to their smart thermostat line with the launch of the $169 Nest Thermostat E.

In a departure from the gleaming stainless steel thermostat rings and polished glass faces that became the hallmark of their smart-home brand, Nest has largely reduced the cost of the Thermostat E by molding its exterior ring housing out of white polycarbonate polymer and integrating a frosted display face. The new product will sit alongside the 3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat, which will continue to retail at $249.

Nest Thermostat E video, courtesy of Nest.

Significant Energy Savings

Since launching their first thermostat, Nest says its customers have averted over 14 billion kilowatt-hours of energy by using the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations of the Nest Learning Thermostat, but acknowledges its $249 cost has been a barrier to many homeowners. By lowering the cost and bringing a new, muted industrial design that is intended to blend into rather than stand out on the wall, the company is hoping to advance its presence and increase the potential for energy savings in many more connected homes.

Lower Cost, Similar Features

The Nest Thermostat E also delivers by adding rather than deleting software-driven features, becoming the first Nest thermostat to come with a pre-configured basic schedule that can be used right out of the box. Homeowners can still elect to use the hands-off machine learning features that made the original thermostats so popular, and the existing Nest app for Apple iOS- and Google Android-equipped devices is employed to manage things. For example, the Home and Away features that activate or deactivate HVAC systems based on homeowner occupancy are still there, as well as full-fledged integration with other smart-home technolgies through the Works with Nest program.

The Nest Thermostat E can be ordered through the Nest online store or through other online and retail channels.