A smart thermostat is a great investment, and now it’s cheaper than ever to have one in your home http://ift.tt/2gfyoJo

http://ift.tt/2gfyoJo A smart thermostat is a great investment, and now it’s cheaper than ever to have one in your home

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AmazonOne of the biggest barriers to smart home tech is its price.

There are ways to start your smart home without breaking the bank, but you have to get creative.

One of my favorite smart-home accessories is the Nest Thermostat, and its new sibling the Nest Thermostat E has many of the same features for a far lower price. Both models are widely regarded as the best smart thermostats you can buy.

The biggest immediate difference with this E model is its screen. Instead of having a full color LED display, the Nest Thermostat E has a custom "frosted" one that shows only the current temperature and whether you’re conserving energy. It’s more basic, but you still see all the information you’ll need to know.

While it looks different, the Nest Thermostat E acts just like the standard Nest Thermostat. You can still control the temperature with your voice if you have the Google Home or an Amazon Echo. You can also use Nest’s app on your phone if you don’t have a smart speaker, and you’re still able to turn the temperature up or down by turning the ring around the thermostat to the left or right. The Nest Thermostat E employs all the same energy-saving features to help save you money each year. Basically, it’s a Nest.

The one other consideration to make when you’re deciding between the standard Nest Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat E is compatibility with your heating and cooling system. According to Nest, the original mode l is compatible with "95% of 24V heating and cooling systems," while the E model "works with most 24V heating and cooling systems." You should check your system’s compatibility here before buying one.

If your system is compatible, and price is the only factor that’s held you back from buying a Nest in the first place, I can’t recommend one highly enough. Every time I’m faced with an old school thermostat I remember why I invested so heavily in the Nest Ecosystem. Both of these smart thermostats are featured in our buying guide to the best smart thermostats.

Anyone looking to make their home smarter without breaking the bank should consider the Nest Thermostat E a good investment. It’ll make your house a little less complicated, and may very well pay for itself over the course of a few years.

Nest Thermostat E, $169, available at Amazon

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October 12, 2017 at 01:06PM