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Why the Nest Thermostat is a Thrifty Traveler’s Best Friend 

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I remember the first time I saw the Nest Thermostat a couple years back. It was sleek and sexy just like an Apple device, and I knew I had to have it. That was until I saw the high $249 price point. How could I ever pay that much for something that typically costs around $40?!

Dreams of seeing that trendy device on my wall finally broke me, and I purchased a 2nd generation Nest on eBay in late 2013. Thankfully, I was able to pick up an open box,    one on eBay for only $175. Almost two years after my purchase I'm still in love with the thing, I even purchased a second one for another room in the house!

Have I created a fancy spreadsheet to show you all how much money the Nest has saved me? No. I know it's saved me a significant amount of money from the app based scheduling alone, probably enough to justify the extra cost of the device. In independent studies, Nest saved an average of 10-12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills, that means the Nest can pay for itself in under two years.

Besides saving money, the real value is the peace of mind I get from being able to check on the house when I travel, knowing that everything is running as it should. The device helps to save money and set your mind at ease while away from home. The Nest Thermostat is a Thrifty Traveler's best friend.

 

nest thrifty traveler
Nest iPhone App

 

What I love about the nest:

  • Monitor and control the temperature from anywhere in the world directly from my phone or laptop.
  • Turn the A/C up as I'm on my way home from work or turn it off, if I'm working late.
  • Setup a schedule that fits my unpredictable schedule, helping save costs by minimizing energy usage.
  • Check the app to make sure the A/C and heat are running,  depending on the season.
  • Don't have to worry about frozen pipes in the winter if the heat fails while I'm enjoying the beach in Mexico.
  • App/online tracking of power usage, including comparisons to prior years, and also local averages.
  • If I'm feeling lazy I can adjust the temperature from bed or on the couch. Don't judge me.

 

Nest thrifty traveler
Nest Weekly Scheduler

 

Thrifty Tip: Check out Nest Rebates and Rewards. Various insurance and local power companies offer rebates for the various Nest products.

 

Nest thrifty traveler
Historical Energy Usage

 

This week Nest released the 3rd generation of the Nest Thermostat. Some of the changes include:

  • New larger, higher resolution screen can display temperature and act as a clock (digital or analog)
  • Nest can be triggered for up-close use or viewing from a distance
  • Thinner and wider steel body
  • Bluetooth LE added for future compatibility of other Nest devices

 

nest thrifty traveler
Nest's new Farsight

 

I'll be honest besides the newer, larger screen, there are no major changes. While the new 3rd generation device is an improvement on an already great design, the best part of the new revision is that the 2nd generation Nest is now $50 cheaper at $199. I would highly recommend the 2nd Generation Nest at that price. Buy it, you won't regret it. Who knew a thermostat could be thrifty and sexy?


Nest 2nd Generation Thermostat ($199)

nest 2nd generation thrifty traveler

  • 2nd gen design – Nest is now 20-Percent thinner and works in 95-Percent of homes with low voltage systems
  • Auto-Schedule – Nest remembers the temperatures you like and programs itself. Easy install – Most homeowners install Nest themselves in 30 minutes or less. After that, it's just a matter of changing the temperature
  • Auto-Away – Nest saves energy by automatically turning itself down when you're away
  • Remote control – Connect Nest to Wi-Fi to control it from your smartphone, laptop or tablet

Nest 3rd Generation Thermostat ($249)nest 3rd generation thermostat

  • 3rd gen design –  New larger, higher resolution screen can display temperature and act as a clock (digital or analog)
  • Auto-Schedule – No more programming. With auto-schedule, Nest learns from you and programs itself
  • Auto-Away – Don't heat or cool an empty home. Auto-away adjusts the temperature after you leave
  • Remote control – With the Nest app, you can change the temperature, check energy history and get an alert if your home is too hot or cold

 

 

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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