The HVAC industry is no stranger to do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowners, especially with the growing popularity of smart thermostats that just happen to be readily available at their corner big-box store or online via two-day shipping.
The ultra-thin programmable thermostat has a full-color glass touchscreen and features local weather, one-touch away mode, motion activation, and integrated Wi-Fi.
Going forward, the most significant driver of unit sales of smart and connected thermostats will be the rapidly declining prices, which will support multiple-unit consumer adoption. Ramped up efforts by utility companies, homebuilders, and HVAC contractors to promote these products based on their cost- and energy-saving benefits will also underlie growth.
Developments in zoning capabilites have brought mini splits into the multiroom realm. And it goes without mention that the march of engineering progress has taken ductless systems on the road, into parts of the country where no mini split has ever gone before.
It’s a well-known fact that HVAC — the smart thermostat — is the first point of entry into smart-home sales. And with more than half of U.S. households predicted to own a smart speaker by 2022, according to a late 2017 study by Juniper Research, it’s a prime opportunity for HVAC contractors.
One of the most obvious effects of commercial IoT, in terms of HVAC systems, is convergence of technology: bringing different systems within the building together into one ecosystem.
It started with smart thermostats. Now, in today’s world of smartphones, smart speakers, and Wi-Fi connections in 89 percent of U.S. households (as of 2017), smart homes are expanding in scope beyond heating and cooling controls — the first major foray into the smart-home concept — as manufacturers work to keep up with customer demand for continuous connection.
The Ion thermostat provides homeowners with a smartphone-inspired control that offers remote access, seamless programming, and over-the-air software updates to provide a convenient user experience while leveraging the maximum capabilities of their HVAC systems.
Over a year of research and design went into the 2018 Dealer Design Awards gold-winning product in the Residential Controls category. After listening to feedback from both contractors and consumers for a more basic, easy-to-use, and cost-effective thermostat, Nest created the Nest Thermostat E.