The Amazon Echo is a voice-activated device that can answer spoken questions; play music; make to-do lists; set alarms; stream podcasts; and provide weather, traffic, and other real-time information. However, perhaps most interesting to contractors is its ability to control several smart devices using itself as a home automation hub.
Venstar®, a thermostat and energy management systems supplier, announced it has signed an agreement with Brauer Supply of St. Louis for the distribution of Venstar HVAC control products from its locations in northwestern Arkansas, southern Illinois, southeastern Kansas, Missouri, and northwestern Oklahoma.
Smart thermostat company, ecobee, has launched “Donate Your Data,” a new program that allows customers to voluntarily contribute their home data to help advance energy efficiency research.
Thermostat Recycling Corp. (TRC), along with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER), have formally recognized energy solutions provider Rise Engineering as the top mercury thermostat recycler in Rhode Island in 2015.
The Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), sponsor of the IoTivity open source project, and AllSeen Alliance, which provides the AllJoyn® open source Internet of Things (IoT) framework, announced that the two organizations’ boards have approved a merger under the OCF name.
Lux Products Corp. announced that it has added the Kivlan Group to its roster of sales representatives. Kivlan is a leading HVAC and refrigeration sales rep in the Mid-Atlantic region. Starting immediately, Kivlan will provide HVAC professionals and businesses with the entire portfolio of Lux thermostats.
ecobee Inc. has announced the launch of its ecobee3 lite smart thermostat. The company said the new device is designed to deliver superior comfort, control, and energy savings at a lower cost. The thermostat will be available for purchase across North America on Oct. 31, 2016.