Former Apple Employees Venture Into Home Thermostat Business
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - What do you get when you mix Apple technology with the home thermostat? How about a new device, called The Nest.
The Nest is shiny, shaped like a hockey puck, and comes with all sorts of bells and whistles. It's the brainchild of Matt Rogers and Tony Fadell, co-founders of the Palo Alto-based Nest Labs. Rogers and Fadell are also known in tech circles as two men who were instrumental in the design of the iPod.
Most people probably pay more attention to their Apple devices than their home thermostats, but not Rogers and Fadell.
"It's one of the largest energy problems facing the country and almost no companies have started innovating in this area," said Rogers, who describes thermostats as antiquated devices controlling about 50% of all energy usage in the U.S.
By contrast, he says The Nest is easy to install, easy to use, and over time will start to heat and cool your home without your assistance.
"When you're not comfortable, you turn the nob up or down just like you normally would do a manual thermostat. And, over time, it will learn your schedule so you don't have to program it," he explained.
KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:
The Nest is priced at $249, and the creators think it will pay for itself within a year or two.
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