Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat Slashed My Heating Bill, and It’s $50 Off for Black Friday

Black Friday offer: The fourth generation of Nest smart thermostat isn’t cheap, but there’s plenty of power behind the smooth screen and beveled edges. Even at full price, the Nest Learning Thermostat pays for itself in about a year, but you can now buy one for just $230 during the Amazon period Black Friday sale. That’s an 18% discount off the retail price, or $50 in savings.

This smart thermostat’s learning features and eco-suggestions can save you around $20 per month, especially on expensive heating in winter. That means it will eventually pay for itself, like mine did this fall, and with this Black Friday deal, you can hit that point a few months earlier than I did. After that, the extra savings are just money in your pocket.

CNET’s key takeaways

• $230 Buying a smart thermostat may seem like a big deal, but mine paid for itself this fall with lower heating and cooling bills.
• Automated eco modes make it easy to save energy, even if you don’t have time to plan your schedule.
• Rebates from local utilities can also help make the thermostat more affordable.

When friends first walk past my Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 4, they often stop and stare. The thermostat can detect nearby movement and lights up with a beautiful display of outdoor weather, like sunsets or changing rain animations. This beauty comes at a cost, almost $300 when not on sale, making it one of the more expensive smart thermostats I recommend.

So why take the plunge? Because Nest’s Eco modes are so effective, my Nest smart thermostat paid for itself at the start of the cooler fall season in electricity savings — and I basically had to do nothing but set it up. Here’s how it all works and why I’m glad I kept this Nest smart thermostat.

Learn more: A small gadget is the unsung hero of today’s smart, energy-efficient home

My experience with the Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 4

With a larger dial than ever, the Nest Learning Thermostat 4 is well-suited to show off, both aesthetically and with data-driven insights about indoor and outdoor temperatures, humidity, and more. My favorite customization is putting outdoor weather at the forefront of the screen, which displays moving weather graphics that capture the current state of the sky, from snowfall to twinkling stars.

Google research indicates that people save around 10-15% on their energy bills with a smart thermostat, which is an average savings. from $132 to $145 per year.

These numbers reflect my results quite well. From early fall through the coldest months of winter, I saved about $10 to $15 per month thanks to Nest’s adjustments and balancing my electricity use with less expensive natural gas heating. As the months warmed up, this number increased for me, saving my heat pump work and me up to $20 during the warmer months. As fall arrived and I started saving money on cooling, I reached the stopping point where I recouped the money spent on the thermostat. After that, it’s gravy.

The intelligence behind a pretty face

Courtesy, the thermostat learns my habits and adjusts the heating and cooling levels in response.

Auto-Eco mode, for example, will automatically lower the thermostat if it detects that there is no activity in the home, saving more money. Adaptive Eco will take care of the details for me, while Eco Hold will stick to an economical temperature that I choose manually. The auto-schedule feature does something similar, since it learns how I adjust the thermostat throughout the day and mimics my comfort preferences over time so I don’t need to keep changing settings.

Adjust the temperature manually at any time and when you see the green leaf icon appear, you will know that you are in savings mode. This makes it easier to adjust on the fly when the temperature seems right, but you’d like to save more on the thermostat.

Nest’s Eco modes also generate reports that allow me to track monthly progress and note any sudden issues or unexpected energy usage. If there is a strange increase in energy usage, the planning may be wrong or you may be using too many power-hungry appliances (as temperatures dropped in October, my heating usage increased, meaning I head to the app to make some adjustments). There’s also a gamified “leaf” competition against other users that doesn’t interest me much, but it’s there for those who are interested.

Satellite sensors and other ways to save

My Nest model also came with a satellite sensor, a small white puck that wirelessly transmits the temperature of where it is placed to the thermostat. I can tell the Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 4 to turn on or off based on its own built-in readings, satellite sensor readings, or a combination of both.

Sensors like these help thermostats be more accurate based on where you actually spend time. For example, if I spend the evening watching a movie in front of my TV or computer, I can take the sensor with me and when these heat-exhaling electronic devices warm up my personal space, the thermostat will take that as a sign to turn off early.

Then there are rush-hour programs, under names like Peak Perks, Rush Hour Rewards, Google’s Nest Renew, and other labels that indicate a partnership with utility companies. If your local utility supports these programs, you can sign up and your Nest thermostat will make small additional changes throughout the day, avoiding more costly energy use at peak times when possible.

With programs like these, you give up some control of your thermostat, which may displease some users, but it saves you more. Many energy providers also offer bonuses or discounts to help consumers recoup the cost of an expensive thermostat even faster.

A quick note on setup: If you’re nervous about installing the thermostat in your home, there’s not much to worry about the process. I have a complete guide hereBut as long as you practice electrical safety and take a photo of your thermostat’s current wiring, setting up the Nest Thermostat Gen 4 and connecting it to Wi-Fi shouldn’t be a problem, especially with the Google Home app’s walkthroughs.

Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 4 specifications

• Diameter: 3.9 in (98 mm)
• Depth: 1.1 in (29 mm)
• Weight: 5.7 ounces (161.8 g)
• Display: 2.7 inch (68 mm) diameter circular liquid crystal display (600 x 600 pixels)
• Sensors: Soli sensor for motion, temperature, humidity and ambient light
• Energy consumption: Less than 1 kWh/month
• Power source: HVAC System Wiring
• Wire C (common): Not required
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11n (2.4GHz/5GHz)
• HVAC system compatibility (Check your Nest for compatibility here): Most 24V systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump, and radiant. It can control: Heating 1, 2 and 3 stages (W1, W2, W3); 1 and 2 stage cooling (Y1, Y2); Heat pump with auxiliary and emergency heating (O/B, AUX, E); Fan (G, G2, G3); Power (C, RH, RC); Humidifier and dehumidifier (HUM, DEHUM); Ventilation (WIND).
• Smart home: Works with Google Home and Matter
• Guarantee: 2-year standard for retail, 5-year standard for HVAC professionals
• Certifications: Energy Star certified

CNET’s buying advice

It turns out that a Smart thermostat for $230 it’s not that hard of a sell when I can see how mine will pay for itself in just a year or so. It offers a host of energy-saving modes that users can choose from to rack up monthly savings – most of which are automated without requiring DIY or a calculator. I’ve even seen it available with discounts and free installation to speed up that payment date.

Although Nest circular thermostats have always had a flair for the dramaticthe Gen 4 model blows away the competition with a larger design that makes the most of its beautiful LED lighting and presence sensing to illuminate whenever someone walks by. The bright green leaf icon always shows instant savings for those who don’t want to dive too deep into app management. Those who TO DO If you want to explore the app, you’ll find settings for seasons, learning behaviors, weekly schedules and much more.