Is Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat Worth It? Yes, Especially While It’s $50 off for Black Friday

Black Friday Deals: Nest fourth generation smart thermostat looks like an expensive investment, but there's more to this device than just a pretty screen and beveled edges. When this thermostat is not on sale, it pays for itself in less than a year, but during Amazon Black Friday Saleyou can buy one for US$230. This represents an 18% discount off the retail price or $50 in savings.

This smart thermostat's educational features and eco-friendly offerings can save you about $20 a month, especially on expensive winter heating costs. This means it will eventually pay for itself, just like I did this fall, and with this Black Friday deal, you'll be able to reach that point months earlier than I did. After that, the extra savings will just be money in your pocket. There's no better time to make smart investments than Black Friday.

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Key Takeaways from CNET

• US$230 Choosing a smart thermostat can seem like a daunting task, but mine paid for itself this fall with lower heating and cooling bills.
• Automated energy-saving modes make it easy to save energy, even when you don't have time to plan your schedule.
• Local utility rebates can also help make your thermostat more affordable.

When friends pass me by Nest Gen 4 Learning Thermostat for the first time, they often stop and stare. The thermostat can detect movement nearby and lights up to display the beautiful outside weather, such as the setting sun or a changing rain animation. This beauty costs around $300 when not on sale, making it one of the most expensive smart thermostats I recommend.

So why take the plunge? Because Nest's Eco modes are so effective that my Nest smart thermostat paid for itself early in the cool fall season in energy savings—and I didn't have to do much other than set it up. Here's how it all works and why I'm glad that kept this Nest smart thermostat handy.

Read more: One tiny gadget is the unsung hero of the modern smart, energy-efficient home

My Experience Using the Nest Gen 4 Learning Thermostat

With a larger watch face than ever, the Nest Learning Thermostat 4 is well suited to display both aesthetically and with data-backed data on indoor and outdoor temperatures, humidity and more. My favorite setting is placing the weather outside the window in the foreground of the display, which displays moving weather graphics that reflect the current state of the sky, from falling snow to twinkling stars.

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

These numbers reflected my results quite well. From early fall through the colder winter months, I saved $10 to $15 a month by setting up Nest and balancing my electricity use with less expensive natural gas heating. As the months got warmer, that number went up for me, saving me and my heat pump operation up to $20 during the hottest months. When fall arrived and I started saving on cooling, I reached the point where I had recouped the money I spent on the thermostat. After that it's all gravy.

The mind behind the beautiful face

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

For example, Auto-Eco mode automatically turns off the thermostat when it detects there is no activity in the home, saving more money. Adaptive Eco takes care of all the details for me, and Eco Hold sticks to the economical temperature I manually select. The automatic scheduling feature does something similar in that it learns how I adjust the thermostat throughout the day and mimics my comfort preferences over time so I don't have to constantly adjust settings.

Adjust temperature manually at any time, and when you see the green leaf icon, you'll know you're in saving mode. This makes it easy to adjust the temperature on the fly when the temperature seems right but you'd like to get more savings from the thermostat.

The Nest's Eco modes also generate reports so I can see monthly progress and flag any sudden problems or unexpected power consumption. If there's been a weird spike in energy usage, it could be that scheduling is off, or you're using power-guzzling devices too much (since temperatures plummeted this October, my heat usage has skyrocketed, meaning I head to the app to make a few adjustments). There is also a gamified “sheets” competition with other users, which I don't really care about, but it's there for those who are interested.

Satellite sensors and other ways to save

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

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

There are also programs during peak hours with names such as Peak BenefitsRush hour rewards Nest Renew from Google and other labels indicating partnerships with utility companies. If your local utility supports these programs, you can join and your Nest thermostat will make additional small changes throughout the day, avoiding the often more expensive energy consumption of peak hours whenever possible.

With programs like this, you give up some control over the thermostat, which may not appeal to some users, but allows you to save more. Many energy suppliers also offer bonuses or rebates that you can use to help you pay off the cost of an expensive thermostat even faster.

A quick note on setup: If you're worried about installing a thermostat in your home, you have nothing to fear from this process. I have a complete guide herebut as long as you practice electrical safety and take photos of your current thermostat wiring, setting up the Nest Thermostat Gen 4 and connecting it to Wi-Fi shouldn't be a problem, especially with step-by-step tutorials on the Google Home app.

Nest Gen 4 Learning Thermostat Features

• Diameter: 3.9 inches (98 mm)
• Depth: 1.1 inches (29 mm)
• Weight: 5.7 oz (161.8 g)
• Display: 2.7″ (68mm) circular LCD display (600 x 600 pixels)
• Sensors: Soli sensor for motion, temperature, humidity and ambient light
• Power consumption: Less than 1 kWh/month.
• Power supply: HVAC wiring
• C (common) wire: Not required
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11n (2.4 GHz/5 GHz)
• HVAC compatible (Check your Nest's compatibility here): Most 24V systems including gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump and heating systems. It can control: 1, 2 and 3 heating stages (W1, W2, W3); Cooling stages 1 and 2 (Y1, Y2); Heat pump with additional and emergency heating (O/B, AUX, E); Fan (G, G2, G3); Power (C, RH, RC); Humidifier and dehumidifier (HUM, DEHUM); Ventilation (VENT).
• Smart home: Works with Google Home and Matter.
• Guarantee: 2-year standard for retail, 5-year standard for HVAC Pros
• Certificates: Energy Star Certified

CNET Buying Tips

Turns out Smart thermostat for $230. not that hard to sell when I can see mine paying for itself in about a year. It offers a variety of energy saving modes that users can choose to save money each month—most of them are automated, requiring no effort or calculators. I've even seen it available with discounts and free installation to speed up your payout date.

Although round Nest thermostats are always had a penchant for dramaThe Gen 4 model beats out the competition with a larger design that makes the most of beautiful LED lighting and an occupancy sensor that lights up when someone walks by. The bright green leaf icon always indicates instant savings for those who don't want to delve too deeply into app management. Those who do If you want to explore, the app will find settings for seasons, learning behavior, weekly schedule, and more.