Toronto-based ecobee Inc. announced today the release of a new version of its smart thermostat. The ecobee3 is almost a total overhaul of the original, with a sleek and modern design to rival competitors like Nest, as well as a redesigned software interface for its 3.5” touchscreen.
But the biggest change to the Wi-Fi enabled thermostat is the addition of remote sensors, designed to measure the temperature and occupancy in multiple locations, rather than just one central location (usually a hallway). ecobee says that the addition of remote sensors solves a design flaw inherent to most smart thermostats on the market, preventing heating and cooling systems from running unnecessarily, and eliminating any adjustment time for the system to ‘learn’ your heating needs. ecobee claims the ecobee3 can save its customers an average of 23% on heating and cooling savings out of the box, with the thermostat becoming smarter with each additional remote sensor added.
Notably, ecobee also has an API available for developers to integrate with their apps. All apps developer for previous ecobee product will automatically work with the ecobee3.
The ecobee3 will be available for purchase starting September 29th, retailing at $249 with a 3-year warranty. The thermostat will come with one remote sensor and support for up to 32 in total (imagine living in that house!). Additional sensors can be purchased in packets of two for $79.