If you want to be a bit more mindful about your energy bills, sticking the heating on willy-nilly isn’t exactly the best approach. If you’ve ever wished there was a tool that could manage your heating system in the most efficient way, tailored to your preferences and habits, a smart thermostat will do the trick.
Right now, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat is £139 at Amazon, down from £219 – this is for the black and copper versions. If you’d like to have it professionally installed, that’ll be another £120 per unit.
Google claims that, since their first launch in 2011, the Nest Learning Thermostat has saved over four billion kWh of energy across millions of homes worldwide with its smart, tailored approach to managing your heating. The smart thermostat learns your preferred temperatures at different times, and sets its own schedule to match. It will also know if you’re home or not, and schedule the heating accordingly. It will even shut off the hot water if you’re away for a few days.
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If you have a high-efficiency condensing boiler, the Nest Thermostat will modulate it for maximum utility thanks to OpenTherm technology. You can also override its automated settings at any time from your laptop or smartphone, giving you complete control.
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat has garnered an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars across over 8,300 ratings, with customers raving about how efficiently — and cost-effectively — their homes are heated with one. “Just love the simplicity of the Nest,” said one five-star review. “Easy to fit, easy to use. It connected to the Wi-Fi, and we were able to use it right away.”
Another five-star review said: “The Google Nest Learning Thermostat has exceeded my expectations in terms of functionality, energy efficiency, and overall smart home integration. Its ability to adapt to my preferences, sleek design, and user-friendly interface make it a standout device in the world of smart thermostats. If you’re looking to enhance both comfort and energy efficiency in your home, the Nest Learning Thermostat is a top-tier choice.” Another happy customer said: “Overall I’m extremely happy with my Nest setup and would definitely buy another when I extend my heating system into my workshop. The ability to independently control heating in multiple zones is very attractive.”
Some have raised issues with its learning capabilities, particularly over time: “The learning function only seemed to learn for a week or so, it doesn’t adjust as you do throughout the year. I work from home so I can appreciate it could have a harder time working out schedules, but it should still be able to learn changes.” Others have lamented the setup challenge — although there is the option to pay for a professional installation: “I had to get an electrician out to install the main unit as the instructions were extremely confusing.”
If you’d rather programme your radiators individually, you could opt for the £223.20 smart radiator valve replacements at Debenhams instead (reduced from £260). For £639, you can get a full suite of smart valves, a hub, and smarthome integration with the TADO Wireless Smart Thermostat Starter Kit.