Thermostat
Arguably the most important part of an automated dwelling, a smart thermostat has an added benefit besides just being (and keeping you) cool — it can also save you a ton of cash in utility bills. A smart thermostat eliminates the troublesome human element in home cooling, switching your AC off when you leave, turning it back on when you approach the house, and monitoring ambient and outside temperatures in order to keep the house comfortable.
There are two main players in the market: Nest, which pioneered the idea of a “smart thermostat” and is now owned by Google, and Lyric, Honeywell’s entry into the market. Both products offer a modern, unobtrusive design and are available at a similar price point. The Nest is $279 and the Lyric is slightly cheaper, ranging from $250 to $270, depending on the retailer.
