Latest news with #Nest
CNET
9 hours ago
- Business
- CNET
When Homes Get Hot, Here's How Much Cash Smart Thermostats Can Save You
While the hottest days call for serious AC, cooling your home doesn't have to be an energy drain. Smart thermostats, in particular, can juggle your cooling schedule with energy-efficient automation. That leads to savings, but if you're going to drop a couple of hundred dollars on a thermostat, you're probably wondering just how much savings. Adina Roth, product lead for the Nest Learning Thermostat, told me, "Some of my favorite features that I notice improve savings are the automatic adjustments with Smart Schedule, Auto-Eco energy-saving shifts and Seasonal Savings." Nest isn't the only thermostat that has these features, either. Smart models from Ecobee, Honeywell Home, Amazon and others have similar modes. I've charted the expenses myself and compared them with what the research says. The results are promising, especially when it comes to smart thermostats paying for themselves. Here are the numbers you should know. Read more: Renters Can Buy Smart Thermostats Too, But They May Want to Hurry How smart thermostats save money Thermostat sensors can go anywhere to monitor specific temperatures. Google Nest Smart thermostat savings come in two parts. First, you save money by implementing heating and cooling settings that lower the house's energy usage. Technically, you can do this with any thermostat, but smart thermostats make it especially easy with their eco modes and suggestions, which means the average user typically starts saving more money when they adopt a smart thermostat. The second part of savings involves more unique smart thermostat capabilities, such as learning algorithms and portable wireless sensors. Learning capabilities on today's smart thermostats can collect data on when activities start and end in the house, and then start making programming adjustments themselves based on when people get up in the morning, when they arrive home, how their activities change over the weekend, and so on. Added together, that usually leads to more accurate implementation of eco modes and lowered settings that save money. Set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit or below when winter comes knocking. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Greg Fyke, president and CEO at Ecobee, explained a little more about how features like these save money with minimal effort. "For example, if you leave for work at 8 a.m., our smart thermostats can proactively lower the temperature while you are away to conserve energy and preheat or precool your home to ensure that your house is at your desired temperature when you return. This means lower utility bills and a more efficient home without sacrificing comfort." The wireless satellite sensors also help, as they allow smart thermostats to turn off heating/cooling not based on where the thermostat is, but where the sensor is placed. If that's an especially cool or warm spot (like a hot living room on movie night), the thermostat shuts down early enough to save more money. Average annual savings from a smart thermostat Nest's thermostat is pretty but the real advantage is the savings inside. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Combined, these features add up to notable savings. Google Nest's research, for instance, showed that users of the Nest Learning Thermostat saved an average of 12% to 15% per year without making other major changes. That works out to between $131 and $145 dollars annually, not too shabby for a single device upgrade. When I asked Ecobee, they reported that users could save up to 26% by installing one of their smart thermostats. That's a high-end example, but if it works out, people could save around $250 a year by making the switch -- especially if they haven't done much thermostat optimization before. Keep in mind, these numbers also work for renters who pay for their electricity. However, renters will probably need to get permission to install a smart thermostat. Paying off a smart thermostat Learning thermostats tend to pay for themselves. Google/CNET It's also important to consider the initial cost of a smart thermostat. Prices can range from around $100 for the cheapest models to more than $350 for top models with all the bells and whistles. The good news is that thanks to the average savings, almost every smart thermostat purchase will pay for itself within a year or two. Then your smart thermostat can really start saving you money. Participating in a peak usage program Smart displays can control compatible thermostats with a touch. Google Nest/CNET There's also another option to save even more money with a smart thermostat. When I talked to the nonprofit Energy Trust of Oregon, its spokesperson mentioned that users could go the extra mile and link a smart thermostat with programs called "Connected Savings" or similar names. These programs allow utility companies to make minor adjustments to your thermostat during peak use hours or special events to help save money and earn energy discounts. The problem is that you do have to give up some control, and you can't guarantee the utility companies won't make your house uncomfortable to live in (from what we and Reddit have seen, their decision-making can vary greatly). If you don't want to connect with utility companies directly, Ecobee offers an interesting alternative. It lets you connect with its Community Energy Savings program, which is very similar but basically takes care of the details for you. Ecobee reports you can earn up to $125 extra as a gift for participating in the program. What about rebates? Ecobee's Smart Thermostat Premium may be available with rebates in the right locations. Jon Reed/CNET We can't guarantee rebates or incentives to buy a smart thermostat, but it's a really good idea to look for them in your local programs. Many utility companies offer a rebate just for buying a smart thermostat, especially if it's Energy Star-rated (as many are). A number of power company websites will have a list of thermostat models that qualify, or more information about how to participate. On your way to saving money, stop by our guide to the easiest ways to save energy around the home, how smart plugs can help you save energy and quick spring tricks for device management.
Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Savers hit with hefty fees at Britain's biggest pension scheme
Britain's biggest pension scheme is set to charge workers hundreds of pounds in additional fees because of delays in paying off its taxpayer-funded loan. National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) levies a 1.8pc 'contribution charge' on its 13.8 million members to help pay off a £1.2bn debt to the Government. The loan was initially scheduled to be repaid by 2032, but this was pushed back to 2038 because of slower than expected income growth. The delay means a worker earning £50,000 who saves with Nest would pay an extra £440 in contribution charges over the seven-year period from 2032 to the end of 2038, analysis shows. A worker earning £100,000 would pay £945 more. Nest was created in 2010 to ensure that all workers can save into a pension. The scheme was designed to be a 'low-cost' alternative to traditional pension funds. However, industry experts have accused Nest of offering members and taxpayers poor value for money, as high fees are used to cover a mountain of debt and generous staff pay. A previous Telegraph investigation found that six Nest employees are paid over £250,000 a year, while 17 earn more than Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Nest levies an 'annual management charge' of 0.3pc on the total value of a pot each year, in line with rival pension schemes such as the People's Pension and Now Pensions. Yet unlike with other providers, Nest savers also incur a second fee – a 'contribution charge' of 1.8pc on each new payment into their pot. Nest has insisted that the contribution charge is levied on members in order to pay off the government loan taken out to set up the scheme. But it has refused to rule out keeping the charge, even once the debt has been fully repaid. The loan was worth £171m in 2012, but annual interest and additional borrowing has meant the debt has now risen to almost £1.2bn. Nest's latest annual report shows that it made a profit for the first time this year, and made its first £6m repayment towards the loan. It said that it was on track to fully repay the loan by 2038. However, George Sweeney of Finder, said the initial repayment was 'a drop in the ocean' compared to the remaining balance, and that the 2038 repayment date was 'highly optimistic'. He added: 'Even assuming the loan doesn't grow further – which it will, due to accruing market-rate interest – Nest would need to repay around £92m per year for 13 years. That's over 15 times the amount it repaid this year. 'The scheme is banking on continued growth in member numbers and assets under management to speed up its loan repayments. 'While Nest may experience continued growth, the scale up required to hit the 2038 repayment goal seems somewhat unrealistic. 'If Nest falls short, it's the members who will lose out, continuing to pay the fees that were supposed to help pay back this loan.' Tom Selby, of wealth management firm AJ Bell, said: 'Nest's 1.8pc contribution charge was always an awkward compromise designed to help pay off its massive set-up loan, adding extra cost and complexity for members. 'While Nest eventually becomes a low-cost pension scheme for most people, the contribution charge clearly eats into that value and continues to be a running sore for the scheme. 'From the perspective of millions of hard-working pension savers, the sooner the loan is paid off and the contribution charge consigned to the dustbin, the better.' Nest was approached for comment.
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Android Authority
Google says it's working to fix voice commands for your smart lights
Lil Katz / Android Authority TL;DR Google has acknowledged a bug affecting voice commands for smart lights. The company says it is aware of the issue and will share an update soon. Many users say they can still control lights via the Google Home app, but not through Assistant voice commands. Google has confirmed it's investigating a bug preventing users from controlling their smart lights through Google Assistant voice commands. We first reported on the issue over the weekend, as user complaints have continued to pile up on Reddit and Google's support forums in recent days. Android Authority's Rita El Khoury also experienced the problem firsthand, noting that her Nest Audio speaker stopped responding to voice commands to turn off the lights. In a comment posted on Reddit, the official Google Nest account has now addressed the problem: We're aware of an issue with using voice commands to control some lights. We'll share an update as soon as possible, thanks for your patience. While Google hasn't provided a timeline for a fix, it's clear the issue is more than a small glitch. Affected users report various problems, including Google not recognizing light groups, turning off the wrong lights, or responding with silence when given commands like 'Hey Google, turn off the lights.' Most users say the lights can still be controlled via the Google Home app, suggesting that the issue lies specifically with Assistant voice functionality. Some users have found workarounds, such as syncing devices again or removing and re-adding their lighting services, but results vary. 'I had this problem too. I saw someone else post a fix earlier today (Google must have done something that messed things up). You just need to reconnect the service you use for your lights. Go to Google Home app, click the + button to add a new device. Go to the works with Google section and reconnect any of the services you use for the lights. That should work… Maybe,' a user noted on Reddit. However, this may not be an easy fix for those who have multiple lights connected throughout their home. The bug comes at a difficult time for Google's smart home ecosystem, which has been under increased scrutiny from users citing reliability issues. Google has also promised major improvements to the platform in the fall. Until then, users will have to wait for an official fix for this particular problem related to voice commands for connected lights or rely on manual controls as a workaround.
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Google apologizes and promises 'major improvements' in response to Home speaker debacle
Google has acknowledged mounting frustration from customers with some of the best Google Home speakers and promised "major improvements" are coming. The issue seems to stem from Google Assistant — the voice assistant that Google is in the process of killing off to make way for Gemini AI. It seems people using products like the $99 Google Nest Audio are finding the voice functionality disintegrating right now — with the products only sporadically responding to commands. Anish Kattukaran, the Chief Product Officer for Google Home and Nest, has admitted as such on X and said the company is working on a long term solution. "Hey everyone, I want to acknowledge the recent feedback about Google Assistant reliability on our home devices," he wrote. "I sincerely apologize for what you're experiencing and feeling! "We hear you loud and clear and are committed to getting this right — and making sure we have a long term solution that provides better reliability and capability. We have been actively working on major improvements for [some time] and will have more to share in the fall." We hear you loud and clear and are committed to getting this right -- and making sure we have a long term solution that provides better reliability and capability. We have been actively working on major improvements for sometime and will have more to share in the 23, 2025 An apology is always nice to receive, but Kattukaran's response seems a little vague on the details. Only teasing "major improvements" that are coming "in the fall" doesn't exactly help anyone right now. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Users that have spent under $50 on a Google Nest Mini may be willing to look past the dodgy functionality but if you've dropped over $200 on a Google Nest Hub Max, it's harder to swallow. The writing has been on the wall for Google Assistant and Google has been trying to formulate Gemini's eventual takeover for a while now — but the process has been anything but smooth. A year ago, when Gemini first got access to Google Assistant routines, a number of routines didn't carry across. Users also couldn't trigger routines with typed commands, scheduled times, location-based activation, or home screen shortcuts. Actions like playing music, sharing fitness data or reciting poems weren't supported, either. Meanwhile, Google continued to sunset features of the legacy Assistant, which launched back in the dark ages of 2016. In March, it stopped being able to share photos via voice commands, or adjust photo frame settings using your voice. "To continue our work of building the world's most helpful assistant, we've reimagined the experience with AI at its core to make Gemini your personal, AI-powered assistant," the company said in a blog post at the time. "While our expectations for what an assistant can do are rapidly changing, the mission remains the same." Which is all well and good because Gemini is undoubtedly one of the best AI chatbots, but degrading hardware for an unspecified amount of time to make room for it isn't going to engender much faith among customers. If you're a Google Home user and have been experiencing issues with performance, let us know about it in the comments below. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
People think they've 'found' voice behind Siri and it is not who you think it is
A woman has confirmed she is not the voice behind the well-known virtual assistant Siri, despite people being convinced she was. Instead, she's revealed who the voice actually is It seems members of the public who believed they'd discovered the "actual voice" of Siri are wrong. Instead the person they thought it was has a role in another tech giant. Explaining where you might have heard her voice previously, TikTok user @kdimerc, says she isn't the voice of the well-known virtual assistant. However, she is a voice you may have encountered through your headphones before. She additionally disclosed her voice was frequently confused for the voice heard on various tablet devices. Confirming she wasn't the voice of Apple's Siri in a TikTok post, the voice actor says she does supply the connectivity voice lines for Bluetooth products. Posting on the social media platform, she joked she was "not all of these things," though some assumptions had been accurate,. She said: "Hello, it's me, the voice actress behind some of your Bluetooth devices but also, oh my gosh, I am not all of these things you guys think I'm everybody. "Let's clear it up. A ton of you think that I'm Siri. I'm very flattered, I would have loved to be Siri, but Siri was recorded in like, 2005, I was 12. So the real voice of Siri is a woman named Susan Bennett." She then disclosed the Scansoft origins of the legendary voice, with Susan not receiving any royalties for the use of her work under Apple's new venture. The TikTok star also revealed people assumed she was the voice of Google Home and Nest products, but rejected being behind "one of the most recognisable voices" in technology. The third mistake made by admirers of the voice actor was presuming she provided the voice for Alexa, but once again this proved to be a case of confused identities. Fans are delighted to discover the Bluetooth voice is on TikTok, and swamped the comments in astonishment. Another mentioned their Alexa device had responded to the TikTok and actually been triggered by instructions detected in the viral post. They revealed: "You triggered my Alexa. She says she isn't sure how to help you with the mansion thing." Other users who regularly use Bluetooth devices may have recognised the voice previously, as one user comments: "You're the voice in my headphones."
