This thermostat is programmable. It’s a clearance deal so might not last long:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lux-smart-programmable-wi-fi-thermostat-white/6391851.p?skuId=6391851
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How much for the one impermeable by state-sponsored hackers and other miscreants?
I’m a little uncertain what is happening with this deal. The price remains the same. But when I click on the link now I’m no longer offered a shipping option. But this might be different for you. On shipping now: YMMV
I think it’s possible these things are selling quickly at this price, with stock becoming spotty . . . . remaining in some stores and not in others.
If you score, please post.
The way to deal with these IOT devices, if you indeed want them in your house, is to block their direct access to the internet via firewall rules and use a gateway like HomeKit or similar. That’s what I do with them.
You’re still relying on someone like Apple to create a secure gateway, but at least you’re not relying on a company like Ecobee or Honeywell to secure their hardware. It also means that the power company can’t control your thermostat during periods of peak usage, either.
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That’s a good point. The problem with such devices though is that sometimes they require internet access to set up or even get updates.
I’m actually running OpenWrt and use subnets to separate some devices (like “smart” TV). This way they can’t access anything on my LAN outside their subnet, but they still have access to the internet (wan).
First, I think this may be a decent deal. That is, if you’re house is empty on a regularly scheduled basis. For personal use, I would not recommend allowing this device onto your wifi network. IOT devices are notorious, and deservedly so, for being insecure, for phoning home, for having publicized back doors, blah, blah, and for telling the Red Chinese Communists/Socialists/Progressives what you’re doing.
I’ve used an IOT thermostat (the stupidly expensive, industry leading brand) in a vacation rental and love their convenience for off-rental hours, although a few guests were put off by the min/max limits (68/76) that I imposed.
In my personal residence, an IOT device will feel pretty homebound. It will be in the same (grounded) boat as my tv, camera, vidcam, Qnap, ancient Popcorn Hour, and I’m embarrassed to say it - fridge. Their proxy is a black hole, and their mac addresses are persona-non-grata outbound.
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Actually I’m partially with them, 68 is too high. Ours is at 66 and I don’t even like cold. My reasons are that the heater is loud, it dries out the air, and it turns on more frequently than it has to throughout the night.
Having a problem with a high end of 76 is crazy. Unless they were visiting from the tropics and really like it hot, I guess.
Eh, it really depends on the house. We have several “microclimates” in our late 70s split entry with a single zone. The lower area is fully above grade, but the foundation is slab-on-grade which seems to make it chillier. Downstairs is almost always cooler by several degrees; areas of the upstairs are cooler or warmer depending on season and whether there’s conditioned space below. The two rooms above the garage are chillier in the winter and warmer in the summer since that’s unconditioned space. The kitchen is usually warmer.
We set the heat to 68 in the winter and the AC to 75-ish in the summer depending on various factors. If I could make one change to that house, it’d be converting to mini split units, all individually zoned. I can’t justify the expense until the furnace needs to be replaced though, and that’s gonna be a while as it’s only 6 or 7 years old when the previous owners put it in.
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I bought a non-smart thermostat a few years back from this brand. At the time, it was considered a really solid brand - not sure if that is still the case.
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Check with your utility company to see if there is a rebate. For example, $120 from PG&E: PG&E smart thermostat rebate . There are vendors who offer “instant rebate” as well.
I also signed up with https://www.ohmconnect.com/, which allows them to turn off your devices when energy demand is high. I have collected about $180 in Amazon GCs in the past year. The current reward program seems to have a different structure.
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Is there record of this actually happening in the US?
You betcha:
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Thanks for the heads up. Not enough convenience to warrant that sort of intrusion.
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At our previous house, the power company paid us a token amount to attach a device to our A/C unit, allowing them to turn it off for 15 minutes in times of peak demand. I’m pretty sure it’s a common program with most large utilities, even if it is mostly ‘opt-in’ and not required participation.
I know that’s not directly “controling your thermostat”, but it’s the same effect.
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We have one of those devices, but we opted out. My thermostat is already at 78, and the few cents I might “earn” for letting them prevent my A/C from running aren’t worth it to me.
I’m pretty sure it’s common with almost all utilities. A previous utility, prior to our current archenemy of Duke Power, offered us $5/month for the same deal that you described. We never took advantage, because of the low amount, and even if one of us wasn’t home, our dogs were.