Nest Thermostat

The Nest Thermostat is a smart thermostat developed by Google Nest and designed by Tony Fadell, Ben Filson, and Fred Bould.^[1] It is an electronic, programmable, and self-learning Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat that optimizes heating and cooling of homes and businesses to conserve energy.^[2]

Nest Thermostat

The Nest Thermostat's front screen
Developer	Google Nest
Type	Smart thermostat
Release date	2011; 13 years ago (2011)
Website	Official website

The Google Nest Learning Thermostat is based on a machine learning algorithm: for the first weeks users have to regulate the thermostat in order to provide the reference data set. The thermostat can then learn people's schedule, at which temperature they are used to and when.^[3] Using built-in sensors and phones' locations, it can shift into energy-saving mode when it realizes nobody is at home.^[4][5]

Specifications, North American versions

Device photo	Generation	Version	Released	Screen size	Wi-Fi	802.15.4	Matter	24 V	120– 240 V	Multiple zones	1–2- stage cooling	1–3- stage heating	Forced air	Radiant	Heat pump	Oil	Gas	Electric	Hybrid systems	Humidistat
	1st	1.10	Q4 2011	2.75"	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	1- stage only	1–2- stage only	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
	1st	1.12	Q1 2012	2.75"	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	1- stage only	1–2- stage only	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
	2nd	2.6	Q3 2012	2.75"	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Both	All	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	2nd	2.8	Q3 2013	2.75"	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Both	All	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	3rd	3.4	Q4 2015	3.25"	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Both	All	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	E	4.x	Q3 2017	1.8"	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Both	1–2- stage only	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	hygrometer
	Nest Thermostat^[6]		Q4 2020	3.3"	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Both	1–2- stage only	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	hygrometer

• Note: Generation E and new thermostat supports two stage cooling OR two stage heating OR heatpump due to a shared multi-use terminal.

Model	Release date
Nest Thermostat 1st generation	October 25, 2011^[7]
Nest Thermostat 2nd generation	October 2, 2012^[7]
Nest Thermostat 3rd generation	September 1, 2015^[7]
Nest Thermostat E	August 31, 2017
Nest Thermostat G4CVZ	October 12, 2020

Hardware

Nest is compatible with most standard HVAC systems that use central heating and cooling and uses industry standard connections to facilitate the control of these appliances.^[8]

Nest is not compatible with communicating HVAC systems. Communicating systems are used with some two-stage and all variable-capacity HVAC systems. These systems require just four wires – two power wires for heating and cooling and two for communication between components (see photo).^[9]

 

Existing thermostat wires for communicating systems. This system is not compatible with Nest.

Nest consists of two primary pieces of hardware. The display contains the main printed circuit board (PCB) and rotating ring (except for the 2020 Nest Thermostat, which has a touch-sensitive strip on the right side of the thermostat body). The base houses the connection terminals, bubble level, and holes for wall anchors. Neither can function independently; if separated, the display becomes inactive until reconnected to the base.^[10]

A special version of Nest is available in Europe, which is capable of controlling 230 volt heating systems. The Nest is paired with a "Heat Link" device, which contains the circuitry required for controlling the mains-voltage heating system. The first release was the 2nd Generation Nest thermostat which the Heat Link controlled the central heating boiler.^[11] The 3rd Generation added support for OpenTherm and for controlling domestic hot water.^[12] The Nest E was made available to the UK in October 2018.^[13] It has several major changes as the thermostat is stand mounted only, the Heat Link is grey and battery powered, the Heat Link loses the domestic hot water support, and lastly designed to be installed on the wall where the old thermostat was located.^[14]

As the Nest Thermostat cannot be battery operated, it must either be installed with a wire connecting directly to the "Heatlink" which supplies 12v DC, or mounted on a Stand and powered via a USB cable.^[15]

The Nest Temperature Sensor was added in March 2018. Available in Google Store only for United States and Canada.^[16] Up to six of these battery operated devices can be added to a single thermostat to provide remote temperature monitoring. Nest will then use the appropriate sensor based on schedule. Since they use Bluetooth Low Energy they are only compatible with the E and 3rd generation thermostats.^[17]

With the introduction of the more accessible Google Nest Thermostat on October 12, 2020, it no longer features the rotating ring which is present on other Nest models. It instead uses a touch-sensitive strip on the right side of the thermostat body to adjust temperatures and navigate the thermostat's operating system, with tapping on the touch-sensitive strip replacing physical clicking. It also features presence detection which uses Google ATAP's 60 GHz Project Soli radar,^[18] which allows the mirror-like face of the Nest Thermostat to have no visible cutouts for the radar sensor. This enables the thermostat to display the current HVAC status when human presence is detected by the Soli radar sensor.^[19] However, Nest Farsight is not supported on this model but poses a similar function at closer distances.

Software

 

Nest Learning Thermostat showing weather's impact on energy usage

The Nest Thermostat is built around an operating system that allows interaction with the thermostat via spinning and clicking of its control wheel, with sliding and tapping being the input method for the 2020 Nest Thermostat, which brings up option menus for switching from heating to cooling, access to device settings, energy history, and scheduling. Scheduling cannot be modified on the 2020 Nest Thermostat device and must be done in the Google Home app.^[20] Users can control Nest without a touch screen or other input device. As the thermostat is connected to the Internet, the company can push updates to fix bugs, improve performance and add additional features. For updates to occur automatically, the thermostat must be connected to Wi‑Fi and the battery must have at least a 3.7 V charge to give enough power to complete the download and installation of the update.^[21]

The Nest Thermostat has had a number of software updates.^[22] A 2017 security update enables two factor authentication.^[23]

The operating system itself is based on Linux 2.6.37 and many other free software components.^[24] To comply with the terms of the GPLv3 license under which some components are available, Nest Labs also provides a special firmware image which will unlock the system so that it will accept arbitrary code sent to it.

Nest devices interconnect with each other using a protocol called Weave, which is based on IEEE 802.15.4 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n.^[25]

Starting April 18, 2023 Google Nest G4CVZ Thermostats will be receiving an update to enable Matter connectivity. As of January 2024, only the latest Generation 4 Thermostat currently has this capability. ^[26]

Availability

Nest is available for sale in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain.^[27] It is, however, compatible with many heating and cooling automation systems in other countries.^[28] Nest Labs have surveyed existing users known to be outside the areas where it is officially available. Use of the thermostat outside the United States and Canada is complicated by the software setting time and other functions based on the ZIP code. For international users this means they must either disable Wi‑Fi to set the time correctly or use the nearest U.S. zipcode which may result in erratic behavior as the thermostat makes faulty assumptions about inactivity corresponding with either sleep or the home's occupants being away.^[29]

In 2013 a man-in-the-middle hack potentially allowed worldwide users to set up their time zone and local weather.^[30]

Marketing

In an effort to increase the number of homes using their learning thermostats, Nest began to partner with energy companies. In February 2014, Direct Energy and Nest laboratories launched their Comfort and Control plan. The plan allowed Canadian customers in Alberta to receive a learning thermostat when they signed up for a five-year electricity contract.^[31] In April 2014, Nest announced a partnership with the United Kingdom energy supplier nPower. The partnership offers customers a cut on the Nest installation price and locked energy prices for 5 years, when customers receive both gas and electricity from nPower and paying with direct debit.^[32]

In June 2014, Direct Energy and Nest Laboratories expanded the package to Direct Energy's United States market.^[33]

SKUs / model numbers

• T100577 is 1st generation, released only in the US
• T200377 is 2nd generation, UK release
• T200477 is 2nd generation, Canada release
• T200577 is 2nd generation, US release
• T200677 is 2nd generation, France, Netherlands, and Belgium release
• T3007EF is 3rd generation, Canada release
• T3007ES is 3rd generation, US release^[34][35]
• T3008US is 3rd generation, US release, pro packaged
• T3010FD is 3rd generation, France release^[36]
• T3010GB is 3rd generation, UK release^[37][38]
• T3016US is 3rd generation - black ring, US release^[39]
• T3017US is 3rd generation - white ring, US release
• T3018US is 3rd generation - mirror black ring, US release
• T3019US is 3rd generation - polished steel ring, US release
• T3021US is 3rd generation - copper ring, US release
• T3032US is 3rd generation - brass ring, US release
• T3029EX is 3rd generation - black ring, EU release
• T3030EX is 3rd generation - white ring, EU release
• T3031EX is 3rd generation - copper ring, EU release
• T4000ES is Thermostat E, US release^[40][41]
• T4000EF is Thermostat E, Canada release
• HF001235-GB is Thermostat E, UK release
• T5000SF is Temperature Sensor - white, US and Canada release
• GA01334-US is Nest Thermostat G4CVZ - snow, US
• GA02082-US is Nest Thermostat G4CVZ - sand
• GA02081-US is Nest Thermostat G4CVZ - charcoal, US
• GA02083-US is Nest Thermostat - fog, US release

T200477 and T200577 are technically the same.^[42]
T200377 and T200677 are technically the same, except for the power plug used for the USB charger.^[43]

References

1. Yarrow, Jay. "Meet The Unknown Genius Who Helped Design The $3.2 Billion Nest Thermostat And Smoke Detector". Business Insider. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
2. Pogue, David (November 30, 2011). "A Thermostat That's Clever, Not Clunky". New York Times. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
3. Commons, Marcela Gara / Resource Media via Creative. "In Illinois, smart thermostats seen as key energy management tool". Midwest Energy News. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
4. "Meet the Nest Learning Thermostat". Nest. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
5. "What is Nest?". CNET. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
6. . support.google.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020.
7. . nest.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2015.
8. "Nest thermostat technical specifications - Google Nest Help". Google Inc. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
9. "Pick HVAC Cooling and Heating Guide". Pick HVAC. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
10. "The Nest Learning Thermostat will not turn on after installation". Support.nest.com. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
11. "Press Corner | the Keyword".
12. . nest.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2018.
13. "Nest's simplified Thermostat e arrives in the UK for £199".
14. "Google Store".
15. "Smart Home Controls to Manage Your Home Easily".
16. . support.google.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015.
17. "Nest Temperature Sensor - Google Store".
18. "Nest Thermostat (2020) FCC Documentation". Office of Engineering and Technology. August 25, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
19. Seifert, Dan (October 12, 2020). "Google's Nest announces new smart thermostat with simpler design, lower price". The Verge. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
20. "Temperature schedules for the Nest Learning Thermostat - Google Nest Help". support.google.com. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
21. "How do I update the software on my Nest Learning Thermostat?". Support.nest.com. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
22. "Nest Learning Thermostat software update history". Support.nest.com. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
23. King, Rachel. "Nest Is Turning Up the Security on Its Thermostats". Fortune. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
24. "Nest Learning Thermostat open source compliance". Nest.com. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
25. How does Nest Protect connect wirelessly? November 4, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2015
26. The Nest Thermostat is getting Matter support starting today April 18, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2024
27. "Nest Thermostat, Nest Protect and Nest Cam support".
28. "What's new in the Nest Thermostat's 4.0 software update?". Nest.com. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
29. "Nest's smart Thermostat is now available to buy in the UK, priced from £179". thenextweb.com. April 2, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
30. "Nest thermostat in Europe Hacks". Motote.blogspot.com.es. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
31. "Direct Energy to offer Nest thermostats to new Ohio customers". bizjournals.com. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
32. "Nest smart thermostat comes to nPower, cools your energy bill". cnet.com. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
33. "Nest Partners With Direct Energy to Offer Smart Home Utility Service Package". mashable.com. May 15, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
34. "3rd Generation Nest Learning Thermostat Introduces High-Resolution Screen, Slimmer Profile". nest.com. September 1, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
35. "Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Generation". Amazon. September 1, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
36. "Nest Learning Thermostat Troisième Génération". amazon.fr. November 16, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
37. "3rd Generation Nest Learning Thermostat Now Available in Europe". nest.com. November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
38. "Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Generation". amazon.co.uk. November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
39. "Saving energy never goes out of style". September 8, 2016.
40. "Nest Expands Thermostat Line to Bring Energy Savings to More Homes with Nest Thermostat E". nest.com. August 30, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
41. "Nest Thermostat E". Amazon. September 1, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
42. "T200477 (Canadian) vs T200577 (US)?". community.nest.com. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
43. "T200377 vs T200677?". community.nest.com. Retrieved March 5, 2015.