Ecobee4 Review: The First Smart Thermostat with Alexa

[mprospero]

While it's the first smart thermostat with Alexa, the Ecobee4's most useful feature is its remote sensor, which helps ensure that every room in your house is at the right temperature.

Ecobee4 Review: The First Smart Thermostat with Alexa : Read more

 

[John_730]

I am not seeing the benefits of geofencing for a thermostat? Sure, turn on the lights, put some music on as I come home, but a thermostat needs more than the 2 minute warning that geofencing gives to bring a house to the desired temperature. Much easier to use the app to say I am 25 miles away, be home in 30 minutes, start heating now?

 

[mprospero]

I am not seeing the benefits of geofencing for a thermostat? Sure, turn on the lights, put some music on as I come home, but a thermostat needs more than the 2 minute warning that geofencing gives to bring a house to the desired temperature. Much easier to use the app to say I am 25 miles away, be home in 30 minutes, start heating now?

For some thermostats, you can set the geofencing radius so that your house does have enough time to heat up.

 

[John_730]

I might need to look into this further, but thinking it would not work for me.
I might look into IFTTT recipes for this though.

For me, the sensors are the killer feature, great to have each room monitored and have it bias the temp to make sure the room you are in is at the comfortable temp, along with tracking temps in the garage and wine cellar.

 

[mprospero]

I might need to look into this further, but thinking it would not work for me.
I might look into IFTTT recipes for this though.

For me, the sensors are the killer feature, great to have each room monitored and have it bias the temp to make sure the room you are in is at the comfortable temp, along with tracking temps in the garage and wine cellar.

Yes, IFTTT works for this. However, as noted in the review Ecobee will be introducing a geofencing feature for Android, and you can use HomeKit to enable geofencing. But I agree, the remote sensors really are great. Let me know if you need help drinking your wine, too.