Feb 15 2016
ecobee Inc. today announced that the ecobee3 smarter wi-fi thermostat with room sensors is the first thermostat to be directly compatible with Amazon Echo, offering homeowners added convenience and comfort in their everyday lives through Amazon’s cloud-based voice service, Alexa.
ecobee3 smart thermostat with Amazon Echo (Photo: Business Wire)
Alexa, the brain behind Amazon Echo, will be able to facilitate requests from across the room. For example, users can say, “Alexa, set my thermostat to 72,” or, “Alexa, increase the temperature in my house,” to control their ecobee3.
“We’re excited to provide ecobee3 users with added functionality and convenience through Amazon Echo,” said Stuart Lombard, president and CEO of ecobee. “Amazon has been a tremendous retailer to work with, and we are looking forward to expanding that relationship through thermostat integration with Echo, which offers complete home voice control.”
As the No. 2-selling wi-fi thermostat in North America, the ecobee3 is the only thermostat that uses room sensors to deliver comfort in the rooms that matter most. This unique design resolves a fundamental flaw in traditional thermostat design of only measuring temperature in one location, which contributes to hot and cold spots throughout the home.
The ecobee3 saves homeowners an average of 23 percent on their heating and cooling bills. Compatible with 95 percent of residential homes in North America, the ecobee3 does not rely on batteries but receives power through a C-wire or its Power Extender Kit (PEK). With its Amazon Echo integration, ecobee leads the category in compatibility with smart home platforms.
“We’re excited to launch thermostat support with ecobee today, and bring the magic of far-field voice control to more customers,” said Charlie Kindel, Director, Amazon Echo and Alexa. “Using only your voice to control the temperature in your house is another great way to create smarter homes.”
Pricing, Availability and Compatibility
The ecobee3 smart thermostat is available for $249 on/in Amazon, Apple, Best Buy and Home Depot. The ecobee3 thermostat comes with one free wireless room sensor and supports up to 32 sensors. Additional room sensors can be purchased in a package of two for $79.
The ecobee3 is compatible with Amazon Echo, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and Wink.
The ecobee3 is designed to be compatible with 95 percent of residential heating and cooling systems in North America and does not require a C-wire when using the included Power Extender Kit.