The idea of the self programming isn’t all that new either. Honeywell had these features over a decade ago. Why did Honeywell not put self programming features into their thermostat? The answer is that most people want a thermostat that they can control, not one that controls them.

Self programming features are very erratic during the initial learning period and become erratic again when any changes in lifestyle occur, even if those changes are only temporary.

The Nest stat is not capable of controlling multiple staged units. It is not capable of controlling humidifiers or variable speed blowers for dehumidification. It’s complete focus is on turning the system off as much as possible, which is not even the best thing to do for system efficiency and definitely not the best thing for new equipment operation and longevity of life. New heating and cooling systems need longer run cycles in order to perform at their best.

In conclusion, while Ginger may have been a nice one night stand, every guy really wanted Mary Ann. So, no, the sexiest stat is not the winner here.

a. You can actually program it, easily, intuitively, and in seconds… on the web, from anyplace on earth. It’s absolutely ideal for those who want to know what’s going on in their second home up at the lake or down in Florida, that’s currently unoccupied.
b. You can see a beautiful, easy-to-read graph of what the home is doing over time… temp, humidity, outdoor temp, furnace cycles, AC cycles… all for exactly *zero* annual cost.
c. Anytime you want/need to download that data (and any historical data sine the ‘stat was installed), it’s literally a single button click and an EXCEL file lands on your desktop in (I’ve measured) less than two seconds.

So when I had to replace my furnace last year, it was a *very* simple matter to use the downloaded file, sum one column, and therefore calculate exactly what the house required for heating during a period of extreme cold with a stiff wind. Very nice way to validate/evaluate what the HVAC contractor estimated the house needed for heating and AC capacity. (About 60% of the capacity the contractor had wanted to install, in my case. The smaller unit I insisted on has since performed flawlessly)

Those graphs also were a great help in troubleshooting both the AC system controls, and a problem with the old furnace. The service tech did not have to guess what the unit was doing when it crumped out.. all the records were right there, in very easy to read graphs, along with the outdoor temperature minute-by-minute.

What I don’t care for about the Ecobee after three years of using it? Only one thing, really:
a. They really undermarket the device. The company stresses ease of programming on the ‘stat itself, which frankly is still about as confusing as most of the modern ‘stats with graphic interfaces. But the *real jewel* of the product is that web interface. It’s an absolute model of how to control an HVAC system when you really can’t and don’t want to remember how to do it. It’s so simple and intuitive that you can forget about it for a year or so, and then go to change something and figure out how, in less than 10 seconds (Again, I’ve measured my own time).

Now about the Nest.

I’m quite prepared to believe the mystical magic of fabulous programming can be wonderful. But without owning a NEST, I have some concerns. For example, I no longer use MSOFT WORD, because I for years I had to spend so much of my effort correcting the boneheaded decisions and assumptions that program makes “on my behalf.” That’s my big concern about the automated decision making of the Nest.

So perhaps those who own one can help me understand two questions that the people at the Nest booth at the ASHRAE show in Chicago in January were not able to answer (except in generalities):

a. How does the Nest, with it’s single-point occupancy sensor, avoid making foolish decisions when nobody ever goes into the room where the ‘stat is located?

b. If the Nest *does* make a series of foolish decisions, how do I change it’s mind, without trekking into the room with the ‘stat periodically to activate the occupancy sensor and let it know there are indeed people in the house, or making manual adjustments at the ‘stat itself?

c. If I can and do correct bad decisions by the Nest, how long does it retain my instructions before it starts to ignore my past corrections, as it makes it’s own decisions once again over time?

Other upholstered pieces here have been destroyed. Two had a nubby fabric and another a textured
leather-like fabric. They have been ripped to pieces.

I hope this helps. The sectional was and still is very elegant and the fabric is very pale in color – white,
grays and mauves in a flame-stitch type pattern. There is nothing “chintzy” about it, which is what comes to mind when I think of polished cotton, but I didn’t know how else to describe it. You can probably find a smooth cotton fabric in just about every style and color.

Good luck!

Stay green.

We used Uba Tuba for our Powder Room vanity as we knew that we would get a great price with the Fabricator as they have lots of scrap Uba Tuba. Any popular granite selections of the moment will usually have scrap pieces sitting around as leftover pieces from completing an entire Kitchen or two with the large slabs.