Image Credit: Next

Former engineers from Apple and Google are turning their tech-minded attention to home energy. The computer engineers have unveiled a smart home thermostat that is able to cut energy use by 20 to 30 percent and save an average homeowner $173 dollars a year. The Nest Learning Thermostat programs itself based on the behavior patterns of people in the home. The new device is networked through Wi-Fi so users can program it through an iOS or Android device. The Nest uses six sensors to track temperature, motion, humidity, and ambient light to control energy consumption.

Within a week of being used, the thermostat creates a schedule based on the habits of the homeowners. The Nest automatically adjusts the heating and cooling when no one is home and documents how much energy is used in a day. The new device is networked through Wi-Fi so users can program it through an iOS or Android device. Homeowners can also log onto Nest.com to program changes if, for example, the weather turns unseasonably cold while the user is at work, the thermostat can be changed remotely. The technology can also track weather conditions and forecasts, allowing the device to better monitor how outside conditions affect the user’s energy use.

Nest Labs CEO and co-founder Tony Fadell led the team at Apple that created the first generations of the iPod and iPhone. Nest Vice President of Technology, Yoky Matsuoka, was the head of innovation at Google. The thermostat will retail for $249 dollars and be available in about a month.