It’s common sense that energy efficiency and solar make a great team, the former making the latter even more financially attractive. So it’s nice to see SolarCity, America’s largest solar power provider, embrace that concept and run with it via an exciting new partnership with Nest Labs.
On Monday, the company announced that it would start installing one Nest Learning Thermostat™ with each new solar installation in California for it’s next 10,000 customers – at no additional cost. To qualify, customers must simply have a compatible air conditioning system and agree to connect their Nest Thermostat to SolarCity as part of the Works with Nest program.
SolarCity makes it possible for homeowners to install a solar system at no upfront cost and pay a lower rate for solar electricity than they pay for utility power. The Nest Thermostat can program itself – it remembers what temperatures homeowners like, creates a custom schedule for the home and automatically turns itself down when homeowners are away.
A typical SolarCity residential solar PV installation.
Results from three recent energy-savings studies show that on average, Nest can save customers about 10 to 12 percent on their heating bills and 15 percent on their cooling bills. This translates to an estimated average savings of $131 to $145 a year with the Nest Thermostat alone, and combined with affordable solar power from SolarCity, customers can save hundreds more each year.
As an owner and fan of the Nest Learning Thermostat myself, I can wholeheartedly say that it works as advertised, saving me hundreds of dollars every year on heating bills. Plus I love the ability to check my family’s energy history, usage and energy-saving stats, and control our Nest Thermostat using a smartphone, tablet or computer, from anywhere.
With this new partnership SolarCity will offer its customers access to Nest energy services – such as Seasonal Savings – that were previously only available through utilities and government energy programs. Additionally, SolarCity is building connections with the Nest Learning Thermostat that can deepen solar integration capabilities and help homeowners further optimize their savings and comfort.
These Works with Nest integrations will be available to SolarCity customers this summer.
To celebrate this beautiful marriage of Solar & Efficiency, we’re giving away a Nest Thermostat to one lucky winner in a giveaway.
Just enter below. One limitation: you must be a U.S. resident 18 years or older to be eligible to win.
