Ecobee Smart Thermostat Adds Support for Apple HomeKit

There have been a lot of interesting additions to the smart thermostat category over the years. Are you ready to add the power of Siri? Then you may want to add something from ecobee. The company just announced that the ecobee3 is the first smart thermostat to support Apple HomeKit.

In case you aren’t familiar, the ecobee3 doesn’t just rely on temperature readings in that immediate: space around the actual: thermostat. The WiFi thermostat actually connects with easy-to-install sensors around your home (up to 32 total) to deliver the most comfortable, most accurate experience possible.

Those sensors can measure both temperature and occupancy, which means it should be able to deliver better energy usage whether you’re home or away. In fact, ecobee says that ecobee3 owners save an average of 23 percent on heating and cooling bills. The smart thermostat is also pretty easy on the eyes, with a sleek, simple interface.

Adding in Apple’s home automation solution is just another perk, allowing users to communicate with the ecobee3 using voice commands and Apple’s voice assistant, Siri. It will even provide ecobee users with additional smart home integration possibilities, since HomeKit is designed to group actions and devices together.

“We’re excited for Apple customers to get their hands on the first smart thermostat that supports HomeKit,” said Stuart Lombard, president and CEO of ecobee. “The new ecobee3 plays an integral role in the connected and energy-efficient home by allowing users to remotely control temperature in the rooms that matter most with simple commands using Siri.”

If the announcement isn’t enough, Apple is giving ecobee another little push—by featuring the smart thermostat at the Apple Store. The ecobee3 is available now for $249, which includes the smart thermostat and one free wireless remote sensor. Additional sensors can be purchased in a package of two for $79. Also available on Amazon.