The Nest thermostat has a feature called Home & Away Routines that allows it to determine whether you’re away from home or not. This feature utilizes various sensors, connected devices in your home, and your phone’s location to make this determination.
One of the key components in this process is the use of occupancy sensors. The Nest thermostat itself is equipped with occupancy sensors that can detect whether someone is present in the room. These sensors can detect movement and presence, allowing the thermostat to know if someone is home or not.
In addition to its own occupancy sensors, the Nest thermostat can also use sensors from other connected devices in your home. For example, if you have a Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, it can communicate with the thermostat to determine occupancy. If the alarm detects movement or sound, it can signal to the thermostat that someone is home.
Furthermore, the Nest thermostat can also rely on your phone’s location to determine whether you’re away. By using the location services on your phone, the thermostat can detect when you leave your home and when you return. This allows it to adjust the temperature accordingly.
When you enable Home & Away Routines in the Nest app, you have the option to set up different modes for when you’re home and when you’re away. For example, you can specify a temperature range for when you’re home and a different range for when you’re away. The thermostat will automatically switch between these modes based on the occupancy information it receives from the sensors and your phone’s location.
It’s worth noting that the Nest thermostat takes some time to learn your schedule and habits. Initially, it may rely more on your phone’s location to determine whether you’re away. But over time, as it gathers more data from the occupancy sensors and connected devices, it becomes better at accurately determining your home and away status.
The Nest thermostat’s ability to know when you’re away is a combination of its own occupancy sensors, sensors from other connected devices, and your phone’s location. This allows it to adjust the temperature and optimize energy usage based on whether you’re home or not.