Learning thermostats but this gizmo from Google is truly smart

Nest E smart thermostat

£259, nest.com/uk  

I tend to keep my heating bills down in the traditional Scottish way: keeping my entire house really, really cold and making my children dress like Arctic explorers indoors.

It pains me to even think this, but could ‘smart’ technology offer a more sensible way?

Learning thermostats have been around for a couple of years, but Google’s new Nest E is a cheaper, easier-to-use take on the idea, and may lead to an exciting future where my children can take their scarves off indoors.

The gadget pairs with an app, and constantly watches your home with humidity sensors, motion sensors and light sensors built into the gizmo.

Another bit attaches to your thermostat. You can self-install this (with a bit of courage and help from ready-made YouTube tutorials), which knocks the price down to £199. It works with most new-ish boilers.

The Nest E adjusts its heating calendar when its motion sensor spots you walking around – switching on radiators in advance the next day.

It also does clever stuff like working out if it’s a clear winter day (based on light readings and the weather forecast) and boosting the heat. Better still, it does all this without the app boring you to tears about it.

It also does clever stuff like working out if it’s a clear winter day (based on light readings and the weather forecast) and boosting the heat

Although you do have to be OK with Google’s all-seeing eye watching you 24 hours a day.

But you can also at least give yourself techno-thrills by saying ‘OK Google, make it warmer’ via Google Home smart speakers. Less thrillingly, you can turn it up by clicking a dial round on the thermostat unit.

It’s a bit less capable than some smart thermostats (you can’t control your hot water) – but it should (over the long haul) save cash on bills, without you having to watch the boiler like a hawk.