Ecobee

ecobee Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryHome automation
Founded2007; 18 years ago (2007)[1]
Founders
  • Stuart Lombard
  • Mark Malchiondo
  • John Metselaar
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada
Area served
  • Canada
  • United States
Key people
  • Stuart Lombard (President and CEO)
  • Scott Cleaver (COO)
  • David Brennan (CFO)
  • John Metselaar ("Chief Hardware Architect")
Products
  • Light switches
  • Smart thermostats
ParentGenerac
Websiteecobee.com

ecobee is a Canadian-founded home automation company that makes smart thermostats, temperature, and occupancy sensors, smart light switches, smart cameras, and contact sensors.[2] They were acquired by the American company Generac Holdings in 2021.

The thermostats are controlled by using the built-in touchscreen, web portal, or app available for iOS, Android, and the Apple Watch.[3] Other devices are controlled solely through the app or web portal.

The thermostat or camera acts as a smart home hub for their other devices. The light switches do not require a thermostat or camera but do not provide hub functionality.

ecobee provides a set of subscription services.

History

ecobee was founded in 2007.[4] It has been recognized with a number of awards, including the Deloitte Technology Green 15 Award for Canadian green technology companies,[5] and the 2011 AHR Expo Innovation Award in the category of building automation.[6]

In March 2018, ecobee raised CA$80 million series C round of funding.[7]

In November 2021, ecobee announced that it would be acquired by Generac Holdings for $770 million.[8] The sale closed the following month.[9]

Products

Smart thermostats

ecobee created its smart thermostat, the ecobee Smart, in 2008.[10]

Model Smart Smart Si ecobee3 (1st generation) ecobee3 (2nd generation) ecobee3 lite ecobee4 ecobee SmartThermostat with VoiceControl ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Launch price $385 (USD) $179 (USD) $249 (USD) $249 (USD) $169 (USD) $249 (USD) $249 (USD) $189 (USD) $249 (USD)
Room sensors Wired (requires remote sensor module added to equipment interface module)[11] Wireless (max 32)[12]

eco+

ecobee began rolling out eco+ in 2019[13] to personalize individual thermostats to the home's environment.

Smart light switch

The ecobee Switch+ is a smart light switch released on March 26, 2018.[14][15] The Switch+ has a microphone with built-in Amazon Alexa, along with occupancy and daylight sensors.[16]

SmartCamera

The ecobee SmartCamera released on April 15, 2020.[17] It features 1080p video, a 180 degree field of view, auto pan-tilt, Amazon Alexa support, two-way talk, and night-vision.[18]

Contact sensor

The ecobee SmartSensor contact sensors were released on April 15, 2020 alongside the SmartCamera.[19]

Smart doorbell

The ecobee Smart Doorbell camera was released in October 2023. Users with an Ecobee thermostat can view the live feed from their doorbell camera on their thermostat.[20]

The Smart Thermostat Essential was unveiled in January 2025.[21]

Subscriptions

Smart Security

ecobee Smart Security is a subscription-based self-monitoring home monitoring system which integrates the sensors in all of its products into a home security system.[22]

Air Filters

ecobee Air Filters automatically sends the user furnace filters when their current filter must be replaced.[23]

References

  1. ^ "About". ecobee. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "Products". ecobee. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  3. ^ Dow, Georgia (June 4, 2015). "Using the Ecobee3 Wi-Fi thermostat with your Apple Watch". iMore.
  4. ^ "Company Overview of ecobee, Inc". Archived from the original on January 19, 2013.
  5. ^ "ecobee Receives Coveted 'Technology Green 15(TM)' Award at the 2011 Deloitte Technology Fast 50(TM) for a Third Year in a Row!". Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  6. ^ "2011 AHR Expo Innovation Award Winners" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-01-24. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  7. ^ Kolodny, Lora (7 March 2018). "Amazon is backing Ecobee, a smart thermostat company, just days after buying Ring". CNBC. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  8. ^ Kim Lyons (1 November 2021). "Ecobee acquired by generator company Generac for $770 million". The Verge. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  9. ^ Arthur Thomas (1 December 2021). "Generac closes on ecobee acquisition". BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  10. ^ Melanson, Donald (October 15, 2008). "Ecobee debuts energy-saving, WiFi-connected Smart Thermostat". Engadget.
  11. ^ "Does ecobee3 support wired remote sensors? | Smart WiFi Thermostats by ecobee". www.ecobee.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-13. Retrieved 2017-05-01.
  12. ^ "How many wireless remote sensors can you support on the thermostat?". ecobee Support. Retrieved 2017-05-01.
  13. ^ "Ecobee rolls out Eco+, an AI engine in your thermostat". VentureBeat. 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  14. ^ Hall, Zac (21 November 2017). "ecobee launches pilot program for its Alexa-enabled Switch+ light switch ahead of release". 9to5Mac. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Ecobee's Switch+ Alexa-enabled light switch is now available for pre-order in Canada". MobileSyrup. March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  16. ^ "Ecobee announces smart light switch with built-in Alexa and numerous sensors". AFTVnews. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Ecobee expands its smart home lineup with a camera and more sensors". Engadget. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  18. ^ "Indoor security camera with Alexa Built-in | ecobee". www.ecobee.com. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  19. ^ "Review: ecobee's SmartSensor covers more than just doors and windows". iMore. 2020-05-09. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  20. ^ Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (2023-10-17). "How Ecobee is becoming the smart home company Nest should have been". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  21. ^ Cat Ellis (2025-01-07). "Ecobee's new smart thermostat could save you money on heating – and it's half the price of the latest Google Nest". TechRadar. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  22. ^ Miller, Chance (April 15, 2020). "Review: Ecobee debuts Haven security system with HomeKit SmartCamera and contact sensors". 9to5Mac.
  23. ^ "Air Filter Delivery Service Subscription". ecobee.