Ween

It looks like an oil diffuser. Is it?

Not even close. This curiously shaped device is a geo-driven thermostat for your home. Dubbed a ‘life-responsive thermostat’ for use with all heating systems, the Ween aims to save you big bucks on your energy bills by accurately sensing whether you’re in the house or out.

So basically, what you’re saying is, it’s just another smart thermostat?

There’s a little more to it than that. The Ween delivers energy savings in real time by constantly updating and displaying your heating usage via its app. To make savings, the Ween takes into account your absences – even unplanned ones like an impromptu holiday (a similar feature can be found with the Nest Learning Thermostat’s Auto-Away).

How does it do that?

Using an algorithm developed by the people behind the Ween, the thermostat learns how fast your home heats up or cools down, taking into account current and forecasted outside weather conditions. Utilising a motion detector and a geo-localisation feature, it knows whether you’re at home or close to returning. If you’re out, the Ween uses your phone’s GPS to gauge how long it’ll take you to get back, then adjusts the temperature at the right time.

Nice! Do I have to wall-mount it?

Nope, it’ll sit on any flat surface. To use the Ween, download the app, plug the thermostat in, punch in your ideal ‘at home’ temperature, then sync the device with the app. The Ween will take it from there.

So when can I buy it?

The Ween is due to go on sale later this spring.

House party Up to 16 smartphones can be synced with one Ween. On the flipside, there’s a presence sensor in the base to help the Ween sense when someone’s in the house, even if that person doesn’t have a smartphone