Appearance and Size

Ecobee3 Smarter Thermostat

There is a stark contrast between these two devices. The most obvious difference is the color. The Ecobee 3 is black and the Smart Si is white. But the superficial differences don’t end there. The Ecobee 3 looks much more modern. It is sleeker, thinner and the design is much more subtle which makes its look a little ambiguous. Without seeing a large temperature display on it, you’d have now idea just what kind of machine we’re dealing with here.

With other thermostats, older designs, you’ll see arrowed buttons, like on the Ecobee 3. On the Smart Si there are physical arrowed buttons, a menu button and a back button. The Ecobee 3 (2^nd generation) is digital. I think that its design is neutral enough to match any design or décor of your home. It will probably look better on your wall than the Smart Si.

These little smart machines are about the same size. Although, the dimensions are different. This difference can give you the illusion that the Ecobee3 is larger than the Smart Si. The Ecobee3 measures 4 x 4 x 0.9 inches and the Smart Si measures 5.5 x 3.2 x 1 inches.

LCD Display

The Smart Si has a full-color screen. The Ecobee3 does not. It displays in white against a black background. From a distance, you will be able to see the current temperature on either machine. If you toggle between screens you will be able to access the forecast, humidity, and even the outside temperature (made available with wi-fi).

Here’s What Makes These Thermostats Smart…

Both of these machines are smart. Every home is different and so your home will have a unique energy profile. The Smart Si and the Ecobee3 use a number of data points to determine the best way to operate. They understand when to turn your heating or cooling equipment on to keep your home comfortable at all times. At the same time you won’t need to worry about wasting energy by unnecessarily cooling or heating your home when no one is there. But the Ecobee3 is smarter, and you’ll find out just below.

Click here to get more details on the Ecobee 3

Click here to get more details on the Ecobee Smart Si

Individual Room Sensors Make The Ecobee3 Smarter…

Aside from its gorgeous look, the Ecobee3 is designed to make your living conditions even more comfortable with its room sensors. It is a technology that’s unique to the Ecobee2. The Smart Si doesn’t have this unique feature.

With ordinary thermostats the temperature is taken from the ambient air surrounding the thermostat. But this temperature will not reflect the actual temperature in different rooms of your home.

That’s where the room sensors come in. These sensors can detect both the temperature and the occupancy. When occupancy in a given room is detected, the room is prioritized to make sure that you get the temperature that you desire. When no occupancy is detected, the room is deprioritized. This saves money and makes you more comfortable. The unit will come with one room sensor – and more are available for purchase. You can get up to 32 of them. The more you get, the more accurate the thermostat will become.

Can Smart Thermostats Really Save You Money?

Ecobee Smart Si Thermostat NON Touch Screen

Yes indeed! By monitoring your habits and adjusting your temperature you will be able to save an average of 23% on your heating and cooling bills (as claimed by Ecobee3). But these thermostats offer more than just a scheduling ability.

You see, every house is different. Some are drafty and others are hot. These thermostats “learn” your unique home and make adjustments. So if you get home by 6pm and want the temperature to be at 72 degrees, these thermostats will know what time it needs to start warming or cooling.

Compatibility With Echo

The Smart Si is not compatible with Amazon Echo, unfortunately. The Ecobee3 on the other hand is. In case you weren’t aware, Echo allows you to control your compatible devices with your voice.

Warranty

Both smart thermostats come with a 3-year warranty.