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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesNest Renew is a free-to-join Google Nest energy-management service that works with eligible Nest thermostats to shift some heating and cooling use toward periods when electricity is estimated to be cleaner or, where supported, less expensive. It does not replace your electricity provider, supply renewable power, or install solar equipment.
Its main feature, Energy Shift, can make small automatic adjustments to your thermostat settings. You can override those changes manually, change your preferences, or leave the service. Eligibility depends on your thermostat, Google Home account, location, ZIP code, and— for some features—your utility.
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How Nest Renew works
Electricity comes from a changing mix of sources, including natural gas, coal, nuclear power, wind, solar and hydroelectric generation. That mix can vary throughout the day. Electricity prices can also change according to your utility rate, especially if you use a time-of-use tariff.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Heating and cooling are among the largest flexible energy loads in many homes. Nest Renew uses that flexibility to adjust when your HVAC system runs, reducing the need for you to monitor grid conditions yourself.
#1 Best Overall
- ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Connectivity : Wi-Fi - 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz, 802.11a/n 5 GHz Wi-Fi., Wireless interconnect : Bluetooth Low Energy Please refer to the product description section below for all applicable legal disclaimers.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page
- The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory
- Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home. Lock feature: No
- Programmable thermostat that lets you create an energy efficient schedule in the Google Home app on your Android or iPhone
- Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
According to Google’s explanation of Nest Renew, the service generally:
- Receives information about cleaner-energy periods and, where available, time-of-use pricing.
- Identifies periods when shifting heating or cooling demand may be useful.
- Makes small adjustments to the thermostat’s target temperature.
- Allows you to override the change manually.
This is primarily load shifting, not necessarily energy conservation. Your thermostat might preheat or precool the home at one time, then reduce heating or cooling later. The total comfort delivered may be similar, while the timing of electricity use changes.
What features does Nest Renew include?
Energy Shift
Energy Shift is the central feature. It automatically adjusts your thermostat to favor times when electricity is estimated to be cleaner or, depending on your setup, less expensive.
Cleaner and cheaper do not always mean the same thing. The period with the lowest carbon intensity may not be the period with the lowest electricity price. Your rate plan, local grid, weather and enabled preferences affect which objective matters.
Nest Renew does not promise a universal temperature adjustment amount. The size and timing of changes can vary, and a change that feels negligible in one home may be uncomfortable in another.
Clean Energy View
Clean Energy View provides information about the estimated or projected electricity mix and highlights cleaner times of day. It is intended as a guide for deciding when electricity use may have a lower environmental impact.
It is not a dedicated meter for your HVAC system, and it cannot prove that a particular appliance used electricity from a specific renewable generator. It reflects grid information and estimates rather than tracing each electron entering your home.
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Rush Hour Rewards
Rush Hour Rewards is separate from routine Energy Shift. It is a utility-linked demand-response program. During periods of unusually high demand, a participating electricity provider may ask enrolled thermostats to reduce heating or cooling demand.
The utility or energy provider—not Nest Renew itself—controls the event terms. Depending on the provider, participants may receive a bill credit, gift card, rebate or another incentive. Event duration, temperature changes, advance notice and opt-out rules vary by location.
Rank #2
- Nest’s smartest, most advanced thermostat yet, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is a beautiful, brilliant way to save energy, keep your home comfortable, and help make sure your heating and cooling systems are running smoothly[4]
- Savings you can count on: The Nest Learning Thermostat can help save up to 31% on heating and cooling bills[2]
- Improved compatibility: It works with most 24V systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump, and radiant, and no C wire is required for installation in most homes; visit the Nest Compatibility Checker for more info[5]
- Easy control in the Google Home app: Adjust on your phone from anywhere[1] or by using your voice with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant smart speaker[3], it’s easy to install yourself and it’s Matter compatible for simple integration into your smart home[5]
- Beautiful design: With a 60% larger display[11] and Dynamic Farsight, you can see info from across the room[1]; choose the design, like a clock or the weather; it automatically adjusts brightness for the best readability or you can adjust manually
Do not assume that joining Nest Renew automatically enrolls you in Rush Hour Rewards or guarantees payment. Check your utility’s program terms.
Is Nest Renew free?
The current public Nest Renew overview says that basic Nest Renew is free to join. You do not need to switch electricity suppliers to use the basic service.
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Google also maintains support documentation for a separately described Nest Renew Premium service, including cancellation and refund information. Availability, branding and enrollment options may vary, so check the live Nest Renew or Renew Home portal before assuming Premium is offered to you. Most users should distinguish between:
- Basic Nest Renew: the publicly advertised no-cost participation option.
- Nest Renew Premium: a separately documented service that is not universally confirmed as available or necessary.
- Utility incentives: rewards controlled by a participating energy provider, not a guaranteed benefit from Google.
Read the current terms before paying for any optional service. The Nest Renew Premium policy also explains that deleting an associated Google account, Google Pay account or Google Home structure can affect Premium benefits.
Can Nest Renew save money?
It can help reduce costs in some circumstances, but savings are not guaranteed. The strongest financial case is usually a household with time-of-use pricing, a utility demand-response incentive, or both.
Your results may depend on:
- Your utility’s electricity rate and whether it changes by time of day.
- Whether your utility offers Rush Hour Rewards or another demand-response payment.
- Outdoor temperature and the number of heating or cooling days.
- HVAC efficiency, system type and maintenance.
- Insulation, air sealing, windows and overall building performance.
- How often Energy Shift changes the target temperature.
- Whether you override the changes.
If you are not on a time-of-use rate, cleaner-energy shifting may provide environmental value without producing a noticeable reduction on your bill. Conversely, the cheapest period is not necessarily the cleanest period.
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If you are considering buying a thermostat specifically for Nest Renew, compare the possible benefit with the full equipment and installation cost. Current U.S. Google Store prices observed for compatible products were $129.99 for the Nest Thermostat and $279.99 for the fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat, including one temperature sensor with the latter. Prices and promotions change, and these are hardware prices—not savings estimates.
Nest Renew versus a utility clean-energy plan
Nest Renew and a utility renewable-energy program address different things.
| Service | What it does |
|---|---|
| Nest Renew | Shifts some thermostat demand toward selected cleaner or lower-cost periods. |
| Utility clean-energy plan | Changes how your utility sources, credits or supplies electricity under that program’s terms. |
| Rooftop solar | Generates electricity at your property, subject to production, storage, export and utility rules. |
Nest Renew does not replace your utility, alter your electric or gas service, deliver dedicated renewable electricity or make your home energy-independent. A utility clean-energy tariff may have a more direct relationship to the electricity service you purchase.
Rank #3
- Nest’s smartest, most advanced thermostat yet, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is a beautiful, brilliant way to save energy, keep your home comfortable, and help make sure your heating and cooling systems are running smoothly[4]
- Savings you can count on: The Nest Learning Thermostat can help save up to 31% on heating and cooling bills [2]
- Improved compatibility: It works with most 24V systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump, and radiant, and no C wire is required for installation in most homes; visit the Nest Compatibility Checker for more info[5]
- Easy control in the Google Home app: Adjust on your phone from anywhere[1] or by using your voice with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant smart speaker[3], it’s easy to install yourself and it’s Matter compatible for simple integration into your smart home[5]
- Beautiful design: With a 60% larger display[11] and Dynamic Farsight, you can see info from across the room[1]; choose the design, like a clock or the weather; it automatically adjusts brightness for the best readability or you can adjust manually
The two options can coexist. You can use Nest Renew while remaining on a utility renewable-energy plan, but they should not be treated as interchangeable.
Does Nest Renew work with rooftop solar?
Yes, Google says Nest Renew can complement a home with rooftop solar. A solar-equipped property generally remains connected to the grid and may draw electricity when panels are not producing enough power.
However, Nest Renew does not directly control your solar panels, inverter, battery or export schedule. It does not guarantee that your HVAC system will run only while your own panels are producing electricity.
Its usefulness for a solar home depends on factors such as:
- Whether you have battery storage.
- Your utility’s time-of-use and export-compensation rules.
- Your climate and seasonal solar-production pattern.
- HVAC demand and household comfort requirements.
For battery dispatch or solar self-consumption, use the controls provided by your inverter, battery manufacturer or energy-management system.
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Nest Renew generally requires a compatible Nest thermostat, a Google Home account or compatible migrated Nest account, and an eligible U.S. location. Some features also depend on your ZIP code and utility.
Google’s public compatibility information and current Renew Home documentation do not present identical lists for every generation. Use the live Google eligibility checker rather than relying only on a model name.
| Thermostat | Current treatment |
|---|---|
| Nest Thermostat | Listed by Google as compatible. |
| Nest Thermostat E | Listed as compatible. |
| Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd generation | Listed as compatible. |
| Nest Learning Thermostat, 1st or 2nd generation | Google’s compatibility tool says these are not compatible. |
| Nest Learning Thermostat, 4th generation | Listed by current Renew Home documentation; verify using the live checker. |
Google describes availability in the continental United States. Renew Home’s current participation material describes availability in U.S. states other than Alaska and Hawaii, while also noting ZIP-code-specific limits. Because eligibility can change, the address checker is the practical authority.
Thermostat compatibility is not the same as HVAC compatibility. Before replacing a thermostat, verify that your heating and cooling system, wiring and power requirements are supported. The fourth-generation Learning Thermostat is advertised as supporting many 24-volt systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced-air, heat-pump and radiant systems, but that product specification does not by itself establish Nest Renew eligibility.
Rank #4
- ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Control the temperature with your voice using smart home devices that work with Google Assistant or Alexa[3]Nest Renew makes it simple to support clean energy right from home; it works with your Nest Thermostat[5] to help you automatically prioritize your usage[6] to times when energy is cleaner or less expensive.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page
- The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory. You can control your Nest Thermostat manually when there's no internet connection.
- Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home
- Programmable thermostat that lets you create an energy efficient schedule in the Google Home app on your Android or iPhone
- Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]. | Control the temperature with your voice using smart home devices that work with Google Assistant or Alexa[3].
How to enroll in Nest Renew
- Confirm that your thermostat is connected to the correct Google Home account.
- Visit nestrenew.google.com, or look for the Renew entry in the Nest or Google Home settings.
- Enter your location information to check thermostat and ZIP-code eligibility.
- Review the participation terms and Energy Shift preferences.
- If offered, link your utility account or rate information for time-of-use functionality.
- Confirm enrollment, then review the dashboard and notification settings.
Menu names and account flows may change as the service is described in current documentation as powered by Renew Home in partnership with Google Nest. If the option is missing, check your account, thermostat generation, ZIP code and provider support before assuming the thermostat is defective.
How to control or stop Nest Renew changes
A manual temperature change on the thermostat is an immediate override, but it may not permanently disable future Energy Shift adjustments.
For longer-term control, use the live Renew support and settings pages to look for controls relating to:
- Energy Shift preferences: Modify or turn off cleaner- or cheaper-energy prioritization.
- Enrollment: Unenroll from Nest Renew if you no longer want the service.
- Rush Hour Rewards: Review the utility program’s separate event and opt-out rules.
There is no single permanent click path that applies to every current account. Start with the Renew Home participation and settings help page.
If your thermostat changes temperature unexpectedly
- Check the Renew portal for Energy Shift activity or an active utility event.
- Determine whether the change came from routine Energy Shift, Rush Hour Rewards, Eco mode, a schedule or another household member.
- Override the temperature manually if necessary.
- Review Energy Shift and utility-program preferences.
- Contact the participating utility for event terms or compensation questions.
Rush Hour Rewards changes may feel more noticeable because utility demand-response events can follow different rules from routine Energy Shift. Households with vulnerable occupants, pets, sensitive equipment or strict temperature requirements should consider whether automatic adjustments are appropriate.
Nest Renew pros and cons
| Potential advantages | Potential drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Free basic participation. | No guarantee of bill savings. |
| Automates flexible HVAC load shifting. | Automatic changes may affect comfort. |
| May favor cleaner electricity periods. | Cleaner electricity is not always cheaper. |
| May work with utility demand-response incentives. | Rush Hour Rewards depends on local utility participation. |
| Provides grid and energy-use information. | Eligibility is limited by model, account, location and ZIP code. |
| Can complement solar ownership. | Does not control solar panels, batteries or utility service. |
Is Nest Renew worth it?
If you already own an eligible Nest thermostat and are comfortable with small automatic temperature changes, trying the free basic service is generally low risk. You retain manual control and can change preferences or leave.
Check your utility first if your main goal is bill savings. A time-of-use rate, Rush Hour Rewards enrollment or a utility-subsidized thermostat may provide more direct financial value.
If you are buying new hardware solely for Nest Renew, do not assume the service will repay the thermostat. Choose a Nest model because its thermostat features, HVAC compatibility, sensors, smart-home integration or Matter support suit your home. Treat Nest Renew as a supporting benefit rather than the sole reason to spend $129.99 to $279.99 on hardware.
For homeowners planning a renovation or HVAC replacement, the larger energy gains may come from correctly sizing and maintaining the system, improving insulation and air sealing, and selecting an appropriate rate plan. Nest Renew can complement those measures, but it cannot compensate for poor building performance or an incompatible HVAC installation.
Best Value
- ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page.Connectivity Protocol : Wi-Fi.Connectivity Protocol : Wi-Fi
- The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory. Lock feature: No
- Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home; easily program an energy efficient schedule in the Google home app on your Android or iPhone
- Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
- Savings Finder looks for more ways your thermostat can help you save, and suggests tweaks to your schedule in the app; check with your energy provider to learn more about rebates and more ways to save on a Nest thermostat
Frequently asked questions
Does Nest Renew work outside the United States?
Current eligibility information is U.S.-focused and location-dependent. Do not assume availability in another country; check the live Nest Renew eligibility page for your address.
Can I use Nest Renew without a Google Home account?
Nest Renew generally requires a Google Home account or a compatible migrated Nest account. A standalone, unsupported account setup may not provide access.
Does enrolling in Nest Renew enroll me in Rush Hour Rewards?
No. Rush Hour Rewards is a separate utility-linked program. Enrollment and incentives depend on the participating provider’s local terms.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWill Nest Renew make my home use only renewable electricity?
No. It shifts demand toward periods when the grid is estimated to be cleaner. It does not deliver dedicated renewable electricity or make a claim about the exact source of each unit of electricity your home uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nest Renew control my thermostat?
Energy Shift can make automatic thermostat-set-point adjustments, but you can manually override them and change the service settings. Utility demand-response events may follow separate rules.
Can I turn Nest Renew off?
Yes. You can modify or disable Energy Shift preferences, or use the current enrollment controls to leave Nest Renew. A one-time manual temperature change may not permanently disable future adjustments.
Does Nest Renew change my utility bill?
It does not change your utility account or electricity provider. It may help reduce costs where time-of-use pricing applies, while utility rewards depend on separate local programs.
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Does Nest Renew work with Nest Thermostat E?
Google lists the Nest Thermostat E as compatible, subject to location and account eligibility.
Does Nest Renew work with the fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat?
Current Renew Home documentation lists it, but Google’s public materials have used a different compatibility list. Verify the model and address with the live eligibility checker.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
