Airbnb has partnered with Nest to provide selected hosts in the US with free Nest Learning Thermostats as part of an effort to help Airbnb's community of hosts and guests to conserve energy.
The Nest Thermostat programs itself, automatically turns down the heat when a host or guest is away, and can be controlled from a mobile device. All hosts who participate in the program will have access to MyEnergy, a service that allows you to track your energy consumption, learn how to save energy, and be more efficient as part of their energy plans.
As part of the partnership, Airbnb will feature many of the properties outfitted with Nests in a curated Wish List on the Airbnb site, called "Nests on Airbnb" alongside other eco-friendly home collections, including: "It's Easy Being Green,""Urban Farms," and "Shipping Containers."
In a recent study, Airbnb found that its guests use 63 percent less energy than hotel guests.
"Airbnb hosts tend to be environmentally aware, so having a Nest Thermostat is a great opportunity to further enhance energy savings in their homes," said Doug Sweeny, Head of Marketing at Nest. "Features like Auto-Away and remote control from anywhere help hosts manage energy use when the house is empty. And the Nest Thermostat's built-in temperature lock allows hosts to specify a temperature range for guests without having to put the thermostat behind a locked case."
Airbnb says the partnership with Nest is the next step in its commitment to helping the environment. Earlier this year, Airbnb engaged the Cleantech Group to conduct an environmental impact analysis of Airbnb stays. The Cleantech Group analyzed over 8,000 survey responses from hosts and guests worldwide and conducted research on residential and hotel sustainability levels and practices. Nearly 83 percent of Airbnb hosts in North America report owning at least one energy efficient appliance at their property. In North America, 95 percent of Airbnb hosts say they recycle at least one item type at their property; 94 percent of guests report that they recycle when possible.
Airbnb recently re-branded with the launch of a new logo, website and mobile app that invites users to 'belong anywhere.' The company also redesigned its entire user experience by providing a more intuitive website experience with bigger photos, clearer listings and a simpler booking process.