ReCircle: Nest Thermostat Future Features, Ben Franklin on Energy Efficiency, and more!

From Energy Circle:

5 Completely Unsubstantiated Myths About the Next-Gen Nest Learning Thermostat.

Sage Friedman makes up 5 ridiculous, outlandish claims about the next-generation Nest Learning Thermostat. And now that they’re on the internet, they must be true, right?

Curated Links from the Web:

Was Ben Franklin America’s First Proponent of Energy Efficiency?

Smart Grid Library discusses how the Founding Father’s famous mantra, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” would translate into today’s energy conversation. (From Smart Grid Library)

Need a Better Thermostat? Why Not Just Use Your Smartphone?

A new study from EnergyHub has found that thermostats controlled by a PC or smartphone are more likely to be programmed for energy savings (effectively) than thermostats controlled by... the thermostat itself. Interesting. (From CNET)

A Tear-Down of the Nest Learning Thermostat.

Sparkfun tears apart a Nest Learning Thermostat, checking out the ins-and-outs and shining a new light on the most exciting thermostat ever. (From Sparkfun)

Your HVAC System is the Faucet, Your Building Envelope is the Cup.

Never really understood how your home heating and cooling systems work? Well, it's pretty simple really: just think of this analogy that Energy Vanguard picked up from a home repair talk show. (This one was published last week, but things haven't changed that much since then.) (From Energy Vanguard)

Walls that Generate Electricity?

Mitsubishi is planning on selling a material that can be attached to the walls of buildings, as well as countless other structures, as an alternative to rooftop PV panels. This would potentially enable any number of structures to produce electricity. If viable, pretty cool. (From Cleantechnica)

Another Energy Related Blog We Love:

Energy Logic.

Energy Logic is a HERS Provider and Trainer based in Colorado. While their blog is geared primarily toward energy raters and other home energy professionals, (and has been featured previously on our Home Performance blog roll of blogs for HP pros), it provides a cool window into the home energy industry from the perspective of a top expert in the field. Good stuff.