BENTON HARBOR — Whirlpool appliances are about to get smarter.
The Benton Harbor appliance giant Whirlpool Corp. announced it is
participating in the “Works With Nest” program of the smart home device manufacturer Nest Labs.
Nest, based in Palo Alto, Calif., has taken a Silicon Valley approach to home technology like the thermostat and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, connecting them to the internet so they can be controlled remotely, and giving them enough computer intelligence to be self-programming.
Now, under the “Works with Nest” program, Whirlpool says it will use Nest application programming interfaces to create a “connected home” appliances, starting with a washer and dryer that integrates with the Nest Learning Thermostat (http://nest.com/thermostat).
Available online to purchase now at The Home Depot, the laundry pair connects seamlessly with the Nest Learning Thermostat to use Nest’s Home and Away modes. Both the washer and dryer can keep clothes fresh if a cycle ends while the consumer is not home. The dryer can also switch into a slightly longer, more energy-efficient cycle if the consumer is away. In addition, for people who are enrolled in Nest’s Rush Hour Rewards program through a participating energy provider, the washer and dryer can automatically delay the start of a cycle during high-demand energy periods.
Consumers can also connect their Nest account to the laundry pair through the Whirlpool Smart Appliance App, available on the Google Play and App store.
More about the “Works with Nest” Whirlpool washer and dryer at www.whirlpool.com/works-with-nest.