Nest Programmable Thermostats

Nest Labs Inc. claimed in advertisements for its Nest Programmable Thermostat that “89% of other programmable thermostats are not programmed because they are so complicated that most consumers do not bother to program them,” and that “[o]ther programmable thermostats waste energy.”

Rival thermostat maker Honeywell objected to Nest’s claims and appealed to The National Advertising Division (NAD) is the advertising industry’s self-regulatory body administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus.. After reviewing the evidence, “NAD recommended that the advertiser discontinue its unsupported specifically quantified claims.”

Nest Labs disagreed with the NAD’s ruling, but agreed to modify its advertisements.

Consumers should check out an advertiser’s claims for themselves before handing over money for a product.