Rheem and ecobee Unite to Smarten Up Millions of Homes

ATLANTA, GA – February 12, 2026 – In a significant move to accelerate smart home adoption, HVAC and water heating giant Rheem has announced a strategic partnership with ecobee, a leader in smart home technology. The collaboration introduces the ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite | Works with EcoNet® Technology, a device engineered to bring modern energy efficiency and seamless connectivity to a vast number of homes with existing, conventional heating and cooling systems.

The new thermostat is designed to integrate directly with Rheem's EcoNet smart ecosystem while being specifically tailored for the ubiquitous 24-Volt, non-communicating HVAC systems found in millions of residences. This launch addresses a critical gap in the market, offering a simplified yet powerful upgrade path for homeowners who previously felt locked out of the benefits of a fully connected home.

"Rheem's collaboration with ecobee exemplifies our commitment to innovative, sustainable heating and cooling solutions," said Alex Housten, chief operating officer of Rheem Manufacturing Company. "Together, we aim to enhance energy efficiency and provide consumers with smart, reliable products that meet the evolving demands of modern homes."

The partnership marries Rheem's century of manufacturing expertise with ecobee's pioneering work in home climate control, aiming to deliver a product that is both powerful for the user and practical for the installer.

"This collaboration combines Rheem's expertise in innovative heating and cooling solutions with ecobee's leadership in smart home technology," noted Dev Bala, VP of Product Management at ecobee. "The result is a thermostat that integrates with EcoNet® Technology to seamlessly optimize home comfort."

Bridging the Gap for Mainstream Smart Home Adoption

For years, the promise of the smart home has often come with a significant asterisk: compatibility. While newer, high-end HVAC systems often ship with proprietary communicating controls, a massive installed base of older, yet perfectly functional, 24-Volt systems has been left behind. The new ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite directly targets this underserved market, making it a potential game-changer for mainstream adoption.

The device competes in a crowded market against heavyweights like Google Nest and Honeywell Home, but its unique selling proposition lies in its deep integration with the Rheem family of brands, which include Ruud and Friedrich. By working within Rheem's EcoNet platform, it offers a more cohesive experience for homeowners who already own or plan to purchase other Rheem products.

For the end-user, the benefits are immediate. The thermostat boasts compatibility with all major smart home platforms, including Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Alarm.com, allowing for effortless voice control and integration into established routines. Through the intuitive ecobee app, homeowners can control their home's temperature from anywhere, track energy usage, and make informed adjustments to reduce consumption. The system also supports ecobee's popular SmartSensor room sensors, which help manage hot or cold spots by measuring temperature and occupancy in multiple rooms, ensuring comfort where it's needed most.

A New Toolkit for the Modern HVAC Professional

Beyond the consumer-facing features, the partnership places a strong emphasis on the professional installer, a critical link in the adoption chain. The thermostat includes several features designed to streamline the installation and service process for HVAC contractors. Using the Rheem Contractor app and on-screen QR codes, technicians can register the system and its warranty in minutes, a significant reduction in administrative time.

This focus on the contractor experience is part of a larger strategic vision. The integration with Rheem's EcoNet infrastructure is not just about a single thermostat; it's about connecting it to a broader ecosystem of products and services. The press release teases the upcoming debut of TotalView™, a new digital platform for Rheem's Pro Partners. This cloud-based tool promises to revolutionize how contractors work by enabling near-real-time monitoring, remote configuration, and advanced diagnostics of connected EcoNet products from any internet-connected device.

For an industry grappling with labor shortages and increasing customer expectations, such tools are invaluable. The ability to remotely diagnose a potential issue before dispatching a truck, or to fine-tune a system's configuration without an in-person visit, translates to significant operational efficiencies and improved customer satisfaction. This new ecobee device serves as a key access point into that powerful new ecosystem.

The Economics of Efficiency and Sustainability

At the heart of the smart thermostat's appeal is the promise of savings—both for the wallet and the planet. The ecobee Smart Thermostat Lite is ENERGY STAR® certified, a government-backed symbol of energy efficiency. According to ecobee's own internal analysis, customers can save up to 23% on annual heating and cooling costs, which could translate to as much as $250 per year depending on location and usage patterns.

While individual results vary, even the more conservative estimates from the ENERGY STAR program suggest homeowners can save around 8% annually, or about $50. These savings are achieved through a suite of intelligent features. The thermostat learns a household's schedule and suggests changes, uses geofencing to know when the home is empty, and leverages ecobee's eco+ software to make subtle adjustments based on humidity and local energy demand.

This focus on conservation aligns with the stated missions of both companies and the broader strategy of ecobee's parent company, Generac. The product features eco-friendly packaging and promotes participation in utility-led demand response programs, where customers can receive incentives for allowing the thermostat to slightly reduce HVAC usage during peak energy demand, helping to stabilize the electrical grid.

A Strategic Play in the Evolving Home Energy Landscape

The Rheem-ecobee partnership is more than a simple product launch; it represents a calculated move within the rapidly consolidating home energy management sector. Since its acquisition by Generac Holdings Inc. in 2021, ecobee has become a cornerstone of Generac's transformation from a generator manufacturer into a comprehensive energy technology company.

Generac's vision is a home that seamlessly integrates power generation (from generators or solar), energy storage (like its PWRcell batteries), and energy consumption. HVAC systems are one of the largest electrical loads in any home, making them a critical piece of this puzzle. By partnering with Rheem, ecobee and Generac gain a strategic foothold in a massive segment of the HVAC market, enabling a more holistic approach to home energy management.

This collaboration allows for a future where the smart thermostat does more than just manage comfort; it acts as a load controller, intelligently coordinating with a home's generator or battery system during a power outage to optimize runtime and prioritize critical systems. For homeowners, this means greater resilience, efficiency, and control. For the companies involved, it solidifies their position at the forefront of the transition to a smarter, more sustainable, and interconnected energy future.