Skip to main content

Ecobee leverages humor in a heated discussion with climate change skeptics

Ecobee cranked up the heat on climate change doubters. On Thursday, April 18, in observance of Earth Day, Ecobee and ad agency DCX released video clips of a social experiment that tested the effectiveness of humor in easing tension during discussions with climate change skeptics. When the group laughed, the talks became more open, Business Wire reported.

Recommended Videos

Ecobee/DCX theorized that if they could get climate change skeptics laughing while talking about climate, the conversations would be more open. To test their theory, the group facilitators turned up the room temperature during the talks. Eventually, the room temperature rose to more than 100 degrees.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

When the groups realized the reason for the rising heat in the room, thankfully the original hypothesis proved to be true. When laughter broke out about the contrived weather, earlier tension around the topic eased, and participants engaged more personally and less dismissively. As the discussions progressed, the facilitators added simulated smog and high winds.

Ecobee’s founders started the company to help people reduce energy consumption. The Earth Day event was an attempt to stimulate discussion and raise global awareness of the need to conserve energy. Echobee took the risk of heating the focus group room to test the effect of humor at breaking down barriers between people even talking about climate change and energy use.

“The discussion around climate change is one of the most important issues we face, and yet we’re at a point where millions dismiss it outright as a political issue,” said Jackie Poriadjian-Asch, Ecobee’s chief marketing officer and chief revenue officer. “This is not a political issue; it’s a planet issue. Our approach may have been excessive, but we were willing to go to extremes to spark a much-needed discussion. Confronting the realities of climate change can feel overwhelming, but we firmly believe that each of us has the power to make a significant impact.”

DCX was also on board with the experiments because the company knew that conventional messaging about climate issues didn’t work.

“In our research, we found that many climate skeptics were rejecting sustainability messaging as either preachy or highly political,” explained Doug Cameron, DCX chief creative officer. “So, we wondered if a fresh approach might be needed.”

Ecobee smart thermostats excel in Digital Trends test, and the Ecobee4 and Ecobee3 Lite models are two of our favorites, but the focus groups with DCX weren’t intended to test consumer response to smart home products. Ecobee says it is committed to opening discussions about climate change with people on all sides of the issue.

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Beatbot reveals futuristic AquaSense 2 Series pool cleaners at CES 2025
Beatbot AquaSense 2

The original AquaSense Series was wildly popular when it hit the market in early 2024, and at CES 2025, Beatbot officially revealed its successor, the AquaSense 2 Series. Consisting of three robotic pool cleaners and starting at $1,500, Series 2 models are designed to automate all aspects of pool cleaning. The high-end AquaSense 2 Ultra even incorporates AI technology into the mix, promising a superior clean.

AquaSense 2 is the most affordable of the trio at $1,499, yet the three-in-one pool cleaner is still pretty well-rounded. It can clean floors, walls, and the waterline, and can run for up to four hours before needing a recharge. Toss in obstacle detection, four unique cleaning modes, and an array of 16 sensors, and it’s well-suited for most pools.

Read more
Nanoleaf reveals three smart lights, plus a spooky LED face mask at CES 2025
A person holding the Nanoleaf Light Therapy Face Mask

Nanoleaf revealed a bunch of new products at CES 2025. Along with the usual lineup of smart lights, it also debuted an LED Light Therapy Face Mask, marking the brand’s first foray into the wellness industry. Like most light therapy masks, the one from Nanoleaf looks a bit terrifying. But since it’s an advanced Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Level 2 certified skincare device, it’ll likely become a popular choice among shoppers.

The Nanoleaf LED Light Therapy Face Mask is now available for preorder and costs $150. That makes it much more affordable than other devices, which can climb over $500. Despite the low price, it’s packed with useful features. This includes clinically proven red and Near Infrared Light (NIR) treatments to reduce fine lines, acne, and uneven skin tone, as well as stimulate collagen production.

Read more
The Dreame X50 Ultra robot vacuum can hop over small obstacles with ease
Dreame X50 Ultra

Robot vacuums offer a lot of convenience — provided you only need to clean one level. If an area is separated by steps, the robot needs a bit of help getting from one elevation to another. The Dreame X50 Ultra, the newest flagship vacuum from Dreame, has a lift system that allows it to climb over small steps up to 6 centimeters (about 2.36 inches) in height. The ProLeap System is among the first of its kind, with levers that let it hop over obstacles like cords, transition strips, and much more.

The Dreame X50 Ultra also comes with the VersaLift Navigation System that lets it drop low enough to clean under furniture like beds and couches. It drops the turret — the round part on top of the robot — and uses its onboard cameras to navigate around and avoid obstacles. With a clearance of 89mm, the Dreame X50 Ultra is the limbo champion of robot vacuums. It recognizes more than 200 potential obstacles and navigates around them.

Read more