Nest raises the temperature in the automated home sector

According to a source quoted on GigaOM, the smart thermostat start-up, which has only been in existence since 2011, is already shipping between 40,000 and 50,000 devices a month and if this growth continues it could hit the 1 million mark by this summer.

Nest Thermostats are designed to learn from user behavior in order to manage household heating and cooling and its designers claim it can save owners up to 30 percent on their energy bills.

Its subtle design and intuitive interface has drawn comparisons with Apple, but that should come as little surprise, seeing as the company's co-founder and product designer, Tony Fadell, is an ex-Apple employee who oversaw the development and launch of the iPod.

In recent interviews, the company indicated its desire to launch the product in other territories, but European countries use a different voltage and boiler type than those found in the US, meaning that the product will have to be adapted to be suitable for new markets. What's more some of the savings the thermostat brings are the result of better air conditioning management. Unlike the US, many European homes, particularly in the UK and France, don't require cooling systems due to the temperate nature of the climate.