Many of us neglect the programmable thermostat in our houses. When former Apple senior VP Tony Fadell was designing his own green home, he decided it was time to update the antiquated thermostat. He created a new device that he hoped would function better and look sleeker than the old one.

Fadell's Nest is a smart and modernized version of the square box for the new iPod generation of households. The Nest Learning Thermostat has a built-in sensor that tracks patterns in occupants' routines. Homeowners can turn the temperature up, down, or off from their mobile devices, from anywhere around the globe.

How does this thermostat talk to you? The Nest's inner ring displays red when heating, blue when cooling, and black when idle. If you leave the house, the ring dims. Currently the device retails at $250. Nest Labs touts that contractors, HVAC pros, and true do-it-yourselfers can install the Nest in about 20 minutes. According to Technologizer.com, the Nest could very well be the new iPod for home heating.