Who Owns Ecobee, The Smart Home Brand?

Smart home enthusiasts will likely recognize the Ecobee name for its smart thermostats that compete with Google Nest devices. The brand's smart thermostat was rated one of the best by Consumer Reports. But Ecobee also offers smart home security devices, like cameras, video doorbells, and sensors. Given it tends to deliver products regarded as reliable and well-valued, it makes sense to look a little closer at the company behind the name and perhaps wonder who actually owns Ecobee, not to mention where its products are made and whether there are other companies associated with it. 

The short answer is that Ecobee is owned by Generac, which acquired the smart home company in 2021. However, Ecobee continues to operate as a separate brand. Generac is known for its commercial and home generators, but has grown into a "total energy solutions" company with a family of brands that includes Ecobee, DR Power Equipment, Pramac, Wolverine Power Systems, and more. Generac Holdings Inc. is publicly listed on the Nasdaq as GNRC, and counts Blackrock and Vanguard among its investors. Ecobee's headquarters are in Toronto, Canada, while its products are largely manufactured in Taiwan.

If you rank major smart thermostats based on user reviews, Ecobee's options perform well. Customers note that the devices are easy to set up and use. But as you likely know with most smart home devices, these technologies collect and analyze user data as well. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent your smart devices from spying on you and sharing sensitive data with other parties. So, it makes sense to dig a little deeper to understand how Ecobee handles customer data. 

Ecobee says that a customer's personal information and device data is theirs, and that it will delete that data upon request, either with an online form or through the Ecobee mobile app. The brand also explains it secures and safeguards user information, only using it as needed to deliver service. In addition, Ecobee requests that customers don't share sensitive information in dealings, through forms, or when using its products. 

The company's privacy policy reveals that certain personal information is collected during product registration — like email, home address, and utility details — and that its devices collect operational data — a smart thermostat collects metrics on temperature and humidity, for example. Ecobee says this data is used to help its customers make informed decisions around using its products to manage heating and cooling and optimize energy bills. It also notes that this Ecobee product data may be used by third-party brands when integrations are enabled.