Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Playoff optimism starts with Jacob deGrom, winner of consecutive Cy Young Awards, and Pete Alonso, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year after leading the majors with a rookie-record 53 homers last season. Four prominent pitchers on the staff grew up in the New York metropolitan area: Porcello, Betances, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz. Porcello, the 2016 AL Cy Young winner, replaces Wheeler in the rotation after he signed with the rival Phillies. If all the starters are healthy, Wacha or Matz could get bumped into a problematic bullpen that appears deeper this year. The 6-foot-8 Betances, a four-time All-Star with the crosstown Yankees, can make a huge difference if healthy shoulder, lat and Achilles tendon injuries limited him to one appearance last year. New York is also counting on bounce-back seasons from closer Edwin Diaz, starter Noah Syndergaard, reliever Jeurys Familia and 37-year-old second baseman Robinson Cano. J.D. Davis and All-Star Jeff McNeil are likely to get work at both third base and left field this spring. Minor leaguer Tim Tebow, the former star quarterback, returns to big league camp as the finishing touches are put on a $57 million renovation of the complex and Mets ownership looks for another buyer. Still, all eyes will be on enigmatic slugger Yoenis Cespedes as he attempts his comeback from a long injury layoff.

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Spring training 2020: Breaking down the NL East - The Morning Call

In Palm Beach, the Halls and the Fishers two families distanced by decades found the need to be modern in the same 16th-century styled house in El Bravo Park, The Fishers have carried out an extensive restoration and renovation that honors the homes past while embracing their lifestyle today.

Editors note: This story originally was published in the Spring 2020 issue of Palm Beach Life magazine.

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During the summer of 1929, when Gracia and Charles Hall drove down El Bravo Way, where their new Spanish Renaissance-inspired house was being built, they might have imagined they were on the Camino Real headed for El Dorado. El Bravo Way, after all, was lined with a constellation of homes with red-tiled roofs, wrought-iron balconies and miradors designed by Addison Mizner, Marion Sims Wyeth, and Volk and Maass. The latter firm had, in fact, designed the Halls house.

More than 85 years later, Frances and Jeff Fisher were set to break ground across town on North Lake Way with plans to build a state-of-the-art tropical modern-style home "with everything we ever wanted," Frances recalls.

Having previously completed an extensive restoration of a 1920s Old World design on Clarke Avenue, the Fishers believed they were ready for fresh 21st-century living.

And then, Frances recalls, her businessman husband said something about their in-the-works house that took her aback: "Theres only one problem. Somethings missing. Its the thing you love most and thats history."

She adds: "He was right. After dinner at Ta-boo, we rode over to El Bravo Way to this classic Spanish house on the corner. Wed been there for parties and knew it might soon become available," Frances explained.

Months of patience and persistence followed before the house was theirs. And by the time the Fishers finished a comprehensive restoration led by architect Clemens Bruns Schaub, they had not only revived the homes rich architectural legacy but adapted the villa to modern living.

Windows and loggias looked onto award-winning gardens by Jorge Sanchez of SMI Landscape Architecture. The result is a historic house in a timeless setting as modern as any contemporary home they might have built.

"The Fishers wanted something historically true yet functional for their family. Also, they were concerned that all inappropriate additions and details be removed," says Schaub. "We wanted it to look like the original architects had renovated it."

Sanchez had worked with the Fishers on previous projects. "For this one, Mrs. Fisher told us one of her favorite places was the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. We translated the courtyard concept and applied it to the center garden," Sanchez explains.

Having a lifetimes regard for historys relevance, Frances who serves as the chairwoman of the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens board of trustees set out to document the house and the lives of its first owners.

"The as-built Volk and Maass-designed plans and specs from the John L. Volk Archive proved invaluable. Also, my friend Allison Haft is related to the original owner and provided me with numerous 1920s and 1930s photographs taken of the house and the family," Frances says

"As masterful and precise as Clem Schaub and Jorge Sanchez were in creating the setting we wanted, Allies family photos allowed us to more closely reinstate lost elements and those subject to untimely or insensitive alterations. The drawings and the photos became the bible for the restoration."

Past lives

From those materials, she discovered more about the couple who had commissioned the house. Gracia Andrews Leath married Charles Hall, a Midwest industrialist, following the death of her first husband Arthur Leath, founder and president of a large Midwest furniture company. A year before the newly married Halls bought their lot in the El Bravo Park subdivision, Hall, whose company manufactured automobile headlights and accessories, had been a houseguest across the street at the Frank Cragin house, also designed by Volk and Maass.

Settling into the social whirl, the newlyweds reveled for several seasons of RSVPs and golf rounds, primarily with the Detroit-and-Chicago set, before the couple split in 1936.

Gracia, with her two daughters, kept the Palm Beach house. Six years later, she sold it to Edmund L. Goodman, who opened Finchleys, a popular haberdashery with an English bar at the Hutton Building on Phipps Plaza in Midtown.

In 1953, the house was sold to Rhode Islander Robert Shepard, who installed an elevator from the family-owned department store in Providence. Shepards father was John Shepard Jr., a former mayor of Palm Beach. His equally civic-minded son and his wife opened the El Bravo Way house for several seasons to benefit The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Seas house and garden tours.

Then and now

"The architecture," observes Schaub, "reflects a Spaniard who has traveled."

Among the houses original features, an elaborate rose-veined quarry Keystone frontispiece is set apart from the faade wall, adding an uncommon rectilinear dimensional element. Windows piercing the faade on the second floor have wrought-iron balcony railings. The 46-foot-high mirador recalls hilltop 16th-century Andalusian fortresses, while the arcaded loggia serves both as an entertainment area and a passageway to link the gardens to the living areas.

"For us, the houses faade was a major attraction," Frances says. "It was important to maintain the definitive Spanish architectural integrity, connecting it to the other El Bravo Way houses, as well as perhaps 16th-century Salamanca that might have inspired the design."

Although subsequent owners made changes to the house and the patio, including removing many of the original Mizner tiles, its as-built faade and cruciform floor plan remained intact. When the town landmarked the property in 1989, historian Dr. Donald Curl described it as "a first-rate house on an important street."

The Fishers house was one of the last Spanish-style boom-time mansions to be built before the Great Depression ushered in the smaller houses of the 1930s and 1940s. Many of the earlier eras Italian and Spanish houses had been damaged and rebuilt following the brutal hurricane of 1928, losing some of their initial luster in the process. Like its neighbors, the houses structural soundness and design integrity helped set El Bravo Park apart from the towns other subdivisions.

Engineer Frank Clements planned El Bravo Park to accommodate "high-class" houses that were "just short of a Spanish palace with some Italian facets" a far cry from the bungalows and cottages dotting the Sea Streets or the existing Floral Park and Royal Park subdivisions.

El Bravo Parks roots date to March 1920, when Clements bought the ocean-to-lake parcel to the south of the Everglades Club golf course. Clements a retired railroad engineer who supervised the Amazon Valley Railway and the Niagara Falls tunnel system promised first-class utilities, streetlamps, a 700-foot oceanfront seawall and a lakeside Venetian yacht basin.

Swiss-born gardener Louis de Gottreau designed the landscapes, and Wyeth and Mizner were retained to design the first houses in the ocean block of El Bravo Way. The subdivision also included El Brillo Way, one street south.

But two years later, Clements died. His wife, Anna Clements, sold the undeveloped portion of El Bravo Park to Philadelphian Earle P. Charlton, co-founder of Woolworths and company vice president, who followed Clements development guidelines, as did other Estate Section builders.

By 1930, the Volk and Maass firm with principals John L. Volk and Gustav Maass, the senior architect completed two other Spanish Renaissance-inspired houses, in addition to the Cragin and Hall homes. The others included the firms largest Spanish house of that era along the lakefront on El Bravo Way. For that house, Volk and Maass designed one of the towns most distinctive arched entranceways, modeled on the Alfabia, the home and gardens of a Moorish viceroy on Majorca.

Rebuilding history

After a century of additions, renovations and alterations, some 1920s-era houses in Palm Beach are historic in name only. But previous modifications to the Fishers house had not undermined its fundamental architectural or structural quality, making a true restoration possible. Floors, bearing walls, leaded-glass windows and ceiling beams were all intact.

Yet, the house still required a considerable effort to bring it back to its formidable grandeur and make it practical and functioning for day-to-day living.

The Fishers transformed the outdated kitchen, service and storage area in the far southwest corner into an open, ultra-modern kitchen and family room. The second floor also was reworked into more functional living space overlooking the terrace and gardens. This aspect of the project called for enclosing the breezeway and creating office space, an exercise area and more room for guests.

Yet the updates, Schaub notes, were always planned to complement the homes historical character.

"The Fishers always took the right road," he says.

That road led to a house that today is as brilliant and dynamic as it must have seemed to the Halls when they built it. The brillo and the bravo have returned.

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Palm Beach Life: In their restored 1929 house, the Fisher family celebrates a historic Spanish revival in El Bravo Park - Palm Beach Post

The first Wednesday in February was once a recruiting madhouse. Those days are over. The early signing date in Decemberhas dramatically altered the recruiting landscape to where the wide majority of Bowl Subdivision programs add just a handful of prospects, if any, during the traditional signing period.

"The second recruiting cycle, there's not much going on, typically," said SMU coach Sonny Dykes.

We should change the nomenclature. The early signing day should be known as signing day, period. The February date should be called the "late signing day," both as a result of the small number of uncommitted prospects and how coaches increasingly use the evaluation period in January to identify underclassmen recruits to get ahead on future signing classes.

Evan Anderson, left, and Avarius Sparrow, sign their commitment papers during a national signing day ceremony at Jones High School, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Orlando.(Photo: Joe Burbank, AP)

Still, several programs made the most of Wednesday to put the finishing touches on the 2020 recruiting cycle with some talented prospects that could have an impact as soon as this fall.Here's a roundup from the second signing day:

The best get better

The nation's top classes, according to 247Sports.com, belonged to Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, LSU and Ohio State. The group combined to pull in 19 of the cycle's 30 five-star recruits, including nine of the top 11 recruits regardless of position. As next-tier teams angle for a path into the College Football Playoff, these five programs took another step toward securing their place at the front of the line. In recruiting, the top crust of the FBS continues to separate from the pack.

SIGNING DAY BREAKDOWN: ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten | SEC

CHOSEN 25: Ranking the top 25 football prospects in the 2020 class

BEHIND SCENES: Why football coaches often help rivals with recruiting

MAD MEN: Enjoy as college football coaches are triggered by transfer rule

Georgia

While Clemson seemed to have a strong hold on the nation's top-ranked class coming out of December, Georgia's strong close pushed the Bulldogs to the top of the list. (The Tigers still signed the nation's top recruit, defensive lineman Bryce Breese, and five-star quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.) One of the Bulldogs' longtime verbal commitment, five-star offensive tackleBroderick Jones, signed after taking official visits to Arkansas, Auburn and Illinois. Georgia added cornerbackDaran Branch, offensive lineman Cameron Kinnie and running backDaijun Edwards after December's signing period.

Southern California

The Trojans made only slight gains after Clay Helton's unsettled job status resolved for now, and to surely be revisited at a later date led to a paltry haul of signings in December. One nice addition was tight end Jack Yary, who circled back on an earlier verbal commitment to pick the Trojans over Washington. And that USC didn't sign a quarterback isn't a huge deal, given the team's young options under center. Still, this was a disconcerting sight for anyone familiar with the program's recruiting pedigree and local talent: USC's class was outside the top 50 nationally on Wednesday afternoon.

Missouri

New coach Eli Drinkwitz made the most of the second signing day and picked up ground on Missouri's rivals in the SEC East. Wide receiverKris Abrams-Draine bolsters a position group in need of an overhaul. Lexington, Missouri, defensive tackleMontra Edwards could contribute earlier along the interior, though freshmen rarely make waves on the defensive front as freshman. And the coup was cornerbackEnnis Rakestraw, who chose Missouri over fellow finalists Texas and Alabama.

Boise State

The Broncos brought in five new additions to secure the best class in the Mountain West. Two recruits held offers from USC: quarterbackCade Fennegan, who received a late scholarship from the Trojans, and offensive lineman Kyle Juergens, who was a verbal commitment to USC as a defensive lineman but will join an offensive front set for an offseason rebuild. The Broncos also added a solid graduate transfer from North Carolina State in linebackerBrock Miller.

Mississippi State

New coach Mike Leach's transition class added a few traditional commitments on signing day, including a three-star linebacker in Jamari Stewart who held offers from several teams in the SEC. The biggest addition came via the transfer portal: Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello gives Leach a high-level prospect who stands as a far better fit for Leach's offensive scheme than the Bulldogs' returning options.

Texas

It wasn't a perfect day for the Longhorns: Rakestraw chose Missouri and defensive endPrincely Umanmielen went with Florida. Yesterday, however, Texas reeled in four-star athleteKelvontay Dixon, who seems set to at least begin his career at wide receiver. And in major win against rival Oklahoma, the Longhorns wereable to nab four-star defensive end Alfred Collins, a local talent and top-100 prospect who becomes one of the highest-rated recruits in theirclass.

Tennessee

Tennessee pulled off one of the day's biggest flips in drawing four-star wide receiver Malachi Wideman away from Florida State. Adding Wideman and three-star athlete Damarcus Beckwith moved the Volunteers firmly into the crowded group of SEC teams hovering just behind the established top five, alongside or just a hair behind Texas A&M, Florida and Auburn.

Oregon

The Ducks were already locked into the best class in the Pac-12 after a fruitful December, which included three five-star prospects and adds more immediate-impact talent to a program poised to take another step forward after a recent Rose Bowl win. Wednesday brought another weapon in four-star defensive tackle Jayson Jones, a former Alabama verbal commitment with ample ability to produce as a freshman.

South Carolina

Will Muschamp and the Gamecocks flipped defensive endGilber Edmond away from South Florida and pulled in-state wide receiverGer-Cari Caldwell away from Tennessee. South Carolina also officially added a pair of graduate transfers from Colorado State in quarterback Collin Hill and fullback Adam Prentice; both played for former Colorado State coach Mike Bobo, the Gamecocks' new offensive coordinator. The biggest addition came in the early afternoon: five-star defensive end Jordan Burch confirmed his verbal commitment in December and taking a visit to LSU earlier this month

SMU

SMU came into signing day with three open spots and filled two, adding junior college defensive lineman Junior Aho and in-state cornerback Brian Massey. Aho, who is originally from France, pencils into an immediate role along the Mustangs' front. Massey flew under the radar but has top-level speed he's a contender for the state title in the 200 meters. SMU coaches are comfortable leaving scholarships open for transfers, with the expectation to add another five or more bodies to the roster before fall camp.

Cincinnati

Luke Fickell and Cincinnati sealed the top recruiting class among the Group of Five good for the top 45 nationally, per 247Sports, and ahead of dozens of Power Five programs by adding another six recruits, three at wide receiver. One, four-star Jadon Thompson, was verbally committed to Illinois but didn't sign in December, opening a door for the Bearcats to ink its third four-star prospect. According to 247Sports' rankings, Cincinnati was the only Group of Five team to sign one four-star recruit, let alone three.

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Winners and losers on the second college football national signing day - USA TODAY

The Memphis Grizzlies made a big move near the trade deadline to trade away a big name player who was once considered a championship piece, and in return brought in a couple of interesting pieces with the aim of retooling a roster still that was still missing a piece or two.

That was the basic story behind last years trade deadline, when the Grizzlies traded big-man Marc Gasol for CJ Miles, Delon Wright, and Jonas Valanciunas, along with a 2024 pick.

This year, Memphis fans must have felt a form of deja vu, as the Grizzlies once again traded away a big name player from their team, albeit this time that player wasnt playing.

Now, the Grizzlies have gotten rid of that player, and in return got a nice package of James Johnson, Justise Winslow, and Dion Waiters, who they eventually waived. Then, Memphis turned James Johnson into Minnesota Timberwolves Gorgui Dieng, a trade that at this point seems to be best for both teams.

Once healthy, this Grizzlies squad is going to look incredibly dangerous, and could have the potential to be a perennial playoff team in the Western Conference.

At their peak, the Memphis starting lineup seems to be as follows:

PG- Ja Morant

SG- Dillon Brooks

SF- Justise Winslow

PF- Jaren Jackson Jr

C- Jonas Valanciunas.

Thats a pretty solid lineup for a young team, and Zach Kleiman made the necessary trades to bolster that second-string rotation behind them.

The introduction of Winslow into this lineup is an interesting one. A player whos struggled with injuries through most of this season, Winslow has shown himself to be a reliable catch and shoot 3 player, shooting 41.2 percent in the category last season. This could make him a valuable part of a young Grizzlies core, either as an outlet during a fastbreak, or as a third option during a Morant/Valanciunas pick-and-roll. Winslow also averaged 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game during that season, making him a key aspect in starting a fast break.

Memphis also went a ways toward increasing their depth, both in the four and five roll and in the second-string unit coming off the bench.

With the additions of Jordan Bell and Gorgui Dieng, the Grizzlies have taken the pressure off of Brandon Clarke, and are going to stretch the floor more, which will aid to Tyus Jones game and allow him to play as a more pure point guard, creating more ball movement and a tougher offense.

The Grizzlies moves last week were calculated. The idea was to get rid of anybody that was slowing them down, and move forward into a new, young, and fast system. Truly, theyre going to be exciting to watch over their remaining 30 games.

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How the Memphis Grizzlies have retooled their system - Beale Street Bears

College basketball lost its mind on Saturday.

Auburn-LSU gave us the Game of the Year and then it wasnt even the Game of the Day. Seton Hall basically won the Big East regular season title and no one seemed to notice. Isaiah Livers returned and we forgot about it already.

Heres everything you need to know to get caught back up.

In what might be the game of the season to date, No. 7 Duke erased a 13 point deficit in the final 4:31 to force overtime (off of a missed Tre Jones free throw!) at the buzzer only to erased a five-point deficit in the final 21 seconds to win the game (off another missed Tre Jones free throw!!) at the buzzer again.

It was bonkers.

Read all about it right here.

At this point, the game has been completely overshadowed, but No. 11 Auburn pulled into a tie for first in the SEC with a thrilling, come-from-behind, overtime win against No. 18 LSU. This game ended on a JVon McCormick floater that bounced off the rim, the backboard and the rim again before going in.

It wasnt quite as bonkers as Duke-UNC, but it was still pretty bonkers.

Read all about that game right here.

After a wild Saturday, it feels like this game was played three weeks ago, but it doesnt change the importance of what happened.

Livers is Michigans leading scorer. He is their best three-point shooter by a country mile. Hes the pice on the roster that allows Juwan Howard a measure of lineup versatility, and, in turn, he may actually be the most valuable defensive piece on the Wolverines. With Livers healthy for an entire game, Michigan is now 9-3 with wins over Creighton, Iowa, North Carolina, Michigan State and Gonzaga by 18 points in the only game the Zags have lost this season. Their worst lost was in overtime at home against Oregon.

Without Livers, Michigan is 5-6.

On Saturday, Livers scored 14 points, made a couple threes, blocked a couple shots and, most importantly, played 31 minutes as a starter.

The Wolverines are going to be a serious threat in March.

No. 12 Seton Hall did something they havent done since 1994 win at No. 10 Villanova and, as a result, they are now in a position do to something they havent done since 1993 win the Big East regular season title.

Myles Powell scored 19 points, Sandro Mamukelashvili went for 17 and the Pirates, who now own a three-game lead over the rest of the field in the Big East standings with just seven games left of the regular season.

Perhaps the most impressive and important part of this win was the play of Mamukelashvili. The 6-foot-11 native of Tbilisi, Georgia, has been maligned this season. He was knocked out the lineup with a broken hand back in December, right before the Pirates went on the run that changed the course of their season, and it wasnt hard to connect those dots. Playing without Mamu forced Kevin Willard to go small, playing four perimeter weapons around Romaro Gill, and his team has not looked back since.

This game proved just how valuable Mamu is to this team. When Villanova took away Gill, it forced Mamu into action.

And he shined.

The General made his triumphant return to Assembly Hall after two decades away from the program that fired him.

He was greeted with a rumbling ovation, hugs from his former players and tears from the fans that were in the stands. Knight has become something of a controversial figure over the course of the last decade, in no small part due to his affiliation with Donald Trumps election campaign, but that building is his home and it was a pretty cool moment seeing the Hoosier faithful welcome him back.

Perhaps the biggest upset of the day came in Norman, Okla., as the Sooners picked of No. 13 West Virginia, 69-59. They led by as many as 18 points in the second half.

The star of the show was Kristian Doolittle, who scored 27 points while helping to showcase just what teams need to be able to do to take down this Mountaineer team: Space the floor. When you have bigs that can operate in pick-and-pops and pull West Virginias bigger and slower frontcourt pieces away from the rim, you can beat them.

Thats precisely what Doolittle and Brady Manek were able to do.

The win is massive for Oklahomas NCAA tournament chances. The Sooners were an 11 seed in our most recent bracket projection. West Virginia is a top 15 team in the NET. This is the kind of win that will get Oklahoma a little bit of breathing room on the bubble.

No. 1 Baylor had a bit of a sweat, but they were able to pull out a 78-70 win over Oklahoma State at home. No. 2 Gonzaga put up a 30 burger on Saint Marys in Moraga, which is not something that should be overlooked. No. 3 Kansas picked off TCU in Fort Worth as Bill Self became the second-youngest coach to get to 700 wins in his career. No. 4 San Diego State remains undefeated after winning at Air Force. Easy peezy lemon squeezy.

The Cavaliers entered Saturday ranked a ridiculous 276th in KenPoms adjusted offensive efficiency metric despite having the nations best defense. The biggest reason for that? They are one of the ten-worst three-point shooting teams in all of college basketball.

Well, they went into the Yum! Center and shot 11-for-22 from beyond the arc and still lost! That has a lot to do with how good Louisville (and David Johnson) is.

But we knew that already.

Whats more interesting to me is what happens if this kind of shooting becomes a trend for the Wahoos. Now, Im not saying that they are going to start making 50 percent of their threes the rest of the season, or that Tomas Woldetensae is going to be hitting seven per game the rest of the way. But part of the issue that Virginia has been dealing with this year is confidence, and one way to start building confidence in your shooting is to actually see the ball go through the basket.

Im not betting on it.

Sometimes teams just get hot, even teams that are full of really bad three-point shooters.

But it will be something to keep an eye on next week.

Entering Saturday, there was, essentially, a three-way tie for first place in the Pac-12: No. 24 Colorado and No. 14 Oregon were sitting at 7-3 with No. 23 Arizona sitting at 6-3, a half-game back in the win column.

Arizona went out and got their tails kicked at home by UCLA thanks to a 25 percent shooting performance. Josh Green and Nico Mannion combined to shoot 20 percent from the floor. Oregon lost to in-state rival Oregon State in Corvallis. Colorado? They were trailing Stanford by 11 points early in the second half when Stanfords best player was knocked out of the game after his head was driven into the floor by Evan Battey. Colorado would come back and win by seven.

On Thursday, the Buffaloes will head to Eugene to take on the Ducks in a game that could end up giving them a two-game lead for first.

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Monday Overreactions!: Bob Knight returns, Duke-UNC thriller highlight an insane weekend - NBCSports.com

10/25/19 10:00:25 PM -- Bellflower, CA, U.S.A. Mater Dei Monarchs quarterback Bryce Young (9) throws a pass during the 4th quarter against the St. John Bosco Braves at Parish Family Stadium. Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: RH 138328 Mater Dei v. St. 10/25/2019 [Via MerlinFTP Drop]

TUSCALOOSA It may not have been Alabamas best signing class ever, especially given it failed to top the national recruiting rankings for the second time in the last three years, but that doesnt mean the Crimson Tides 2020 recruiting class is lacking in immediate impact players.

Although Alabama may not have finished with the nations No. 1 class like it has eight other times in the last decade, the countrys No. 2-ranked class did lead the nation in another category: highest average player grade according to the 247Sports.com national composite rankings.

I know today yall talk a lot about rankings and ratings and who did what in recruiting, head coach Nick Saban said Wednesday after the Crimson Tide signed three previously committed players on National Signing Day. (But) I think the key thing for us is we think we got a lot of good players character, quality people who want to get an education who are good football players. I think if you look at the average rating of the guys that we got, its pretty high regardless of where they rank us.

Alabama NCAA college football coach Nick Saban introduces and thanks Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa before he announces his intentions to declare for the 2020 NFL football draft, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)(Photo: The Associated Press)

Led by four five-star additions and six ranked in the top 50 nationally Alabamas 25-member signing class received an average player rating of 93.56, per the 247 composite, eclipsing the average player score of Clemson (93.45) and Georgia (92.96), the latter of which took home the countrys No. 1 team ranking for the second time in the last three years.

Ratings aside, the sheer talent level top-to-bottom of this years signing class is unmistakable, but talent isnt always the greatest indicator of early success. Even future record-setting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sat much of his true freshman season before splashing onto the scene in the 2018 national championship game.

We have a responsibility and an obligation to give every player an opportunity to play and weve had a lot of freshmen contribute to our team here, but we also have a responsibility and an obligation to not play players before they are ready to play, because they are not going to create value for themselves if they have to do that, Saban said. (Now) I dont know which of these guys will turn out to be the guys that develop quickly and can contribute to our team next year, but were certainly going to give everyone an opportunity and help these guys develop the best we can.

And while Saban might not be able to answer it, there are undoubtedly several 2020 signees that will contribute next season in some capacity.

The most obvious is the highest rated player in the class five-star dual-threat quarterback Bryce Young.

Alabama freshman quarterback Bryce Young(Photo: Alabama athletics)

As the nations No. 1 dual-threat player and the second-highest rated player overall in the 2020 class, the immensely talented Young is already impressing folks in Tuscaloosa after just a couple of weeks on campus and he hasnt even practiced yet.

In a somewhat uncharacteristic move, Saban effusively praised the dual-threat passer even before he arrived, gushing over his leadership qualities and ability to positively affect those around him.

I just absolutely love the guy, his character. Hes got a great family. Hes got all the right stuff and I think thats really important in the quarterback position, Saban said Dec. 18 after the first day of the early signing period. Youve heard me say this many times before, if you play quarterback, its hard to play the position if the people around you dont play well so having great leadership qualities can contribute to that. I think Bryce certainly possesses those qualities.

Youngs 0.9994 rating according to the 247Sports.com national composite tied him for the highest ever rating achieved by an Alabama signee, equaling the scores of former offensive linemen Andre Smith in 2006 and Cyrus Kouandjio in 2011. Clemson defensive line signee Bryan Bresee was the nations top-ranked player in the 2020 class with a rating of 0.9995, per the 247 composite.

Team Pressure wide receiver Thaiu Jones-Bell, committed to Alabama, (7) warms up before the Under Armor All-America Game in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday January 2, 2020.(Photo: Mickey Welsh)

Another early enrollee that could work himself into the mix next season is four-star receiver Thaiu Jones-Bell, the latest in a string of South Florida pass catchers to land in Tuscaloosa. At 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds, Jones-Bell has a similar frame and athleticism to outgoing NFL-bound receiver Henry Ruggs III and returning playmaker Jaylen Waddle, Alabamas most explosive player at 5-10 and 182 pounds. That said, with both rising senior DeVonta Smith and Waddle returning, Jones-Bell will likely start out in a backup role to begin his career.

We feel good about Smitty (DeVonta Smith) and Jaylen Waddle coming back. We feel like we have a couple young guys that will develop into guys that will play, but we also feel really good about the two guys we got, Saban of the three receiver signees. Weve had other guys play at that position as freshmen. If those guys can develop quick enough maybe they can contribute next year as well.

Just based on sheer numbers, and what the Tide lost with the departures of starting outside linebackers Anfernee Jennings and Terrell Lewis to the NFL, expect at least one of the trio of five-star early enrollee linebackers in Will Anderson, Chris Braswell and Drew Sanders to work himself into a position to contribute immediately, either as a starter or vital role player on pass rushing situations.

Alabama freshman outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr.(Photo: Alabama athletics)

Anderson, the nations No. 1 weakside end per the 247 composite, is considered by many to be the most talented pass rusher in the 2020 class and will get plenty of opportunities to step in and immediately contribute. Braswell and Sanders also present elite athleticism and could find roles within the mix as well as key reserves next season.

I think the biggest thing was we got a significant number of guys in the front seven Im talking about outside backer types, defensive line types, guys that are athletic who can rush, inside backer types, Saban said Wednesday. That was probably, really, something that we needed to address. Because I think the lack of depth at that position last year was a factor for us.

Among the summer enrollees, look for four-star defensive tackle Timothy Smith of Sebastian, Florida, to get an opportunity to work himself into the rotational mix with returning sophomore starter D.J. Dale. At 6-foot-4 and 320, Smith is the largest of Alabamas three interior linemen signees and a top-60 player overall, according to 247sports.coms national composite. He could provide the Tide quality depth and insurance along the defensive line should it find itself ravaged by injuries like it did last season when Alabama lost a pair of starters in junior end LaBryan Ray (foot) and Dale (knee) for multiple games.

Sebastian River High School defensive lineman Timothy Smith (50) wraps up Astronaut High School's Abreon Torres on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, during a game in Sebastian. The Sharks would go on to win their homecoming game 16-14.(Photo: PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM)

During Wednesdays news confidence, Saban said replenishing the teams defensive line depth has been of vital importance the past few years.

I think we had five guys that were freshmen last year, three of those guys played a significant amount, and we feel like the other guys have an opportunity to develop into being players, Saban said. I thought the three players we got at that position this year are certainly good players that will contribute to that as well. I feel like in the last two years weve added good, young talent at that position.

Lastly, as Saban has repeatedly madeclear, Alabama doesnt sign junior college players unless they're going to play immediately, which is why four-star JUCO cornerback Ronald Williams Jr. of Hutchinson Community College is the mostly likely of the Tides 2020 signees to not only see the field early but also start at one of the two cornerback spots.

The 6-2 Williams already has an SEC-level frame and has played against SEC-caliber players throughout his time at one of the countrys most premier junior colleges. And with returning junior starter Patrick Surtain II expected to see some time at Star during spring practices, look for Williams to get every opportunity to lock down a starting corner spot before the team breaks for summer.

Alabama junior cornerback Ronald Williams Jr.(Photo: Alabama athletics)

We have not typically recruited a whole lot of junior college guys, but the junior college guys that we have have fulfilled a need and been able to contribute and play early on here and play well for us, Saban said. Were hopeful that will be the case. Hes got really good size. Hes played Star, safety and corner so he has versatility as a player. So, were excited about the opportunity to have a guy like that to add to the group so were not too awful young, get a little maturity as well.

Alex Byington isthe Montgomery Advertiser's Alabama beat reporter. He can be reached by email at abyington@montgome.gannett.com or on Twitter at @_AlexByington.

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A look 5 members of Alabama's 2020 signing class that could make an early impact - Montgomery Advertiser

Venture capitalists and industry evangelists alike have been predicting for a few years now that the world is on the brink of a new space age. And for good reason.

Ambitious, well-funded companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX are becoming household names with plans to travel to the moon and beyond. Rockets are easier to build and less expensive to launch than ever before (you can even 3D print one).

And more companies are popping up with intentions of ringing the globe with high-powered networks of pint-sized satellites. That trend in particular kept popping up in the past seven days.

It was a good week for those who are optimistic about the potential benefits vast satellite networks can bring to us here on Earth. But it was a worrisome week for scientists who are concerned about what omnipresent satellites might mean for watching the stars. And that's one of 11 things you need to know from the past week:

Thursday also brought news from one of SpaceX's primary rivals in the satellite-powered internet industry. OneWeb, which is backed by SoftBank, successfully launched 34 new satellites from a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the latest additions to a planned network of nearly 650 orbiting transponders.

Earlier in the week, a rocket startup called Astra emerged from stealth after reportedly raising more than $100 million in venture capital. Astra plans to conduct low-cost, high-frequency launches for companies like OneWeb that want to blanket the skies in satellites.

Blue Origin, which is also in the business of powering satellite launches, might have received a boost of its own this week. Regulatory filings show Jeff Bezos has liquidated about $3.5 billion in Amazon stock over recent days. Bezos said in 2017 he sells $1 billion in Amazon stock every year to fund Blue Origin's operations. As he famously put it a year later: "The only way that I can see to deploy this much financial resource is by converting my Amazon winnings into space travel."

News of all the successful launches and piles of funding, though, only added to the consternation of people who have dedicated their professional lives to watching the stars.

In the wake of OneWeb's Thursday launch, The New York Times published a story about the disturbed astronomers who worry OneWeb's satellites will produce chatter that interferes with the sorts of radio waves used to monitor and learn about faraway stars.

Considering some other recent events, it seems fair to be concerned. SpaceX and its existing Starlink satelliteswhich are highly reflectivehave already been wreaking havoc on interstellar observation. For months now, astronomers have been taking to Twitter with otherwise useful images ruined by bright streaks of light bouncing off satellites. Experts like astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell say that if the trend continues, it would "represent a serious change to the night sky."

And there's reason to think it might continue. SpaceX and OneWeb are far from alone in their plans for sweeping satellite constellations. Amazon and Facebook are believed to be planning networks of their own. And startups like Planet, Spire Global and Swarm Technologies have similar aims.

The obvious solution here, of course, would be for satellite companies to be a little more conscious of the products they're putting into the skies. Musk has already pledged to make changes in Starlink's satellites, tweeting that SpaceX cares "a great deal about science." And there are already some safeguards in place. OneWeb was reportedly required to cooperate with radio astronomers before the launch of its satellites in an effort to avoid crossing wires (so to speak).

But what is it they say about the best laid plans? Maybe Starlink will indeed fix its over-reflective satellites. But as the Earth's orbit becomes more crowded, even a small percentage of carelessly designed satellites could contaminate the night skies for us all.

And sure, there are probably more immediate concerns out there than astronomers struggling to photograph some far-off star. But astronomy is, I think, an important tool humans use to figure out who we are, where our world came from, and what our future might hold. It was radio astronomythe kind threatened by OneWebthat allowed scientists last year to take the first photograph ever of a black hole.

It would be a shame if the science of improving communications and knowledge here on Earth comes at the expense of the science concerned with the rest of the universe. It doesn't have to.

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11 big things: Dreams & nightmares of the satellite era - PitchBook News & Analysis

Ashley Dassinger-Carson dreamed for years of opening a shop on Kansas Avenue. This spring, that dream will finally become a reality.

Dassinger-Carson plans to open two shops in downtown Topeka this year Ash Boutique, which she has owned since 2014, and Makers, a new business cooperative-inspired store that will feature local artisan-made goods.

Dassinger-Carson first opened Ash Boutique, a women's clothing store, in July 2014. But the store, located at 3123 S.W. Huntoon St., has outgrown its current space.

"We saw huge growth in 2017, 2018 and then 2019 so I've been feeling the growing pains for a while," she said.

Dassinger-Carson has tried meeting the needs of a growing customer base by offering new items, such as shoes and plus-size clothing. Now, she says, Ash Boutique simply doesn't have the space to store excess apparel or expand its offerings further.

"We had great success with shoes, but we didn't have any room to store the shoes," she said. "So we stopped carrying shoes, even though that was really successful."

As Dassinger-Carson started to think about the boutique's next step, she turned to downtown Topeka, where she has always wanted to be.

"When I first wanted to open a boutique and I worked over at (BNSF Railway) I would walk Kansas Avenue all the time on my breaks, and I dreamed of having a shop down here," she said. "I really wanted it."

Before opening Ash, Dassinger-Carson looked at a spot downtown, but at the time, it was too big.

"I brought my husband and was like: 'What do you think? This is going to be perfect,'" she said. "And he said, 'Ashley, this is not where you start. This is where you end up.' I kept that in the back of my mind all these years start small, grow big."

When the time came to consider upsizing, Dassinger-Carson didn't want to rush the decision.

"It was kind of presented to me before the Cyrus was even finished being built," she said. "And that was when our fifth child was born. And I said: 'I'm not going to make any moves or any of these decisions with pregnancy hormones. I'm just going to sit on it for a while.'"

Eventually, she said, "Yes."

But moving Ash wasn't the only decision Dassinger-Carson had been mulling. She also had an idea for a storefront where other artisans could display and sell their work.

"Since having my shop, I've had a lot of people come through my door who are essentially a maker, a creater," Dassinger-Carson said.

She said many of them are female entrepreneurs who make products from home as a "side hustle."

"They would want to put their products in my store," she added. "A lot of the time, they had really great products, but it maybe wasn't right for my customer or it wasn't right for the story that Ash is telling. But I wanted a way to help them."

That is how Makers came into the picture. Moving Ash Boutique downtown presented the perfect opportunity to open a second business, one where Dassinger-Carson could help other entrepreneurs thrive.

"Someone once told me that success isn't a drop of water, that it's an ocean and there's enough for everyone and I really, really believe that," she said.

Makers will operate similar to a co-op space, but artisans won't pay Dassinger-Carson to rent floor space. Instead, they will pay her a marketing and operational fee to sell their products in her store, and the artisan will earn commission.

"So it's not going to look like a flea market or an antique shop. When you walk in, you probably won't even know that there's 30 different businesses all wrapped up into one," Dassinger-Carson said.

She thinks Makers will help small-business owners selling solely online attract new customers allowing them to create an "omnichannel experience," she said, without having to invest in a brick-and-mortar store.

Makers will occupy space at 913 S. Kansas Ave., while Ash Boutique will sit a few storefronts away at 921 S. Kansas. Dassinger-Carson hopes to have both stores up and running by April 1 to coincide with the spring opening of Evergy Plaza.

Vince Frye, president of Downtown Topeka, Inc., said he is excited to see the new downtown additions.

Frye moved to Topeka in 1971, after graduating from the University of Kansas, and he said downtown Topeka used to be lined with shops.

"Everybody would come downtown because this is where everything was the restaurants, the theaters, the clothing stores, everything," Frye said. "It's really great to see people realizing the potential again of downtown and wanting to be a part of that and moving back to the corridor."

He hopes downtown continues to prosper and be a place Topekans can be proud of.

"We always wanted to make downtown a destination on nights and on weekends, and that is happening," Frye said. "That is allowing businesses like Ash Boutique to understand the potential."

Dassinger-Carson has recognized that growing potential for a while, and she hopes her move will inspire others to follow suit.

"I think downtown is going to be the place where you come, play and stay where you don't just come to eat and leave or work and leave," Dassinger-Carson said. "I hope that by having these shops, other people say, 'I can do it, too' whatever business they have, whether it's a salon or a spa or another gift shop.

"Whatever their passion and talent is, I hope they say, 'I can do that, too' and bring more businesses down to Kansas Avenue."

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Two new shops are expected to open on Kansas Avenue this spring - The Topeka Capital-Journal

(Shuttershock Photo)

The flick of a switch or a slow transition, how do you like your light? Dimmers vs. traditional light switches create ambiance and can reduce the number of times you get up from the sofa to turn the lights on and off.

Noel Pena, electrician, Fox Valley Electric, a Rosie-Certified partner explains the real difference between traditional and dimmer switches.

A traditional light switch simply supplies or cuts the power to the lamp or bulb. A dimmer switch used to work by means of a variable resistor, the more resistance, less energy to the bulb and more heat at the dimmer switch therefore dimmer light, Pena said.

Modern dimmers work differently by rapidly shutting off the light bulb circuit every time the AC current reverses direction 120 times per second. Depending on where the dimmer is set changes how long the circuit is off in milliseconds. The higher the switch is set, the faster the circuit turns back on. This changes the amount of energy supplied to the bulb, and thus the brightness of the light.

If you are considering changing to a dimmer switch, the first thing to ask is whether it will be compatible with your current lighting system.

There are three primary styles of dimmer switches.

This lets the user turn the dial to gradually change the brightness of the bulb.

(Shuttershock Photo)

The user simply touches a plate on top to turn the light up or the bottom to decrease brightness until the preferred setting is reached.

(Shuttershock Photo)

This allows for controlling two or more different sets of lights by remote control. If you are lounging on the sofa or your favorite chair, you probably dont want to get up multiple times to change the lighting as the sun comes up or goes down, so this is an ideal option. They can be installed anywhere and sometimes without the need for wiring. Some feature wireless controls via computer or cell phone. Oftentimes they can integrate with other smart home systems, such as heating/cooling and security. Voice control is even automated. We can help set all of that up for you, said Pena.

Many dimmer switches are not compatible with energy-saving light bulbs. An energy-saving bulb contains glass tubes coated in phosphor, said Pena. When electricity passes through the bulb, the gas emits ultraviolet rays which light up the phosphor. When used with a dimmer switch, these bulbs simply flicker on and off. We recommend switches that let you choose from two or three fixed levels of brightness.

Additionally, incompatible bulbs will limit the dimming range and cause humming, buzzing, and flickering. Unless the manufacturer indicates the bulb is dimmable, do not install any LED or compact fluorescent bulb in a socket controlled by a dimmer.

There are also tabletop dimmers that are equipped with a cord, plug, and socket. Though the bulbs in the fixture must be compatible with the dimmer.

Ever notice interference to nearby televisions and radios when you turn the lights on? That happens because the rapid changes in the voltage supplied to the bulb can cause excessive vibrations in its filament, which is magnetic. Higher quality dimmer switches will include inductor chokes or interference capacitors that can smooth the effects of the changing voltage.

Look for LED bulbs that state they are dimmable. There are several types and color quality available. Manufacturers publish lists of bulbs that are compatible with dimmer products.

Each dimmer switch comes with a wattage rating that tells you the maximum watts of bulbs you can control with it. Follow the instructions otherwise serious damage or injury can occur. Also, if you will be controlling multiple bulbs from one switch, you need to add up the wattage of each bulb concerned.

When installing a dimmer, we highly recommend you hire a licensed, bonded, and insured electrician. Electricity is a safety issue, and should really not be left as a DIY project or to a handyman, said Pena.

A professional electrician will Inspect the wall box in which the dimmer will be installed and take measurements to be sure the dimmer will physically fit. Confirm that the dimmer intended can be used with the type of bulb in your application. Check if the dimmer requires a neutral connection (a wall box with a ground connection and at least two other wires). Help you choose a dimmer with sufficient power capacity by calculating the total wattage of the bulbs to be controlled and choose a dimmer rated for at least a 20 to 30 percent higher power capacity. Check the dimming range with a visual test to ensure it is suitable for a given application. Check labels or markings on the dimmer, packaging or installation instructions for an electrical safety rating such as UL-1472.

You can mix brands and types of bulbs for simple control situations. With interconnected systems where light is controlled from more than one location or wirelessly, the parts of the system need to talk to each other. In that case, only use products of the same brand or compatible products that are approved for your system.

Now that you are not dim about dimmers, go ahead and set the mood in your favorite room.

Join Rosie on the House every Saturday morning from 7 to 11 a.m. on KTAR News 92.3 FM. If youd like to send us questions or comments, emailInfo@RosieontheHouse.com. Follow us onTwitterand like us onFacebook.

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Heres how to install lighting dimmers in your home - KTAR.com

What Makes a Thermostat Smart?

Back in 2011, the original Nest Learning Thermostat took the world by storm, offering Wi-Fi connectivity in a stylish puck-shaped device that could learn your daily routine and create heating and cooling schedules accordingly. While the Nest wasn't the first connected thermostat to hit the market (Canadian-based Ecobee beat it by two years), it was nonetheless a game changer that helped spawn a new market. Both Ecobee and Nest are still at it, but now face stiff competition from HVAC industry mainstays such as Carrier, Honeywell, Trane, and others.

If you're looking to smarten up your home, your thermostat is a good place to start and can help you save a considerable chunk of money by reducing your heating and cooling costs. However, not all smart thermostats are created equal; some are designed for simple heating and cooling systems and offer basic scheduling and programming options, while others are designed for complex multi-stage systems and will control heating, cooling, dehumidifier, and ventilation systems. As is the case with most smart home devices, prices vary depending on features and capabilities. Read on to find out what to look for when shopping for your smart thermostat, and our favorite models we've tested.

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Smart thermostats offer a variety of features that will not only help keep your home comfortable, but can reduce heating and cooling costs. The most basic models are relatively inexpensive, but are still equipped with Wi-Fi circuitry that allows you to connect the device to your home network and the internet. They can be controlled from a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet using a free mobile app, and some models also let you control things from a web browser.

Basic controls allow you to raise and lower the temperature, create a seven-day heating and cooling schedule, override the schedule if you or a family member will be returning home early, and turn the system on and off. Nest thermostats take scheduling a step further; they track your daily comings and goings, as well as heating trends over time, and create a heating and cooling schedule based on when you are usually home or away and what temperature you prefer during those times.

As is usually the case, you'll pay more for more features. A bright colorful touch display makes it easy to configure and program the thermostat and gives it a touch of style, and it can usually be read from across a room. Moderately priced thermostats like the Honeywell Lyric T5 display the current time and temperature until you tap the screen, at which point it will display temperature and menu settings, while more expensive devices such as the Nest Learning Thermostat contain motion sensors that will light up the display when you enter the room.

Many of the latest smart thermostats contain humidity sensors that will trigger an alert when it detects high or low humidity levels, and some models will display your local weather forecast. The Ecobee4 comes with wireless room sensors that measure the temperature in the room where they are placed to ensure that the room is heated or cooled to the house temperature setting. They also use motion detection to bring the room up to temperature when it is occupied and suspend heating and cooling when it is empty.

If you want your thermostat to automatically lower the temperature when you leave your house and kick back in when you arrive home, look for a model that supports geofencing technology. Geofencing uses your phone's location services to let the thermostat know when you have entered or exited a virtual perimeter around the house. Using the mobile app, you can set your preferred Home and Away temperatures and the thermostat will be triggered when you enter and leave the perimeter. Just make sure you have your phone with you when you leave the house.

Usage reporting is another helpful feature that lets you see a historical view of how often your system is running and how long it takes to meet its target temperature. Some thermostats even tell you what the outside temperature was at the time so you can see how it impacted your HVAC system. Other common features to look for include reminders for maintenance and replacing things like air filters, vacation scheduling capabilities, and power cycle alerts that let you know if your system is acting erratically.

If you have other smart devices installed around your home, look for a thermostat that will work with as many of those devices as possible. Nest thermostats work with other Nest devices such as the Protect smoke alarm and Nest Indoor and Outdoor cameras, as well as numerous third-party devices including smart switches, fans, and lighting systems. IFTTT (If This Then That) support is a popular feature that allows you to have the thermostat trigger, or be triggered, by other IFTTT-enabled devices or services. For example, you can create an applet that turns on a smart air conditioner when your thermostat reaches a certain temperature.

Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant voice commands are supported by many of the latest smart thermostats and allow you to do things like change temperature settings and find out the current temperature using your voice. Some of the most feature-rich smart thermostats out there, the Ecobee 4 and Ecobee Smart, have built-in Alexa voice control and can do just about everything that an Echo speaker does; you can ask them to play music from your Amazon library, get the latest news and sports scores, find out the weather forecast, change temperature settings, and much more.

Smart thermostats are usually very easy to install, but it's important to know how your system is wired before you begin. Always make note of your wiring before you remove your old thermostat, and if possible, take a picture. Most of the latest devices come with pre-printed labels that you can attach to the wires to help identify them during the installation. You should also know what type of system you have as you'll be asked to enter that information during setup. Commonly supported HVAC system types include gas, oil, electric, propane, forced air, and radiant.

Most smart thermostats can be used with multi-stage heating and cooling systems, but if you'll be controlling other components such as whole-house dehumidifiers, heat pumps, and ventilation systems, make sure you select a thermostat that supports those devices. In fact, if you have a complex multi-component HVAC system, it's a good idea to have a professional HVAC technician install the thermostat for you to avoid damage to your system.

Another factor to consider is whether or not your system contains a C (common) wire, which is used to supply constant power to the thermostat. Almost all smart thermostats require a C wire to work, but older houses with older heating systems usually don't have a C wire because older thermostats did not require one. Some smart thermostats come with a power extender kit that you can install yourself to supply power to the device. Other devices, including Nest thermostats, can be installed without a C wire, but will steal power from the furnace control circuits in order to provide enough power to keep the internal battery charged. While this usually works without issue, it has been known to cause problems with certain HVAC systems and may actually cycle on the system in order to steal power. If you'd rather not take a chance on frying your furnaces circuit boards, you can have a professional technician run a C wire for around $150 or so.

Between installation and the device itself, the cost of a smart thermostat can carry a significant premium over a traditional model. But keep in mind that it can actually save you money on heating and cooling costs over time, not to mention the flexibility it provides when you're both in and out of the house.

Pros: Advanced Alexa functionality. Remote room sensor. Dual-band Wi-Fi. Lots of third-party integrations. Easy to install.

Cons: Pricey.

Bottom Line: The Ecobee Smart Thermostat With Voice Control is loaded with features including Alexa support, a touch display, a remote room sensor, and interoperability with lots of other smart home devices.

Pros: Embedded Alexa voice service. Remote room sensor. Works with other connected devices. Easy to install.

Cons: Pricey. Middling audio quality.

Bottom Line: Built-in Alexa voice technology, integration with other connected home products, a remote room sensor, and numerous wiring options make the Ecobee4 the smart thermostat to beat.

Pros: Sleek design. Easy to install. Loaded with features. Interacts with other Nest and third-party devices. Support for Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT.

Cons: Lacks remote room sensors. Pricey.

Bottom Line: The third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat has all the smarts of its predecessors and adds some new features including a larger display, geofencing support, a furnace monitor, and a few more sensors.

Pros: Easy to install. Remote room sensor. Works with Alexa, Cortana, and Google voice commands. Dual-band Wi-Fi.

Cons: No HomeKit support. Doesn't integrate directly with other Honeywell smart devices. Limited IFTTT functionality.

Bottom Line: The Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat is a dual-band Wi-Fi thermostat that uses long-range sensors to provide uniform temperatures throughout your home.

Pros: Easy to install. Stylish design. Geofencing support. Mobile app and Web browser support. Lots of scheduling options.

Cons: Lacks remote room sensors. Does not support IFTTT.

Bottom Line: The Lux/Geo Wi-Fi Thermostat offers plenty of scheduling options and uses geofencing to automatically switch between heating modes depending on your location, but it lacks some of the useful features you'll find in competitors.

Pros: Stylish, customizable design. Easy to install. Supports multiple voice platforms. Works with Apple HomeKit. Usage reporting. Geofencing.

Cons: Does not integrate with other smart home devices. Lacks IFTTT support. No external room sensors.

Bottom Line: The Lux Kono Smart is a sharp-looking, HomeKit-enabled thermostat that you can control with a number of voice assistants or with a thoughtfully designed mobile app.

Pros: Reasonably priced. Easy to install. Stylish design. Works with other Nest and third-party smart home devices. Supports Alexa and Google Home voice commands and IFTTT applets.

Cons: Frosted display can be difficult to read. Does not support as many HVAC components as the Nest Learning Thermostat. No remote sensors.

Bottom Line: The Nest Thermostat E offers most of the same smart features as its more expensive siblings, but it can't control complex multi-stage HVAC systems.

Pros: Easy to install. Large color touch screen. Works with Alexa. Threshold alerts.

Cons: Doesn't integrate with other smart home devices. Lacks IFTTT support and geofencing capabilities.

Bottom Line: The Bosch Connected Control BCC100 is a serviceable thermostat that you can control from anywhere, but it's not quite as smart as its competitors.

Pros: Reasonably priced. Uses geofencing. Supports Siri and Alexa voice commands. Easy to install.

Cons: No motion or humidity detection. Lacks usage reports. No IFTTT support (yet).

Bottom Line: The Honeywell Lyric T5 is a reasonably priced smart thermostat that works with Apple HomeKit and can be controlled with Siri and Amazon Alexa voice commands, but it lacks many of the features you get with more expensive models.

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The Best Smart Thermostats for 2020 - PCMag India