Nest Labs today announced a slimmer Nest Learning Thermostat with a larger, high-resolution screen and an updated interface.

Four years after debuting the original Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostat, the California-based company returns with its third model. It sports a high-res 229ppi display that's 40 percent larger than its predecessor, making it easier to see from a distance. The new Farsight technology, meanwhile, wakes the thermostat from a distance greater than the normal 3 feet, so you'll never have to leave the couch or your bed to read the temperature.

Another new perk is Furnace Heads-Up. Most furnaces automatically shut off to avoid overheating, but unless you're constantly visiting the boiler to check its readings, you may miss vital signs of distress. With Furnace Heads-Up, once per season, the Nest Thermostat will look for shut-off patterns that may indicate a persistent problem. It will be available for first- and second-generation devices later this year.

Third-gen Nest users, meanwhile, can expect familiar features, including integrations with the Nest Protect smoke detector and Nest Cam security camera.

The third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat is available today for $249 via Nest and Amazon, and will soon reach Best Buy, the Google Store, Lowe's, The Home Depot, Sam's Club, Target, and Verizon Wireless.

Plus, Nest has discounted the second-gen model, on sale at select retailers for a new price of $199.

Nest is adding a few partners alongside today's rollout, including Direct Energy, Sun Edison, Infinite Energy, Reliant Energy, and ADT.

In February, Nest Labs touted the results of two independent studies that revealed an average customer savings of $131 to $145 per year thanks to Nest products, a 10 to 15 percent reduction in annual heating and cooling bills. "Millions of Nest homes around the world have saved approximately four billion kilowatt hours of energy compared to what they would have used if they'd left their thermostats at a consistent temperature," Maxine Veron, Nest's head of hardware product marketing, said in a statement.