LAS VEGAS — A heating vent might not be the sexiest home accessory to update, but a new high-tech option lets you control each room individually and save big on energy costs along the way.

A new smart vent from Keen Home on display at the 2015 International CES in Las Vegas lets you control each vent, so you're not wasting energy—and money—on areas that don't need as much attention.

In most cases, a home's thermostat controls the heating and cooling systems in a one-size-fits all way. If you're blasting the heat, it typically warms all rooms, including ones you don't use that much (and often not at optimal times), such as an office at night or a bedroom during the day.

Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani

While a single family home can have 25 vents throughout, the overarching concept is to replace four to six in rooms that you'd want to control. Installment seems easy enough: You unscrew the existing vent and pop in a Keen Home version, which comes in four sizes. The vent is retrofitted to work with both standard and smart thermostat options.

As of now, it works with smart platforms like the Lowe's Iris system, Samsung's SmartThings platform and Wink. It's also in development to work with the Nest smart thermostat.

Each vent costs about $85, and because you'd likely want a few in the home, the investment isn't cheap. But over time, it could pay for itself, considering heating and cooling makes up 50% of a homeowner’s energy bill.

According to studies conducted by Keen Home across 25 homes in the U.S., the planned opening and closing of vents could result in a 10% to 20% reduction in monthly heating bills, depending on location (For example, Texas residents may use the air conditioner more often than people in Colorado, so the Texans may see more savings).

The product also comes with a faceplate (and the option to buy more, for $20 each) to dress up the vent. Vanity vents typically cost up to $180 each, but Keen Home's alternatives, which come in wood and a modern take on white plastic, cost significantly less. Keen Home is also in talks with 3D printing company Shapeways to offer 3D vent covers, too.

But consumer education about the product may be a hurdle: While the smart home category is considered the next big innovation in tech, getting consumers on board with the trend and outfitting their homes with new technology is a challenge companies continue to face.

BONUS: What is the Internet of Things?