‘SmartThings Energy Control’ gets energy data out of the smart meter and into people’s hands
Samsung and Bulb today announced a new tool to help people understand their energy usage, and use this information to make smarter, greener decisions at home. ‘SmartThings Energy Control’, a service that runs within the SmartThings app, helps people with smart meters monitor their energy use in (almost) real-time from the convenience of their smartphone or tablet. A simple, free to download app-based service, SmartThings Energy Control enables people to monitor their energy use and connect to their smart tech in a more dynamic, useful way.
SmartThings Energy Control is an exciting evolution of the smart home. It represents an important step forward in the way people connect energy usage information and their carbon impact with practical, everyday actions like switching on the washing machine. With the ability to see detailed, up-to-the-minute information about energy usage via the app, and with the power to share that data with everyone in the household, SmartThings Energy Control gives people the power to make informed choices about their energy consumption.
Teg Dosanjh, Director of Connected Living, Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, commented:
We know that up to 40 percent of UK carbon emissions are created in the home[. While smart meters help increase awareness of energy usage, digital technology can help to create the behaviour changes required to really make a difference to people’s pockets and their carbon footprint. With SmartThings Energy Control, we’re taking energy data off the wall and putting it into people’s hands. This innovation takes us into a new era of smart when it comes to energy management. It’s about enabling access to that data in a way that feels natural to people so households are more empowered to make informed decisions about how to reduce and when to use their energy.”
Hayden Wood, CEO of Bulb, commented:
“Smart meters are a foundational element in making energy simpler, cheaper and greener. To make the most of them, our members need useful digital tools to help them understand their energy usage. That’s why we’re excited to announce this new tool which will help our members to use less energy, save on their bills and lower carbon emissions.”
Demand for power is at its peak between 4 and 7pm in the UK. Energy at this time is expensive and carbon-intensive, as this high demand is met mostly by burning fossil fuels. In the next few months the app will integrate with Bulb’s Smart Tariff and advise members how much they’ll be able to save if they shift some of their energy use out of the peak hours, the most expensive parts of the day. As well as reporting on how much energy usage costs, the app will also provide data on carbon intensity so households can make greener decisions about when to use energy. Running pre-set oven programmes or dishwasher cycles outside of peak hours will help people to use energy at greener, cheaper times, helping members to save on their energy bills and lower their carbon impact.
With millions of SmartThings enabled devices already in homes across the UK, and hundreds of compatible partners, SmartThings Energy Control is a natural next step for people looking for opportunities to make meaningful changes to how they use energy at home. From making sure the lights are out when leaving home to scheduling the washing machine to run cooler with the Laundry Planner, the app makes it easy and more convenient to make a change for the better by adding control to all connected at-home appliances and tools.
In addition, SmartThings Energy Control is not just a service for the bill-payer as it enables the whole household to get involved and individually see the impact of collective changes day by day. By working together, the whole household can reduce their overall cost and carbon impact without compromising bill-payer privacy or control.
SmartThings Energy Control has been developed in partnership with Chameleon Technology, a leading smart energy technology company in the UK. Chameleon provides the cloud-connected smart in-home display, and enables the data connection to the SmartThings Energy cloud.
SmartThings Energy Control is available today to current members of Bulb with a second-generation smart meter installed. These members can simply download the SmartThings app on an iOS or Android device and get going. Bulb also welcomes new members who’d like to sign up for affordable, renewable energy. These members will need to have a second-generation smart meter installed before they can use the SmartThings service. Not all homes are suitable for smart meter installation.
Find out more about SmartThings Energy Control at: https://www.samsung.com/uk/smartenergy