Summer is a time for picnics, trips to the beach, and long days in the sun. When it's time to go inside, air conditioning systems help lower the temperature and keep uncomfortable humidity at bay.
In 2016, smart devices are taking off. From bulbs 4 ways Philips Hue can take your lighting to the next level 4 ways Philips Hue can take your lighting to the next level Without Philips Hue, however, the smart home concept may never have gotten off the ground. Here are some cool ways to make use of them. Learn more about major appliances, many of the newest products on the market are now controllable from anywhere in the world. Not surprisingly, there are now smart air conditioners on the market. Should you spend your money on these? It's time to find out.
Home air conditioning methods take many forms, from centralized systems that control the entire home to individual units mounted on a wall or in a window. Floor units are also becoming popular thanks to their portability. For now, there are not many companies that offer intelligent air conditioning systems. Of those that are, the products are not yet available everywhere.
Samsung eg SmartThings owner The Coolest Smart Gadgets Compatible with a SmartThings Hub The Coolest Smart Gadgets Compatible with a SmartThings Hub The SmartThings hub connects wirelessly with hundreds of compatible smart devices, allowing you to monitor, control and protect your home from anywhere in the world. Read More On the air conditioning front, the company offers a series of smart wall units. Each of these features Smart Wi-Fi lets you monitor and change power settings from anywhere, and Smart Check, where you can diagnose errors and request service right away. Unfortunately, these smart wall units are not available in major consumer markets such as the United States.
The Window Based Frigidaire Gallery Smart Room Air Conditioner It is available in many places. It features Wi-Fi control, which allows you to control a room anywhere, anytime from your smart device.
Frigidaire Smart Window Air Conditioner, Wi-Fi, 8,000 BTU, 115V, Compatible with Alexa Frigidaire Smart Window Air Conditioner, Wi-Fi, 8,000 BTU, 115V, Compatible with Alexa Buy Now On Amazon $329.99
Finally, there is the first smart conditioner on the market, the GE Aros , which arrived in 2014. This product tracks your daily usage so you can adjust settings to save on energy costs. Plus, the GE Aros learns from your schedule, weather, and budget to cool off when you need it.
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The biggest drawback of the limited number of smart air conditioners is the price. For example, an 8,000 BTU smart air conditioner from Frigidaire retails for $429. A similar “dumb” unit is $299. You'll also find that smart air conditioners are only available in lower BTU levels. The Frigidaire Gallery and GE Aros Smart Room Air Conditioner are available with 8,000 BTUs only.
A BTU or British thermal unit is a traditional unit of work equivalent to approximately 1055 joules. It is the amount of work required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
Not impressed by the current list of smart air conditioners? Don't stress, because we're about to show you how to turn traditional units into smart units.
Sensibo It turns any remote controlled air conditioner into a smart device, helping you reduce your energy consumption. Sensibo features a Smart Pod and Hub. The first is placed directly on your air conditioning unit; the latter connects to your home router via an Ethernet cable. You control the air conditioner via a free Sensibo smartphone app.
Do you have more than one air conditioner? Add more Smart Pods.
Sensibo is known for its easy setup and ability to add more air conditioning units simply by installing a new Smart Pod on the home network. Also, Sensibo works with IFTTT, which adds more flexibility.
IFTTT, or “If this is so, then IFTTT Recipes That Help You Save Money IFTTT Recipes That Help You Save Money IFTTT can be used to do just about anything, and saving money is no exception. Here are some of the best recipes to help you live more frugally. Read More ” is a free service that allows everyday users to create chains of statements, called “recipes,” that are triggered based on changes in other web services like Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Here are some of the Sensibo recipes available on IFTTT:
A single Sensibo bundle, consisting of a Smart Pod and Hub, is available for $199. A starter kit, with two Pods, is $318, while a starter kit with three Pods is $437. Smarts Pods additional ones cost $130.
The Tado smart thermostat controls your air conditioning (or heating) via infrared, just like your remote, and connects via your Wi-Fi to the Internet. As a bonus, it regulates the air conditioning based on whether someone is home using geolocation control.
Better yet :Tado supports Bluetooth and iBeacon, allowing you to monitor the movements of users within the home. As residents move, Tado adjusts the temperature in each room. By doing so, empty rooms are cooled to high temperatures.
Tado is also compatible with IFTTT. Among the recipes:
Tado supports window, wall, and mobile air conditioners. Like Sensibo, Tado starts at $199.
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Already a Samsung SmartThings The coolest smart gadgets compatible with a SmartThings hub The coolest smart gadgets compatible with a SmartThings hub The SmartThings hub connects wirelessly with hundreds of compatible smart devices, allowing you to monitor, control and secure your home from anywhere in the world. Read more owner? You can control your air conditioner remotely with products like the GE Smart Wall Switch. With this switch, you can turn the lights on/off from your smart devices, and also activate the lights when certain events occur. For example, when someone opens a door or leaves a room. The switch also works well with ceiling fans, which can turn on/off depending on the room temperature.
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There are many SmartThings compatible products on the market to monitor, control and secure 3 ways to protect your family and home with SmartThings presence 3 ways to protect your family and home with SmartThings presence Do you want to use the technology to support your loved ones? sure? See what a SmartThings Presence can do to keep an eye on your home. Read More New products arrive every month. For an up-to-date list of compatible products, check the SmartThings website.
The number of native smart air conditioners on the market is still low. However, thanks to tools like Sensibo and Tado, you can turn everyday air conditioners into smart ones, for less money and extra flexibility.
