The Smart Home Journal III brings a series of updates and improvements to our current smart home setup. In last month’s Journal, we noted our Nest Protect units need to be replaced with a new system once they reach the end of life. This month, we share the news that it is the end of the road for the Google Nest Learning Thermostat in Europe.
Table of contents
Fortunately, we are currently using two third-generation thermostats, giving us time to explore alternative options. If you have any recommendations for a UK-compatible thermostat that integrates with both HomeKit and Home Assistant, please share them in the comments below.
The Smart Journal III: New Posts:
The smart home blog posts this month feature the new hardware we have added to our smart home this month.
Aqara Smart Lock U200: Installation Guide and Tips
xBloom Studio: Perfect Your Pour Over Coffee
Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1 – Easy Retrofit Smart Blinds
Aqara W100: Accurate Climate Monitoring with Smart Automation
Chipolo Pop: Easily Track Your Everyday Essentials
We purchased two Aqara Climate Monitoring W100 devices for their accuracy in reporting environmental data however, the nine different automations we can trigger using their Matter-compatible buttons is a real bonus.
Other Smart Home News:
Nest Learning Thermostat: The End of the Road in Europe
Eve Energy Gains ‘Works with Home Assistant’ Certification
Home Assistant Dashboards Update
Building on the Home Assistant Energy Dashboard and the Home Assistant Weather Dashboard, I am now developing an Internal Environment Dashboard. The goal is to create a single, comprehensive space for monitoring all aspects of the home.
This will include temperature, carbon monoxide, smoke detection, humidity, lock status, motion activity, and window/door status.
Eve Home – Home Assistant
On the topic of Home Assistant the recent announcement that Eve Home has now been awarded ‘Works with Home Assistant’ status. We have been using Eve Products ever since they were Elgato and making terrific little TV adaptors.
Air Quality Focus
One of the most striking graphs from my new Home Assistant Environment Dashboard is the air quality monitor. It’s fascinating to observe the daily impact of a single person’s use of aerosol deodorant. You can see the graph below.
If you have any thoughts on this, I’d be interested to hear them in the comments. Should we be concerned about the impact these products have on indoor air quality?
I’ve also updated several automations based on internal environmental data, including notifications for open windows when I leave a designated zone.
The Smart Greenhouse Update
The Smart Greenhouse is now in full grow mode, with more chilli plants than I could ever need. I’m currently fine-tuning the automations to deliver a 90-second watering at sunrise, triggered only when the soil reaches a specific moisture level.
arly indications show I am using significantly less water than last year, which is a promising trend. As the season progresses, I plan to refine the watering strategy further by incorporating additional data . This may include greenhouse temperature, humidity, and soil moisture levels.
The greenhouse system automations are currently managed through the Ecowitt app. The irrigation system remains the only piece of hardware I haven’t yet integrated into Home Assistant.
The same limitation applies to the Eve Aqua, which is part of another watering project. Hopefully, we’ll see Matter-compatible irrigation systems become available in the near future.
Smart Home Journal III: Links:
Smart Home News
The Smart Home Journal II
The Smart Home Journal I
Nest Learning Thermostat: The End of the Road in Europe
Eve Energy Gains ‘Works with Home Assistant’ Certification
About the Smart Home Journal
The Smart Home Blog Journal will provide a monthly update on our smart home maintenance, improvements, and new installations. Stay informed about the latest smart home technology advancements, system upgrades and troubleshooting tips. The journal will also address any optimisations we have explored to enhance our connected home experience.
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