SmartThings for Smart Homes
Samsung’s SmartThings Energy answers the demand for decarbonisation, energy saving and better connectivity. It offers property developers, managers, and homeowners greater control, cost savings and insight to support the move towards net zero.
Reducing energy consumption and making the transition to renewable energy are top priorities in Europe. The buildings sector is a key contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, representing 35% of energy-related EU emissions in 2020.1 Samsung Climate Solutions is making a major contribution, supporting the EU European Green Deal climate targets with its Eco Heating Systems (EHS).
The smart home
But Samsung is much more than heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC.) It is a consumer electronics champion, an Internet of Things (IoT) leader, and it is recognized by Interbrand, a global brand consultancy, as one of the top five in the Best Global Brands 2022.
GSMA Intelligence, the research arm of a mobile-industry trade body, predicted in 2018 that the smart home will represent by far the largest category of consumer IoT.2 Samsung has spent several years developing its SmartThings Energy service and it has already rolled out the service in 32 countries, with another 32 due to reap the benefits this year. SmartThings Energy offers the ultimate home energy management systems, and real energy savings through rich insights, energy saving automation, and support for users to move towards a net zero home.
Wim Vangeenberghe, President Samsung Electronics Air Conditioner Europe, says, “SmartThings Energy redefines what HVAC can achieve in the home. Now, users can monitor and manage their total energy consumption, as well as that of individual appliances such as heat pumps or air conditioning units. This offers three huge benefits: they can reduce their energy consumption, possibly lower their energy bills, and make a personal contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
The path to saving energy starts with understanding in detail how much you spend and where you spend it. SmartThings Energy provides consumers with an overview of total current consumption, and consumption per appliance. Samsung’s tremendous range of home products – HVAC, smart TVs, washing machines, fridges, ovens and mobile – can all be connected and controlled via SmartThings. By the end of 2023 every Samsung product will be wireless-enabled so it can report its energy consumption. Up to 70% of a home’s energy use can be accounted for with these products.
The power of partnerships
It doesn’t stop there. Since SmartThings is an open ecosystem, consumers can also connect over 5,000 devices from more than 350 partners, ranging from Ikea roller blinds to Philips light bulbs to QCells solar panels. SmartThings also supports all smart home technologies like Matter, Zigbee, and Zwave. “Our philosophy is to work with all relevant brands,” says Emre Evinc, “even those that might be considered competitors. The concept of a smart home only works if it’s open. So, brands like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Bosch are part of the network.” For those products that are not enabled, the user can connect them to the system with a SmartPlug, making measurement of energy usage as inclusive as possible.
In control
SmartThings Energy puts control into the user’s hands. Appliances can create maximum savings based on the homeowner’s targets. Emre Evinc is excited about the intelligence built into SmartThings Energy. “In AI Energy Mode it learns from your habits – for instance, during dinner time when the refrigerator is opened and closed frequently, it waits until later before powering up the compressor. It’s the cumulative impact of thousands of moments like this that makes the difference.” For consumers who want to generate and store their own power, SmartThings Energy can monitor solar energy production and battery storage. It switches appliances to use stored energy, or in Energy Saving Mode, helps the consumer reach their optimum spending for the month. All this insight, automation and control is accessed from a single, award-winning app that’s already had 500 million downloads.
Making the difference
So, what difference does SmartThings Energy make? For builders and developers, it helps meet energy regulations and qualify for government funding. With one app they have integrated control of residential units. For property owners and managers, it means less maintenance and labour with connected appliances. Integration provides greater efficiency, and they can profit from residents willing to pay a higher rent for smart home technology. Residents and homeowners can enjoy the benefits of a connected lifestyle, greater control over energy costs and practical help as they move towards a net zero home.
A peek into the future
The final word comes from Emre Evinc: “One of the developments we are working on with several big partners is demand response. This enables connected appliances – including heat pumps and cooling solutions – to use energy in an intelligent way, taking fluctuations in tariffs but also in weather conditions into account. It’s something governments are pushing too because it plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between supply and demand within the existing power grid. There’s strength in numbers. Being able to switch off a heat pump in millions of homes – without loss of comfort for consumers – for just five minutes, for instance, can make a huge difference. We expect to launch demand response for SmartThings Energy in the course of 2024.”
