Smart Home Blog

AlertMe decided to change their strategy and dropped monthly fees for their energy monitoring service as well as to embrace open standards for their ZigBee powered wireless hub. The aim is to give consumers an universal way to control their homes over the Internet. At the same time AlertMe launched updated version of their SmartEnergy Kit. Its price stays at £49.99 but now includes a free in-home colour LCD display (it was £29.99 optional extra before) and not monthly fees. Also company is going to offer a Heating controller which is already completed but not ready for selling.

Personally I like new approach of AlertMe. The security system of energy monitoring system shouldn’t have mandatory dependences with online services. It have to be optional. It should just have a way to integrate it with other systems, online services or something else.

[via AutomatedHome]

Rainforest Automation – producer USB ZigBee dongle and ZigBee powered energy meter chose Energy Calendar by Empower Software as a user interface to give consumers an effective way to control their energy consumption. See the full press release after break.

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It isn’t enough setup sensors and measure energy consumption to reduce waste of energy. You should have a clear visual representation of those measurements.That roundup might help you to choose correct tool or at least gives some idea for that. Personally I like The Energy Detective aka TED. Because it gives you ability to use it standalone or integrate into some smarthome system. Also don’t forget Google PowerMeter which isn’t mentioned by some reason in that roundup.

So, choose right energy monitoring tool for you and be green!

AlertMe announced new version of its home energy management products and services. Now Energy Starter Kit will include Colour Display unit but the price will be still the same – £49.99. The same kit but without display will costs just £29.99. To see the measurement data a new iPhone application can be used. It allows to you to save money and have possibility to see energy consumption directly on your smartphone.

Also note then AlertMe is an official partner of Google’s service PowerMeter. So, you can monitor energy consumption online from any Internet-enabled PC.

Another interesting information is about possibility to measure gas and water consumption. As I understand it’s just a matter of connection specific sensor to the system (I suppose it should be ZigBee device). If so, you’ll full information about energy, gas and water consumption in one place.

Good news for all UK inhabitants who’d like to control their electricity consumption. Producer of DIY home security system AlertMe announced its new product – AlertMe Energy which will be supported by Google PowerMeter service. The AlertMe Energy contains two parts – Meter Reader clipped onto the home’s electricity meter to measure the energy consumption, and Hub plugged to the into the home broadband connection to transmit received data from the meter to the AlertMe web service and now – to the Google PowerMeter. The Meter Reader and Hub communicate each other via ZigBee.

The price of the AlertMe Energy is £69.00 and £2.99 per month for the online service. Well, personally I like TED 5000 more because it doesn’t need any subscription fees. But it can be used in US only as I understand. In any case the partnership with Google is a clever move for AlertMe. Because their security system is too expensive taking into account its limitations. New energy monitoring product can help AlertMe get more customers and keep existing ones.