Smart Home Blog

There is a plenty of ways to measure and control the power consumption in the individual houses or apartments. In my mind, the best is TED so far. But new product of Cali-based startup FutureDash called EnergyBuddy has all chances to be better. The main square box indicates the power consumption level by different colors. It has Ethernet and WiFi module to connect to your network. Power measurement is done by clips with module for whole house or SmartPlug module for specific device/appliance. Both transmit data to the EnergyBuddy using ZigBee wireless technology. Additionally to color indications you can use smartphone, tablet or PC to see different kinds of graphs and charts as well as control SmartPlug modules remotely.

The EnergyBuddy can be pre-ordered at Indiegogo. So, don’t miss a change to be one of the fist EnergyBuddy owners and help FutureDash release it in production.

[via Engadget]

The Owl is a small but useful device which allows to measure energy consumption in your home easily. It contains three parts: sensor, sender box and remote monitor. To setup the Owl just clip the sensor around the live outgoing cable. Plug the sensor cable to the sender box and activate it. After that you will see some data on the LCD display of the remote monitor. Actually it show how much electricity is being used, how the cost of electricity per hour changes and how much harmful CO2 emissions the home is producing. Using the Owl you may save up to 25% of your electricity usage – a saving that translates directly to reducing your monthly bill and households’ harmful carbon emissions.

The Owl shows a full picture for your home. But sometimes it might be useful to use something like Kill-a-Watt to know how much energy is used by specified home appliance – fridge, microwave or home theater in stand-by mode.

You can buy the portable energy monitor Own here for £49.95. If you have a multiple phase (i. e. 3-phase) installations you have to buy additional sensor (£8.95).

[via eHomeUpgrade]

Smarthome should not only help to automate some routine operations but it has to save energy as well. Here is a list of seven devices which offer you possibility to measure en energy consumption.

• Kill-a-Watt. I already wrote about that useful gadget. It should be plugged into an outlet and then an appliance should be plugged into the Kill-a-Watt. This way you’ll able to see the real-time energy consumption of that appliance.
• Elecrtisave is a portable a whole-house monitor. It contains a two parts: measurement module which transmits data to the display by radio frequency. The price of the Elecrtisave is about £50.00.
• TED (The Energy Detective) is also a portable system for whole-home energy monitoring system. Its features and price are similar to Elecrtisave – $140 USD.
• Wattson is a whole-home energy monitoring system. It’s stylish and allows to record measurement history. Just connect the display unit to the PC via USB port and use Wittson software. The price of the Wattson is £125.00 including software.
• PowerCost Monitor is also a whole-home energy monitoring system. It also includes two parts: a sensor and a display. The PowerCost Monitor doesn’t give a possibility to connect to the PC. Instead of than it shows pick consumption for the last 24 hours, emulator of outside meter disk, current and total spent amount and outside temperature. The price of the PowerCost Monitor is $135.00 USD.
• EML 2020 is another a whole-home and individual appliance energy monitoring. Included software and USB cable for computer tracking of data it allows to measure the power consumption of individual 110/120V plug-in appliances or the total energy consumption of your home. For advanced features you should pay $629.00.
• Home Joule is an energy monitor of new generation. It not only shows an energy consumption but it also calculate its cost according to current energy price. That price is received from the regional market where you live or (if available) from advanced metering in your space. The Home Joule is not released yet. So, there is no any words about its price and availability.

If you have a pool you should know how difficult to keep it clean. iRobot Verro can care about cleaning but Wireless Pool Monitoring System may help you to catch the time when the pool robot should do its work. The system contains two parts: floating pod and wireless display. The floating pod includes sensors for water temperature, pH, and chlorine level. It takes measurements at the same 18″ depth recommended by the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals. The sensor pod and display can communicate up to 45 meters away from each other, so you don’t have to step outside each time you want to check on your pool.

To be sure that your pool is clean just spend $399.95.

[via Ubergizmo]

Oregon Scientific offers its Wireless Temperature and Humidity Data Logger – WMR101. It allows to monitors indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, as well as heat index and dew point. The unit also includes radio controlled atomic clock. It allows to add up to 9 indoor or outdoor temperature and humidity sensors.

Additionally, you may add Virtual Weather Station to receive weather information to your PC via USB and share it through your web site.

The Wireless Temperature and Humidity Data Logger WMR101 is tagged at $89.90 including main wireless unit, one thermometer/hydrometer sensor and Virtual Weather Station software.