The rising costs of heat and electricity are driving the use of smart home applications that increase energy efficiency in the home. According to a representative survey by the digital association Bitkom, a quarter of people in Germany already use smart radiator thermostats. Last year it was only 17 percent and in 2020 15 percent.
For example, smart heating and hot water solutions can detect if someone is home and regulate temperatures accordingly. They also regulate the temperature according to whether the room is ventilated or not. As a result, the heating generally consumes significantly less energy than when it is controlled by hand, explains Bitkom.
Even in the middle of summer, the smart home can help to save energy, for example with intelligent shutters or blinds, which are lowered automatically in bright sunlight, thus reducing air conditioning consumption. A fifth (21 percent) of those surveyed already use smart roller shutters or awnings, compared to 13 percent in 2021. A fifth (21 percent) also use smart or Wi-Fi connections to avoid constant standby mode of, for example, a television.
“Smart home technologies can make a very tangible contribution to using less heating energy and electricity,” says Bitkom president Achim Berg. They are much more than a technical gimmick. “They increase energy efficiency, provide more safety and ultimately increase the comfort and quality of life in your own home.” Intelligent heating and cooling technology is not only worthwhile for homeowners. Smart thermostats can also be installed in rented apartments in a few simple steps and can simply be taken with you when you move.
In total, 43 percent of all people in Germany have at least one smart home application in their four walls. This continues the trend of recent years: in 2020 this was still 37 percent and in 2018 only 26 percent.
Smart home focus on IFA
Smart home applications take center stage at the IFA technology show, which kicks off this Friday. In the “IFA Smart Home Special Area”, exhibitors will mainly show devices and applications that work with the new Smart Home command standard “Matter” and the new wireless technology “Thread”. The standards developed by major technology groups such as Amazon, Google, Apple and Samsung together with smart home specialists such as Eve, Bosch and Signify should ensure that previously existing isolated solutions are replaced by an all-encompassing language.
“There is coming this fall and Eve is ready to go,” said Jerome Gackel, CEO of Eve Systems. The Munich-based company was one of the first smart home manufacturers worldwide to rely on the new standards. This means that language assistants and smartphones from different smart home ecosystems such as Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Samsung SmartThings can also control a wide variety of smart home devices.
Amazon executive Chris DeCenzo promised a “frustration-free installation” of all Matter-enabled Thread devices at IFA. “The launch of Matter is a critical milestone on the journey into the future of connected everyday life,” said Samsung CEO Mark Benson, head of SmartThings in the US.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
