Homey has launched a new item. The brand known for its smart home hub, also called Homey, has now expanded its offerings with the Homey Energy Dongle. This compact device is designed to help track electricity consumption in homes, aiming to reduce energy usage and lower costs.
Pricing and Availability
Customers can preorder the Homey Energy Dongle directly from the company for €39 (approximately US$41). At this moment, Homey is only taking orders from specific countries, including the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, and Hungary. For those interested, it’s best to visit the official website to see if it’s available in your area.
Installation and Compatibility
The Homey Energy Dongle is meant to be connected to the P1 port of a smart meter. Homey states that this port is found only on smart meters in the mentioned countries. On their website, Homey provides a compatibility test. Even if your smart meter's P1 port is already in use by another device (like a dongle from your energy supplier), you can still utilize the Homey Energy Dongle, thanks to its integrated splitter.
Once it’s set up, the Homey Energy Dongle transmits data regarding your home's energy use directly to the Smart Home system. One thing to note is that you will need a Homey Pro (from early 2023 or later, priced around US$350 on Amazon). This smart hub processes the incoming data, allowing users to see an analysis and summary of their electricity consumption. Moreover, there are plans to support dynamic electricity tariffs starting in early 2025.
Smart Automation Features
Using the data collected, various smart automations can be triggered. For example, homeowners with solar panels on their rooftops or balconies can automate the powering of devices, such as charging electric cars and bikes, whenever energy is being sent back to the grid. Additionally, Homey claims that the Energy Dongle can work alongside smart gas and water meters to monitor their usage effectively.
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