Asklemmy

I use smart bulbs and they're really handy since you can put them on a schedule and change their color. For example I used a smart outlet to run some grow lights so I could grow some seedlings and turn them on before I wake up. Have porch lights on a timer.

But other than lights I haven't seen any use cases I care about.

It’s new, shiny, and trendy. It for me, personally, I like being able to have certain lights turn on and off at certain times automatically. I love the idea of being able to control thermostats from my phone. And then there are the less that backlight my tv. Those are purely cosmetic, but such fun because they match the colors on the screen.

I'm using home assistant with thermostats and humidity/temperature sensors mostly to get information how the house heats and how the rooms are affected by humidity and temperature changes.

I also automated two dehumidifiers with those sensors and zigbee plugs to not run 24/7 but in defined windows when the noise isn't bothering anyone and if the humidity triggers certain thresholds. The automation also has hysteresis sesstongs so the devices do not constantly turn on and off.

In general I don't automate to a point where I can just flick a switch or turn on something manually. But it is nice to be able to control and see everything.

Here is a list of some practical uses so far:

• Get a notification on the phone when the washer is done.
• Charge the car when electricity is cheap
• Turn on humidifier if sufficiently humid and no motion near it for a while
• Automatically lock the front door at night
• Toggle lights with a shortcut key on the keyboard
• Change target thermostats for different rooms and different time of day.

Also nice to learn about the house:

• Breakdown of electricity usage. (How much actually goes to heating, car, etc)
• Answer questions like "When did I really go to bed last night?". Etc