Smart home use cases for a more relaxed everyday life.

From a flat to a house: settle in without remembering everything

Your bag is packed and the family is waiting by the door. Is an upstairs light still on? Is the study window open? These routines are often new after moving into a house. A shared overview by the exit can bring checks together and show what still needs attention. Discuss the support you would find useful at your first planning meeting.

1. Find your way at night

A quick trip to the bathroom at night, without searching for a switch or waking others with bright lighting: a gentle orientation light shows the way.

Scope

Simple

Trigger

Movement in the hallway during the agreed night-time period.

Sequence

A dimmed orientation light switches on, then off after a delay. A wall control can override it at any time.

Your benefit

Find your way more easily in an unfamiliar house with as little disturbance as possible at night.

Requirements

A suitable sensor, dimmable lighting and an agreed brightness threshold; test coverage and the dimming level on site.

2. Central off: leave with peace of mind

You are already at the front door and would rather not walk through every room again. “Central off” switches off agreed loads. An additional window overview can point out the open study window, for example. You know where to check before leaving with greater peace of mind.

Scope

Simple; connected with a window overview

Trigger

The “Central off” button by the exit or a deliberately activated “Leaving home” scene.

Sequence

Selected lights and approved switched sockets turn off. Refrigeration and essential loads stay powered. An additional overview can show reported open windows and unknown states. Personal tasks such as taking out the bins can be provided separately as manually confirmed reminders.

Your benefit

Fewer separate checks and less to keep in mind. A shared overview also helps when several people are leaving together.

Requirements

Agreed loads and suitable contacts on monitored windows. Missing or outdated reports must remain apparent. An opening contact does not automatically confirm locking; reminders are not measured states.

3. Coordinate shading with sunlight and room use

You are working or away while sunlight moves from room to room. Coordinated shading can take repeated adjustments off your hands. Manual controls remain available when you prefer something different.

Scope

Connected

Trigger

Strong sunlight on the relevant facade and an agreed need for shading.

Sequence

Blinds move to an agreed position. Residents can intervene; weather protection and defined interlocks take priority.

Your benefit

Fewer interruptions and privacy and solar shading that suit how the rooms are used.

Requirements

Suitable drives and sensors, clear priorities and weather/protection logic agreed with the contractor.

4. Warmth that suits your rooms and daily routines

You prefer a warm bathroom in the morning and a cooler bedroom. Meanwhile, the sun is warming the living room. Rather than choosing one setting everywhere, agree on how each room should feel, including when residents have different temperature preferences.

Scope

Connected

Trigger

Agreed usage times, measured room temperatures and personal settings.

Sequence

Coordinated room controls take account of preferred temperatures and the heating system’s capabilities. Slow-response underfloor heating needs planning ahead. Residents can adjust their preferences using understandable controls.

Your benefit

Feel more comfortable in your rooms with fewer manual adjustments. Different preferences become part of the plan.

Requirements

Suitable room sensors and controls, plus appropriate heating design. Heat distribution also needs to work mechanically; a scene cannot replace that design.

5. Start a film night with the atmosphere ready

You settle onto the sofa and turn on the TV. The bright ceiling lights dim and a warm lamp sets the mood. Nobody needs to get up again or open several apps. The scene follows your preferences, whether for a film, a conversation or a quiet evening.

Scope

Intermediate to connected

Trigger

A “Film night” scene from a button or app; alternatively, a supported TV power-on signal.

Sequence

Selected lights dim to agreed levels. Suitable fittings can change to a warmer colour temperature. Agreed general lighting can return when the scene ends; manual adjustments remain available.

Your benefit

Create a cosy setting with one action and enjoy the evening together.

Requirements

Compatible dimming and suitable fittings and controls for adjustable colour temperature. Automatic activation by the TV needs an appropriate integration. Warm lighting can also use a fixed warm-white lamp.

6. Simulate occupancy while on holiday

On holiday, you want to unwind rather than organise lighting times every evening. An occupancy simulation takes care of agreed routines. It complements burglary prevention rather than replacing it.

Scope

Intermediate to connected

Trigger

A deliberately activated holiday mode within agreed time windows.

Sequence

Selected lights and, where appropriate, shading follow plausible routines with varying timings. The simulation ends when you return.

Your benefit

Go away with less to organise; selected routines continue and the home looks less obviously unoccupied.

Requirements

Suitable controls, checked routines and an easy off switch. The simulation does not operate arbitrary appliances such as cookers or portable heaters.

7. Coordinate heating with your own solar generation

Example: a heat pump supplies water-based underfloor heating. Available PV generation can help provide heat that is needed anyway at a suitable time.

Scope

Across building services

Trigger

Usable surplus PV generation and an actual heat requirement within agreed comfort limits.

Sequence

A coordinated energy management system can bring heat production forward through a supported interface. Temperature limits and the heat pump’s own controls remain authoritative.

Your benefit

More of your own solar electricity can supply necessary heating; lower grid demand and operating costs are possible.

Requirements

Generation and consumption metering, suitable interfaces and coordinated electrical, heating and energy design. Account for underfloor heating inertia, flow temperatures and cycling.

8. Coordinate vehicle charging, heating and other loads

This goes beyond switching one device: several loads share available power according to understandable priorities.

Scope

Across building services

Trigger

Changing PV output, current household demand and a planned vehicle departure time.

Sequence

Energy management distributes power according to agreed priorities, for example between the charger and heating. An essential minimum vehicle charge can take priority.

Your benefit

On-site generation and flexible loads can be coordinated more effectively.

Requirements

Compatible metering and controllable devices, suitable power limits, agreed priorities and defined operation without the supervisory controller.

Electric floor warming differs from underfloor heating with a heat pump

A direct electric heating mat, for example for bathroom comfort, is a different application from water-based underfloor heating supplied by a heat pump. Plan electric floor warming separately with demand, operating times and temperature limits. A PV signal alone is not a reason to generate extra heat with no useful purpose.

Costs and the environment: check the actual benefit

Connecting functions does not automatically save energy. Factors include avoided grid purchases, lost export income, extra investment and heat losses. Assess operation before and after a change using measurements. Financial and environmental benefits depend on which energy is displaced and whether unnecessary extra consumption is avoided.