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April 15, 2024

Embrace Green Routines with SmartThings Energy

As Earth Month continues, SmartThings Energy and our Works with SmartThings certified partners will help keep your smart home sustainable and efficient. People today are more deliberate in their energy use, but we may not always know how to be more efficient with our everyday devices and appliances, like heating and lighting.  Are you looking to build better energy routines but not sure where to start? First, activate SmartThings Energy in the SmartThings app. This service tells you which devices take up the most energy, offers tips to save energy with (AI) Energy Mode, and assists in automating your routines for maximum efficiency. Next, read through our tips to build green routines you can start now. Windows & Shades Windows contribute 25%–30% of the energy consumed for heating and cooling in residential spaces due to heat gain and heat loss. With the inconsistent weather this time of year, you may be fiddling with your windows and AC more often and may forget the status of every window.  Fortunately, Aqara’s Door and Window Sensor will alert you if a window is left open, so you remember to close it before you leave the house. Their smart curtain controllers save you energy, too. Natural light from the sun may warm up your home, leading you to turn up the AC. Aqara’s curtain controllers allow you to easily open and close the curtains from wherever you are, using the SmartThings app. Smart Plugs Forget to unplug the coffee maker before work? With Eve smart plugs and power meters, you never have to worry about wasted energy again. Use SmartThings to control these Matter-compatible devices from anywhere, track their energy consumption, and even set timers for them to optimize energy usage. By monitoring individual devices' power usage and monthly costs, you can make informed decisions to lower utility bills. For example, create a routine that triggers plugged-in appliances to switch on and off based on whether someone is coming or leaving home.  Smart plugs also reduce “phantom power” - the electricity devices drain even when you think they’re off. Dimmers & Switches If you forget to turn off a light before leaving a room or going on vacation, turn it off from wherever you are in the SmartThings app, thanks to TP-Link | Kasa Smart light switches and dimmers.  Create a routine to automatically toggle a switch upon detecting someone entering or leaving a room and activate the switch when it detects motion. SmartThings and our innovative partners will help reduce your carbon footprint, cut down on electricity bills, and make your smart home as comfortable and kind to the planet as possible.  This Earth Month, do #DoTheSmartThings and download the SmartThings app in the Google Play or Apple Store to activate SmartThings Energy and build a greener, more sustainable home.
April 8, 2024

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint with SmartThings Energy 

It’s Earth Month, which means now is the best time to activate a sustainability routine with SmartThings Energy.  Did you know? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average American shells out $2,000 every year on energy bills. But guess what? Some of that money could be going down the drain because of how we use energy at home. With SmartThings Energy, you can save money while creating automated energy-saving routines. Enjoy peace of mind knowing you're making your home and the planet better for you and your family. Read on for tips on how to get the most out of SmartThings Energy, your smart appliances, and devices that work with SmartThings. What is SmartThings Energy? Ever wish you had a personal energy assistant? That’s SmartThings Energy. Available in the SmartThings app, SmartThings Energy helps you take control of your carbon footprint and cut your energy bills by letting you check your home energy use from anywhere.  Use the service to manage the energy usage of any of your devices that work with SmartThings, create energy-saving routines, get impactful energy-saving tips, and use AI Energy Mode to maximize your energy use. Besides helping your devices run smarter, SmartThings Energy also supports you in larger energy-saving efforts. In times of high energy demand, energy suppliers may charge you higher rates, known as Demand Response. With SmartThings Energy, you can configure your #smart devices, such as your Nanoleaf lights, TP-Link plugs, and smart thermostat, to run less during these peak times. This not only cuts your energy bills but also helps the environment.  SmartThings Energy can also help you leave more money in your pocket. By simply monitoring and cutting down on your home energy use, you could score cash rewards and lower your utility bills with our energy savings programs! Stay tuned to learn more. What is AI Energy Mode? Artificial Intelligence (AI) Energy Mode is an innovative feature within SmartThings Energy, which can save you up to 70% of energy consumption on select products and cycles. AI Energy Mode learns your routines and adjusts your devices to save energy without you lifting a finger. It uses machine learning to recognize when your energy use goes beyond the targets you've set in SmartThings Energy. Plus, it gives you insights into why it happened. Let’s look at some of the ways AI Energy Mode helps with your everyday routines. Washer & Dryer: From your workout clothes to the kids’ athletic gear, it can feel like you’re constantly doing laundry, which means you're using a lot of water. Thankfully, AI Energy Mode optimizes your Samsung Bespoke Washer & Dryer. The Bespoke AI Washer adjusts wash cycles based on load size, potentially reducing energy usage by up to 70%. Meanwhile, the Bespoke AI Dryer monitors temperature and humidity, with AI Dry potentially cutting energy usage by up to 20%. Refrigerator: Your fridge is a major energy consumer in your home, running constantly even when you're not there. But what can you do about it? Turn to AI Energy Mode. It ensures you’re using your Samsung Bespoke Refrigerator efficiently by optimizing compressor speed, defrost cycles, and temperature settings, potentially reducing energy usage by 15% during operation and an additional 15% when not in use. Whether you're out of town or simply away for a while, rest assured that you're conserving energy while keeping your groceries at their ideal temperature. Air Conditioning: Typically, 43% of a home utility bill goes to heating and cooling. Now, with many of us working from home, our AC usage tends to increase, especially as warmer temperatures approach. With AI Energy Mode, your Works with SmartThings thermostat becomes smarter, adjusting settings based on your usage patterns, room temperature, and humidity. No need to compromise your comfort to save energy. TV: Whether you’re watching a movie at night or the baseball game during a bright, sunny Sunday with your Samsung Frame TV, AI Energy Mode ensures you always have the perfect brightness for the best viewing experience. Activating AI Energy Mode triggers your TV’s processor and sensors to detect and analyze your room’s environment and adjust the relevant settings, potentially saving up to 20% energy. No more fiddling with brightness settings. Plus, if you accidentally leave the TV on in another room, it automatically dims its brightness when it detects no viewers for more than two hours. This is just scratching the surface of what SmartThings Energy can do for you. Any way you use it, SmartThings Energy takes care of the little details so you can focus on what truly matters—living your life to the fullest. This Earth Month, #DoTheSmartThings and download the SmartThings app in the Google Play or Apple Store to activate SmartThings Energy and start living a more sustainable life.  
April 3, 2024

SmartThings and LIFX Introduce the New Era of Home Lighting Experiences

With homes becoming more connected than ever, SmartThings and LIFX are revolutionizing the way consumers experience their living spaces.  Through their collaboration, the companies are emphasizing the 'futuristic' experiences you can create today, right at home. Users can experience situations like stepping into their kitchen after a long day at work and being greeted by the perfect ambiance of lighting, their favorite playlist in the background, and a carefully curated selection of recipes and cooking tips suggested by their Samsung devices awaiting them. The collaboration between SmartThings and LIFX is not just about illumination; it's about creating immersive lighting experiences for day-to-day activities, without even having to think about it. LIFX’s Smart Lighting meets SmartThings Smart Home Connectivity With LIFX's unique 'SuperColor' technology, users can bring the most potent, stunning lighting moods together with sounds, creating a synchronized experience with other devices in their smart home ecosystem. No matter your users’ routines and schedules, SmartThings and LIFX aim to elevate everyday moments into enjoyable experiences. This integration allows for the creation of personalized experiences, tailored to specific lifestyles. Recently, LIFX launched an outdoor range of lighting options which creates additional opportunities for consumers to personalize their outdoor setup with SmartThings. From indoor ambiance to outdoor enjoyment, the possibilities that users have to personalize their lighting experience are endless. Outdoor lighting options include string lights, path lighting, spotlights, and flex edge lighting. Driven by the mission of empowering users, this partnership aims to adapt their home environments to suit their ever-changing needs, moment to moment. SmartThings and LIFX are paving the way for highly dynamic lighting experiences by seamlessly integrating smart devices with these innovative features. The impact of effective lighting also goes beyond aesthetics - more than just decoration, lighting serves as a powerful environmental cue that influences mood, productivity, and overall health. By enabling lighting shifts tied to different home experiences, SmartThings and LIFX are introducing a level of smart home automation that has the potential to transform how we perceive and interact with our surroundings. In addition to the purpose of revolutionizing home experiences, the partnership was formed with sustainability in mind. All lighting products use LEDs, meaning they require a fraction of the energy use and cost of older technologies such as incandescent.  Through the use of energy-efficient LED technology, the products also offer reductions in energy consumption and cost compared to traditional lighting options. With the average cost to run their LED products significantly lower, the partnership not only benefits consumers financially but also contributes to a more sustainable future. By fusing technology and design, the companies are empowering users to unlock the full potential of their homes, shaping the future of smart homes and redefining what it means to live in a connected world. Together, SmartThings and LIFX are working towards creating smarter, more intuitive living spaces for consumers.
January 31, 2024

Q&A: SmartThings and Loop on the Road to a Sustainable Future

With the rise in extreme weather events, increasing droughts, inflation, and energy prices going through the roof, people are more concerned than ever with their carbon footprint’s impact on the world—and their utility bills. Head of SmartThings, Mark Benson said it best: “Sustainability is at the core of everything we do.” SmartThings is always building and partnering with innovative, user-centric solutions for a more sustainable future. This commitment is exemplified through SmartThings Energy, a comprehensive energy management solution in the SmartThings app, and our recent partnership with Loop Global. Loop is the first Electric Vehicle (EV) charging company within the SmartThings network. Now, users can control Loop’s advanced, user-friendly EV chargers conveniently and sustainably. In our latest X (Twitter) Q&A, we chatted with Loop Global to discuss our partnership, how their products work with SmartThings, and more. Browse the highlights below or keep reading for the full conversation. The Highlights SmartThings: What makes Loop and your chargers different? Loop: Here at Loop, we are building the next-generation energy network. Our goal is to become a global leader in the electrification of transportation by bringing to market a suite of smart, simple, and affordable electric vehicle charging solutions for everywhere drivers go, whether at home, at work, or on the go.  Loop: For new or existing SmartThings users, how do you go about setting up Loop chargers in the app? SmartThings: Getting set up is simple! Download the SmartThings app on your phone, click “Connect” and search for devices. You can then establish routines, or customize existing routines, to get the most out of your smart home. SmartThings: Sustainability is hugely important to us and our SmartThings Energy initiative. We know it is just as important to you. Tell us more about your sustainability efforts. How can smart charging solutions contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability? Loop: With Samsung and SmartThings integrations, Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers can set up optimal charging schedules from their car, their office, or anywhere they have service with their mobile phone. This lets drivers start charging when the cost of energy is the lowest, and it helps reduce load on the energy grid. Not only does this help the environment, but it also helps the driver’s bottom line!  Our full conversation with Loop SmartThings: We’ve got some burning questions for you! First up, what makes Loop and your chargers different? Loop: Thanks for having us. Here at Loop, we are building the next-generation energy network. Our goal is to become a global leader in the electrification of transportation by bringing to market a suite of smart, simple, and affordable electric vehicle charging solutions for everywhere drivers go, whether at home, at work, or on the go.  SmartThings: Thanks for that introduction. Which of your products works with SmartThings? Loop: Nearly all of our Level 2 charging solutions are compatible with SmartThings. Our EV-Flex Lite is our most popular at-home option, but we also provide our cellular-enabled EV-Flex and our new EV-Flex Plus, featuring 40 amp charging capacity. For new or existing SmartThings users, how do you go about setting up Loop chargers in the app? SmartThings: Getting set up is simple! Download the SmartThings app on your phone, click “Connect” and search for devices. You can then establish routines, or customize existing routines, to get the most out of your smart home. Loop: That’s great! And will this process work for all of our products? SmartThings: Yes! The process to set up any Loop products is the same. We love making things easy! Loop: Easy is best! So, how do Loop products work with other smart home devices within the SmartThings app? SmartThings: Our goal is that everything works together seamlessly so you can get the most out of our app and the SmartThings experience. Once you are connected, you can control all Loop products from your smart devices.  On that note, is there a limit to the number of chargers that can be connected to the SmartThings app? Loop: Nope! Once connected to the app, Loop will find all home chargers and automatically populate them within SmartThings!  SmartThings: Sustainability is hugely important to us and our SmartThingsEnergy initiative. We know it is just as important to you. Tell us more about your sustainability efforts. How can smart charging solutions contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability? Loop: With Samsung and SmartThings integrations, Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers can set up optimal charging schedules from their car, their office, or anywhere they have service with their mobile phone. This lets drivers start charging when the cost of energy is the lowest, and it helps reduce load on the energy grid. Not only does this help the environment, it also helps the driver’s bottom line!  Switching gears, let’s talk about trends. What are some emerging trends in the evolution of smart homes? SmartThings: We see the future of smart homes and smart products evolving with more powerful automations that simply just work and smart home technology as a way to uplift your everyday living and meaningful moments. The next 5-10 years will mean working with partners, like Loop, to streamline and advance the future of smart living. So, where can SmartThings users learn more about Loop and your products?  Loop: Our blog is the best place to learn more about our products and what’s next. Visit https://blog.loopglobal.com/ or send us a DM with any questions!  Last question from us! Where can EV drivers learn more about SmartThings and how to integrate our chargers?  SmartThings: Make sure you are following SmartThings on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram or you can learn more about our partners on our website: partners.smartthings.com. Huge thank you to our partners at Loop Global for joining us today! If you have any questions on how Loop Works With SmartThings, reach out! Loop: Thank you, SmartThings! Visit partners.smartthings.com for more about Loop Global and additional partners, products, and services.
September 7, 2023

SmartThings Energy: New Partnerships and Enhanced User Experience Features 

In today's fast-paced world, where energy consumption is a pressing concern, we’re leading the charge in revolutionizing energy management—and are excited to introduce a range of new features for our SmartThings Energy service. These enhancements are designed to give you greater control over your energy usage and redefine the way you interact with your smart home, all while ensuring convenience and efficiency. Read on to learn what’s new with SmartThings Energy. Electricity Maps Partnership We’ve teamed up with Electricity Maps, a renowned service that provides visual representations of electricity sources and associated carbon dioxide emissions. Through the integration of Electricity Maps within the SmartThings app, you can learn about your electricity’s origin and carbon footprint with ease, and use this data to make informed decisions about your energy usage. Start taking the next step towards more eco-conscious living. Expansion of Supported Devices In addition to supporting connected Samsung appliances, TVs, and third-party devices, SmartThings Energy is now also compatible with most smart plugs, thermostats, and lights. With this expansion, we’ve made it easy for users to connect a broader range of energy-consuming devices with their "Away" mode. Rest assured that your devices are automatically turned off when not in use, reducing unnecessary energy consumption. Enhanced Automatic Demand Response (DR) Functionality Our SmartThings Energy update comes with advanced automatic Demand Response (DR) features, allowing users enrolled in energy savings programs to manage their devices more intelligently. Before, users would receive notifications of a DR event and manually adjust their devices or set up automations.  Now, with the latest update, you can set up your smart devices and SmartThings Energy will automatically adjust them, turning off lights or plugs, and activating more economical modes for thermostats or Samsung appliances that feature AI Energy Mode. Partnership with Resideo to Unlock Energy Savings If you live in California, you’re in luck. SmartThings Energy users in The Golden State can now enroll their homes with Resideo's energy program to enjoy cash rewards. By participating in the program, you can receive up to $100 via gift card when you're approved for the program. Energy costs are at their highest, however, our partnership with Resideo lets you earn rewards for reducing energy use when the grid needs it most, helping your community's grid reliability. Enhanced User Experience and Energy Savings With a dedication to innovation and a greener future, we’re taking energy management to the next level. Our SmartThings Energy updates and partnerships were designed to give you greater flexibility and convenience when it comes to managing your smart home devices, ultimately leading to significant energy (and financial) savings. And this is just the beginning. To unlock the full suite of energy management capabilities, activate SmartThings Energy in the SmartThings App, or visit https://www.smartthings.com/smartthings-energy to learn more.
May 9, 2023

Tips for saving energy at home

You may worry about your energy bills during peak seasons. Use SmartThings Energy to check your energy usage in real-time and lower your bills. Don’t worry about your electricity bill SmartThings Energy's [AI Energy Mode] makes you wisely manage the energy usage of your home appliances. The AI controls the energy usage of air conditioners and other home appliances in power saving mode before reaching the target. Now you don’t need to worry about your energy bills anymore. Avoid unnecessary energy usage Nothing is worse than paying for energy you don't actually use. It’s not eco-friendly, either. Try enabling [Energy management while away] in SmartThings Energy. It alerts you to avoid unnecessary energy usage while you're away. Manage easily overlooked devices at a glance Manage even small devices that are often used at home but are easily overlooked, such as hair dryers, fans, and irons, with Smart Plugs. You can manage energy by specifying the real-time usage of products connected to Smart Plugs as well as the usage time. It enables any device to save energy with SmartThings.
April 21, 2023

SmartThings Energy: Empowering Users to Manage Their Energy and Earn Rewards

As more of us connect more things to the power grid, from appliances and TVs, to smart blinds and cars, energy demand keeps going up. And when many of us use energy at the same time — like when we all turn our coffee makers on in the morning, plug in cars after work, or run the dishwasher after dinner — that demand can be more than the grid normally supplies.  To deal with this, utility providers may have to generate that additional electricity using older or more carbon-intensive methods. Or they will sometimes charge more for energy during these “peak” demand periods to encourage people to reduce their energy. This is often called “Demand Response”. Most consumers want their utility bills and carbon footprints low, but it can be hard for the average user to keep an eye on their energy use, let alone control it! This is where SmartThings Energy comes in. As a first-of-its-kind ENERGY STAR-certified Smart Home Energy Management System (SHEMS), our service allows users like you to reduce demand on the grid during peak and emergency situations, lower your energy costs, and manage and automate the energy use of any compatible smart devices within your home. How do we do it? SmartThings-enabled Samsung appliances, along with a growing number of Works With SmartThings devices, allow you to measure and manage your energy use through the SmartThings app. To take this to the next level, we’ve partnered with utility providers and grid-service programs to help you manage your energy costs, earn rewards, and help reduce energy demand across the grid.  SmartThings users in eligible areas can now get real-time insights and suggestions on how to manage their consumption during peak demand periods — and earn cash rewards for participating in demand response programs. Unlock Energy Savings and Improve Grid Reliability  If you’re a New York or California resident, activate SmartThings Energy in the SmartThings app and enter your zip code to see if you're eligible to participate in our demand response programs with Logical Buildings and Enersponse. By participating, you'll receive cash payments, save on your utility bills, and reduce the carbon footprint of your connected home devices. And, as a plus, you’ll provide measurable support to your community via demand response services such as load shedding during peak demand, helping to reduce the need for carbon-intensive peak energy generation.  Once registered, you’ll be notified in real-time if you’re using energy during peak hours and can take action to reduce your consumption immediately. Think: delaying the use of your dishwasher or switching to a more efficient mode. While you may not realize it, these actions can significantly offset your overall energy costs— and can lower demand across an entire zip code! The Future of Energy Management is Here We’re working hard to enable additional demand response and utility programs to connect our users to, with the goal of empowering you with more visibility and control over your energy use. SmartThings Energy is more than a service – it’s a powerful tool that makes it easy for you to take control of your energy usage, reduce your carbon footprint, and contribute to a more sustainable future. Ready to take action? Visit https://www.smartthings.com/smartthings-energy to learn more about our energy initiatives.
September 6, 2022

SmartThings Energy Awarded for Global Sustainability Efforts

In July 2021, we launched SmartThings Energy to revolutionize the home energy category. Today, we are extremely proud to announce that SmartThings Energy has been recognized by the Business Intelligence Group as a 2022 Sustainability Award winner in the Sustainability Service of the Year category. The Sustainability Awards honor people, teams and organizations who have made sustainability an integral part of their business practice or overall mission. By reporting actual energy consumption data and analyzing usage patterns, SmartThings Energy empowers users to reduce energy costs and contribute to a greener future.  This recognition not only reinforces SmartThings’ position as a leader in smart energy solutions, but also demonstrates the importance we place on improving consumers’ household energy IQ and building a better, more eco-friendly tomorrow. According to judges, the company’s vision and strategy will continue to deliver results toward a cleaner, more sustainable world.  SmartThings’ Global Commitment to Energy Efficiency  The global scale of SmartThings Energy is what makes it truly unique. Overall, the energy industry is highly regionalized, making it difficult to enact wide reaching policies and programs. With the launch of SmartThings Energy, Samsung integrated with regional energy partners to deliver significant impact around the world starting in Korea, the UK, Germany, the U.S., and India.  SmartThings Energy has rapidly grown its user base and expanded its reach through collaborations with many companies including, Constellation, Logical Buildings, and Oracle Utilities. The platform is free for anyone to download and supports 2022 Samsung appliances, in addition to several Works with SmartThings (WWST) OEM smart meters, making it easier than ever for consumers to engage in eco-friendly habits. By combining mature features on the SmartThings platform with Samsung energy-efficient products and intelligence, SmartThings Energy empowers homeowners across the globe to act and make a change – whether switching to a new energy provider or increasing awareness of their overall carbon footprint.
November 11, 2021

Discover Even More Eco-Friendly Home Solutions with SmartThings Energy

In an effort to provide our users with more eco-friendly home solutions, SmartThings is expanding its SmartThings Energy platform with new features that will allow users to make greener decisions. These new features include whole home energy monitoring and individual device monitoring, as well as the ability to participate in an energy switching market place. The new features build on the existing services to help manage household energy use, save money, and contribute to a lower carbon footprint. Originally launched in the U.S. in July 2021, SmartThings Energy has revolutionized the home energy category and represents Samsung's commitment to a more sustainable future. By combining the features on the SmartThings platform with Samsung energy-efficient products and intelligence, SmartThings Energy empowers users to make smarter decisions about their energy consumption, helping them make a difference and reduce their carbon footprint. With the original release, SmartThings Energy allowed users to monitor energy usage from compatible Samsung appliances, discover consumption data, and get energy saving tips. Now, SmartThings Energy has expanded and partnered with Copper Labs, Eyedro and Wattbuy in the United States. With these new partnerships, SmartThings Energy now provides: Whole energy home monitoring: Copper Labs offers wireless real-time energy monitoring management solutions by providing its customers with the data insights needed to optimize their energy consumption. Through SmartThings Energy, users are able to monitor and report whole-home energy consumption in real time through the SmartThings App. This integration also allows homeowners to set up automations based on energy costs or demand response events.Individual device/disaggregated energy monitoring: Eyedro energy monitors measure energy consumption data from specific devices on a home’s energy meter, and allow users to measure energy consumption from specific, high-energy consuming devices, such as HVAC systems, pool pumps, and water heaters.Energy switching marketplace: WattBuy provides a platform for SmartThings Energy users in relevant markets to save money or go with renewable sources by offering options with their home electricity. Users get personalized recommendations for the best suppliers available in their areas and can make a switch for services in a few clicks. SmartThings Energy continues to attract users around the US and the world, empowering users to make smarter decisions about energy consumption and making it easier than ever to engage in eco-friendly habits.