Recent Articles

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.
January 20, 2023

Samsung “Does the SmartThings” at CES 2023

We brought “Calm” to CES 2023, with an up-close look at how SmartThings can seamlessly integrate into your daily lives through our latest innovations. While many of our announcements stood out among exhibitors, the new SmartThings Station received the most buzz and excitement from both the media and industry. Want to know more? Read on for all of our highlights and stand-out announcements. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwHVc9bzle0&t=2s Bringing Calm to Our Connected World We believe your smart home should work for you — and create a sustainable, safe, convenient (and even fun) living environment. While we have big dreams for what a calm connected world looks like, we demonstrated it at CES through the onboarding experience. In 2023, when you buy a Samsung device, SmartThings will simply ask you if you want to add it to your connected home. Instead of several steps to onboard the device, you only need to answer yes or no, making it more convenient for you to experience connected, smart living. Hub Everywhere Furthering our mission for Hub Everywhere, we introduced two new Matter-capable hubs for 2023: our TVs and the new SmartThings Station, a compact, wireless charger that also doubles as a hub to connect your smart home devices and create routines. Ready for bed? Just program the Station to automatically turn off your lights and TV for a custom night routine. Sustainability Saving energy matters now more than ever, which is why we’re placing sustainability at the core of our user experience. At CES, we announced our initiatives for sustainable living and commitment to making Net Zero Homes a reality with SmartThings Energy — a tool that’ll give you real-time data on your energy, water, and natural gas usage to help you reduce your carbon footprint (and your monthly energy bill). Because of our sustainability efforts, our connected home experience is the first mass-market Smart Home Energy Management System (SHEMS) to earn Energy Star certification. SmartThings in the News With an emphasis on our innovative technology and smart home solution, we received many awards and accolades during CES 2023. One of the most notable is the “Best of CES” award from Engadget for our ability to control connected devices throughout the home seamlessly. We also earned the “CES Innovations” award from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) for making smart home technology more accessible and user-friendly. The accolades didn’t stop there. Cementing our status as the most versatile and comprehensive smart home solution on the market, we were featured across top-tier, tech and consumer media outlets including Bloomberg, The Verge, CNET, TechCrunch, Men’s Journal, and USA Today’s Reviewed. CES 2023 was a success, and we could not have done it without our partners, customers, and employees. Stay tuned for more updates on our latest products and innovations, as we further our commitment to creating one simple home system with a world of possibilities.