The SmartThings Blog

Are you looking to save money, energy, and earn rewards automatically? Who isn’t! With Samsung’s Demand Response (DR) Program, Flex Connect - available directly within the SmartThings app - eligible users can automatically reduce energy consumption by switching devices to power-saving mode during peak grid demand. What is Flex Connect? Flex Connect allows Samsung appliances, TVs, and other connected devices to adjust theirenergy usage during peak demand peak demand times, using a feature called DR Energy Mode,built into the app to give users the ability to reduce energy use when the grid is under strain,helping to balance the grid while reducing costs at home. Samsung's Flex Connect program became available to eligible users in California and New York in June of 2024, to eligible users in Texas in December of 2024 and is now available to users across the Mid-Atlantic and greater Chicago. Signing up for Flex Connect means when an energy event occurs, SmartThings automaticallyoptimizes energy consumption across opted-in devices for users who have enabled DR EnergyMode in the app. This activation not only helps users save energy during crucial times, it alsotriggers a $50 Flex Connect reward – directly into the user’s Samsung account! Flex Connect works with a variety of energy-saving devices, from thermostats to Samsungwashers, dryers, and more – intelligently adjusting the device’s settings based on the weatherand grid, ensuring efficient energy use while keeping your home comfortable. It’s energy saved– automatically! Together, Flex Connect users contribute meaningful energy reductions that help balance thegrid during peak demand, reducing the risk of blackouts and lowering overall grid emissions. It’sgood for the grid, good for sustainability, and good for your wallet! Check out the Works With SmartThings page for a full list of eligible devices. How do I get the $50 in Samsung Rewards Points? The reward is distributed after you are approved in the Flex Connect program and after one ormore of your connected devices participate in an energy event. Then, you’ll receive a notification in the SmartThings app letting you know your $50 in Samsung Rewards Points is available. Simply tap ‘Claim’ in the app, and the Samsung Rewards Points will be added to your Samsung.com account. You have 30 days to claim your points once the notification appears, but after claiming thepoints, they won’t expire. The frequency and timing of energy events vary based on locationand season, so keep an eye on your SmartThings app for updates. Earning Even More: About SmartThings Energy Stamps A $50 Flex Connect reward is just the start of what you can earn! (Not to mention the energyyou’re saving automatically, often leading to a reduction in monthly energy bills.) By using additional SmartThings Energy features, you can maximize energy savings and earneven more rewards. Features such as AI Energy Mode, Optimal Charging, and OptimalScheduling are available to all users—and when activated, trigger the accrual of Energy Stamps,which convert to dollars that can be spent on Samsung.com! Ready to take control of your energy usage?  It’s quick and easy to connect your devices to the SmartThings app: Open the SmartThings app and tap the 'Devices' tab. Tap the 'Home' icon and select your device’s location. Tap the ‘Add’ (+) button and choose 'Add Device.' For Bluetooth devices, tap ‘Scan Nearby’ or manually add your device. Follow the on-screen instructions, and you’re good to go! Download the SmartThings app in the Google Play or Apple Store to activate SmartThings Energy, and enter your ZIP code in SmartThings Energy to check your eligibility today. To learn more about Flex Connect and how you can save energy for rewards, visit https://partners.smartthings.com/energy-rewards. 

Now available in TX! Chances are, you’ve been experiencing some of the hottest weeks of the summer and are thinking about how to better manage your home’s energy use to save money on your utility bills. The good news is that SmartThings Energy offers many features that allow you to take advantage of automation to become a more efficient energy consumer. Flex Connect, available in California and New York, is one example of how SmartThings Energy’s AI Energy Mode feature automates user devices to help them save energy.  With Flex Connect, Earn a Reward for Helping Out the Grid The recently released Flex Connect program, a demand response initiative powered by SmartThings Energy, offers residents in New York, California and Texas a smarter way to save energy. By signing up for the Flex Connect program and connecting your smart home devices to the SmartThings app, you can earn a reward for helping the energy grid. All it takes is entering your zip code to see if you qualify to get started. How SmartThings Flex Connect Works SmartThings offers functionality that enables eligible users to connect Samsung home appliances, TVs, and other compatible devices through Flex Connect. During peak energy demand periods, these devices automatically reduce their energy usage. For example, when electricity demand surges due to extreme weather, your eligible smart home devices will consume less energy during these peak times.  This reduced strain on the grid helps balance the supply and demand of energy. Residents of California and New York now have even more ways to save energy while earning rewards effortlessly with Flex Connect. Click here to check your eligibility and enroll. How All SmartThings Users Can Take Advantage of SmartThings Energy Energy savings and the ability to earn rewards aren’t just available for New York and California residents. If you have Samsung home appliances, TVs1, and other compatible devices connected to SmartThings, you can take advantage of SmartThings Energy features available today, such as automation and energy usage data. Automations built into SmartThings Energy elevate energy-saving features to a whole new level. For instance, AI Energy Mode is an exciting feature that learns your routines and adjusts your device’s energy usage in real-time. It uses machine learning to detect when your energy use exceeds the targets you’ve set in SmartThings Energy and provides insights into why this happens, so you don’t have to lift a finger (and likely won’t notice the difference). With SmartThings Energy, you can also view energy usage data for all of your paired devices and learn how to optimize energy use in your home. For example, if you forget to turn off a light when you leave for work, you can be notified and turn it off right from the app. Thanks to Electricity Maps’ partnership with SmartThings, you can even see how your energy usage translates to carbon emissions. All of this helps you take control of your energy management.  Even More Ways to Have Fun and Save Energy With SmartThings Built into the latest release, you can now enjoy gamification elements, including earning Energy Stamps, for taking steps towards saving energy with the SmartThings AI Energy Mode feature. Once you’ve leveraged your supported devices in the app, you can earn one Energy Stamp per day for every 400Wh of electricity saved using AI Energy Mode. Each Energy Stamp can be converted into 20 Samsung Rewards Points. You can earn up to one Energy Stamp per day, totaling 365 stamps over the course of a year, which can accumulate to 7,300 Samsung Rewards Points. These points can be used to purchase products on Samsung.com. This is all just scratching the surface of what SmartThings Energy can do for you. #DoTheSmartThings and download the SmartThings app in the Google Play or Apple Store. Activate SmartThings Energy and start living a more sustainable life.

Living a sustainable lifestyle can often be tricky. That’s why we partner with eco-focused innovators like Electricity Maps to provide you with simple solutions right at your fingertips through the SmartThings app. Electricity Maps’ mission is to enable a data-driven decarbonization of electricity. By organizing and mapping real-time and forecasted electricity data, they provide individuals and businesses with the insights they need to make more intelligent decisions about their electricity consumption and reduce their carbon footprint. Users can access insights about their consumption in SmartThings Energy, a comprehensive energy management solution in the SmartThings app. In our latest LinkedIn Q&A, we chatted with Electricity Maps to discuss our partnership, how their solutions work with SmartThings Energy, and more. Browse the highlights below or keep reading for the full conversation.  The Highlights SmartThings: For those who are new to your brand, what is Electricity Maps?  Electricity Maps: Hey, SmartThings! Electricity Maps provides real-time and predictive electricity signals that unlock smarter electricity use for consumers to save carbon and cut energy costs. For example, the carbon footprint of the electricity a consumer receives in their power plug changes a lot during the day, depending on whether there is a lot of wind or solar power available.  Many devices have flexibility in when they consume electricity. Instead of having these devices charge or run at random times, we enable them to optimize their electricity usage to consume when the grid is powered by clean electricity. By sharing these insights with consumers, we help them understand the impact of their electricity use so they can make more sustainable choices.  That’s where the Electricity Maps API integration with SmartThings comes in! SmartThings: That’s right! We partnered with you to empower our SmartThings users with this insightful data in the SmartThings app!  The Electricity Maps API, integrated in 2023, connects seamlessly with SmartThings Energy to deliver real-time data to users on their carbon intensity levels. This allows SmartThings Energy users to make their home devices "carbon-intelligent," meaning their devices can automatically run at optimal times to lower carbon emissions. For example, Samsung devices, like the Jet Bot robot vacuum or the dishwasher, can be set to operate when renewable energy is more abundant on the local grid. Users can see these real-time insights on carbon intensity on a dashboard within the application to understand the impact of their green energy use and learn valuable tips to inform their energy management. SmartThings: Electricity Maps, can you explain how carbon intensity varies during the day? Electricity Maps: With more renewables being added to global electricity grids, there is more volatility in emissions, so much so that the carbon intensity of electricity varies more and more. How clean the electricity is at a given time depends on the availability of renewable energy and is often connected to the weather. Wind turbines can only operate with wind, and solar panels only work when the sun shines. This means that, for example, on a sunny day in California, the emissions of an EV charge can triple depending on when the car is charged. Our full conversation with Electricity Maps SmartThings: Hey, Electricity Maps! Thank you for joining us for a Q&A today. We’re excited to discuss SmartThings Energy, Carbon Intensity Data, and more with you. For those who are new to your brand, what is Electricity Maps? Electricity Maps: Hey, SmartThings! Electricity Maps provides real-time and predictive electricity signals that unlock smarter electricity use for consumers to save carbon and cut energy costs. For example, the carbon footprint of the electricity a consumer receives in their power plug changes a lot during the day, depending on whether there is a lot of wind or solar power available.  Many devices have flexibility in when they consume electricity. Instead of having these devices charge or run at random times, we enable them to optimize their electricity usage to consume when the grid is powered by clean electricity. By sharing these insights with consumers, we help them understand the impact of their electricity use so they can make more sustainable choices.  That’s where the Electricity Maps API integration with SmartThings comes in! SmartThings: That’s right! We partnered with you to empower our SmartThings users with this insightful data in the SmartThings app!  The Electricity Maps API, integrated in 2023, connects seamlessly with SmartThings Energy to deliver real-time data on the carbon intensity of local grids. This allows SmartThings Energy users to make their home devices "carbon-intelligent," meaning their devices can automatically run at optimal times to lower carbon emissions. For example, Samsung devices, like the Jet Bot robot vacuum or the dishwasher, can be set to operate when renewable energy is more abundant on the local grid. Users can see these real-time insights on carbon intensity on a dashboard within the application to understand the impact of their green energy use and learn valuable tips to inform their energy management. Electricity Maps, can you explain how carbon intensity varies during the day? Electricity Maps: With more renewables being added to global electricity grids, there is more volatility in emissions, so much so that the carbon intensity of electricity varies more and more. How clean the electricity is at a given time depends on the availability of renewable energy and is often connected to the weather. Wind turbines can only operate with wind, and solar panels only work when the sun shines. This means that, for example, on a sunny day in California, the emissions of an EV charge can triple depending on when the car is charged (explore carbon intensity variations in California). Can you explain where users can find Carbon Intensity data in the SmartThings App? SmartThings: Of course! Once a user downloads SmartThings Energy in the app and connects their smart energy devices, they can start seeing a cumulative report of their carbon emissions data. In SmartThings, getting to the carbon emissions aware content is as simple as clicking on the Life tab at the bottom of the main SmartThings app screen and navigating to SmartThings Energy, where users can scroll down to the ‘carbon emissions aware’ card. There, they can access and explore carbon emissions and carbon intensity data. These features can help users save emissions in their daily lives and save on their utility bills, too. Want to help break this down for us, Electricity Maps? Electricity Maps: Yes! Energy consumption in the home is a significant contributor to personal carbon emissions as well as household costs. By using more renewable energy and reducing carbon intensity, consumers can lower their environmental impact and save on energy bills at the same time. This is because renewable energy, which is low in carbon emissions, also tends to be cheaper.  We know SmartThings Energy has lots of cool features to help consumers manage their energy usage and automate their energy management, setting a new, elevated standard in the smart home and IoT space.  Can you tell us more about what SmartThings Energy is and what it can do for users? SmartThings: For sure. With SmartThings Energy, users get detailed data and insights on their home energy usage, analytics reports for daily energy usage patterns, and more, revealing energy savings opportunities. Cool features like AI Energy Mode take energy savings even further, allowing users to automate energy savings by selecting devices to participate in AI Energy Mode. Users can choose at which level the devices participate at and adjust their preferences at any time. Furthermore, users can earn energy stamps to save energy automatically, which can be converted to Samsung Rewards and spent on Samsung products! We’re so excited about this partnership. At SmartThings, we want our users to feel engaged and educated to create meaningful smart home experiences. The features within SmartThings Energy, including the carbon aware page, are another way we’re providing our users with education to better their way of life. Nowadays, SmartThings users can regularly engage with these insights into their carbon emissions.  Can you share what larger impact this can have? Electricity Maps: That’s awesome! Yes, at Electricity Maps, we envision a world where all electrical devices contribute to decarbonization by only consuming low-carbon electricity. SmartThings Energy features powered by this partnership allow users to save emissions each day. The collective impact of millions of SmartThings users optimizing their home devices this way is a great step in decarbonizing global electricity grids. SmartThings: That was very informative. Thank you to our partners at Electricity Maps for chatting with us today!  Electricity Maps: Thank you for having us, SmartThings!

Did you know that the carbon emissions from using or charging your smart home devices vary throughout the day? This means that using electricity when there is more renewable energy on your local grid — for example, on sunny days when there is a lot of solar power generated — can lower your carbon intensity and resulting emissions. Samsung SmartThings continues its partnership with Electricity Maps, established in 2023, to provide you with even more ways to access comprehensive data within SmartThings Energy to inform your energy usage. The integration helps you be more informed about your carbon emissions and enables you to actively reduce your impact based on these fluctuations and your energy habits. About Electricity Maps Electricity Maps is a fast-growing Danish start-up that plays a pivotal role in the global transition to a decarbonized electricity system by organizing and mapping real-time electricity data to compute and forecast carbon intensity for over 200 zones worldwide. Their API provides individuals and businesses with more data to make more informed decisions about electricity consumption. How it Works Electricity Maps offers an API that enables you to access historical and forecasted data on the electricity mix and carbon intensity in a specific region through SmartThings Energy. This allows you to monitor your carbon emissions based on your home's electricity usage. You can benefit from real-time information on your electricity usage, including details on energy sources and carbon intensity. Moreover, you can actively leverage this data to reduce your carbon footprint by utilizing features like Optimal Charging and AI Energy Mode, both available in SmartThings. The Benefits of the Partnership With the increase in consumers choosing more sustainable smart home purchases, SmartThings aims to offer eco-friendly solutions in the market that empower you to make more sustainable decisions and enable you to have a real impact by becoming a more informed energy consumer. Moreover, the integration with the Electricity Maps API has expanded the capabilities of SmartThings, linking appliance energy savings data to carbon emission reduction data. This integration allowed for the launch of pivotal features within the SmartThings app, like Optimal Charging and Optimal Scheduling. The AI Energy Mode can be set to activate based on the captured carbon intensity data, focusing on reducing carbon emissions. With these intelligent features, SmartThings leads the way in providing you with the information and tools to better manage your carbon footprint. View Your Carbon Emissions Data and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Electricity Maps provides global coverage, which means carbon emission insights and carbon-optimized charging and scheduling features are available to all users in the SmartThings app.  To view your carbon intensity data click here, or download the SmartThings app (if you haven’t yet)—available on iOS and Android—and navigate to SmartThings Energy.  In SmartThings, select the Life tab at the bottom of the screen to navigate to SmartThings Energy. Scroll down to the ‘Carbon emissions aware’ card, where you can access unique information on your carbon emissions. Ensure your Samsung appliances and smart devices are connected to obtain the most comprehensive data on your energy usage. Samsung and Electricity Maps, Making a True Impact “The carbon monitoring function using Electricity Maps is a unique solution where everyday appliance energy usage is directly linked to its carbon footprint,” said Barry Holland, Director of Product & Business Development at SmartThings. “We are excited to continue partnering with organizations focused on providing tools to inform consumers and enable them to reduce their carbon footprint.” “Electricity Maps is proud to continue working with Samsung SmartThings, paving the way to more sustainable homes,” said Olivier Corradi, CEO and Founder of Electricity Maps. “We're excited that our API’s carbon-intensity insights enable consumers to be more aware of their carbon emissions and to reduce their carbon footprint on a daily basis. The collective impact of millions of users optimizing their home devices will be a significant step toward decarbonizing the electricity grid.”

New features, same innovative SmartThings. Recently, SmartThings announced a suite of updates and exciting partner announcements, including: Shareable routines Enhanced hub functionality Matter 1.2 support New Device Control  SmartThings Energy enhancements These new advancements will make managing smart devices and routines even easier, reflecting SmartThings’ dedication to streamlining the connected home experience and removing the obstacles associated with smart home living.  Here’s a closer look at what’s new with SmartThings.   Unlock Smart Home Sharing with Shareable Routines Another leap forward in connecting your devices and the people you love, Shareable Routines is a new feature within the SmartThings platform that allows you to share your daily routines with others. This means you can easily pass on your automated sequences of tasks or actions to guests or friends, enhancing the overall usability and accessibility of these routines.  For instance, you may have a wake-up routine where your lights gradually turn on, your coffee maker starts brewing, and your favorite morning playlist starts playing. With Shareable Routines, you can easily share this routine with your friends or family who want to set up the same routine at their house. They can activate (and customize) the shared routine by simply scanning a QR code of the routine, and SmartThings will take care of the rest.    Enhanced Smart Home Reliability with New Hub Features Building on advancements like Hub Groups and Hub Replace, SmartThings has introduced the new Hub Manager in the SmartThings app. With this app, you can configure your smart home using a central hub management interface. Create Hub Groups with various types of SmartThings Hubs and enable Hub Backup. To make your smart home more reliable and resilient. Hub Backup prevents disruptions to daily routines by swiftly switching to a secondary hub if the primary hub fails. All device configurations, network settings, and routines transfer easily.   Matter 1.2 Certification and Support The SmartThings platform has been updated and certified to the Matter 1.2 SDK, bringing a host of enhancements to the SmartThings ecosystem. SmartThings seamlessly integrates with partner devices that support Matter 1.2*, including refrigerators, room air conditioners, dishwashers, laundry washing machines, robotic vacuums, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, air quality sensors, air purifiers, and fans. Updates to Matter support streamline developer integration, ensuring a smoother experience in line with core spec updates. Follow the SmartThings blog to stay updated on the latest around Matter support.      Device Control Plus Galaxy users will appreciate the convenience of the new Device Control feature, which allows easier access, navigation, and control of their smart home devices without interrupting their lives.  Here’s why. Device cards are bigger to show you more controls for home devices, and you can select devices to create your own home control page. Then, you will have greater ability to control the smart home device, including adjusting TV volume or light brightness. On phones and tablets, Device Control can be used right through the quick panel, similar to how users access controls for Bluetooth, WiFi, airplane mode, etc.    SmartThings Energy Enhancements Saving energy is fun with SmartThings Energy’s new features. With the latest update, you can now experience gamified elements including Energy Level and Activity badges. When saving energy effectively through AI Energy Mode, you will receive Samsung Rewards Points that can be used to purchase products on Samsung.com. Earn one Energy Stamp per day for every 400Wh of electricity saved with AI Energy Mode, and each Energy Stamp can be converted to 20 Samsung Rewards Points.   SmartThings UX Enhancements One important change in this update is that you can more easily find and quickly control your smart device. We’ve restructured the device tab to display rooms as top-level tabs, so you can effortlessly navigate and efficiently manage devices within each room. Furthermore, an enhanced device search not only helps you find your devices more quickly but also offers search suggestions based on the types of devices you own. In addition, each device plugin provides visualizations that highlight the key features and states of each device. For example, in the case of the smart door lock, a highlighted color indicates whether it is locked or unlocked. Also, if the device’s battery level drops below 15%, an alert appears at the top of the screen, ensuring that essential information is effectively communicated. These updates simplify and improve the management of smart home devices. Mark Benson, Head of SmartThings U.S., said, “This expansion of platform offerings is another step toward creating more seamless routines and providing greater accessibility for smart home device users.We take immense pride in this update and are excited to see how families will use it to enhance their everyday lives.” Enhance your everyday life and download the SmartThings app and activate SmartThings Energy today!   Read more about our new updates HERE.   *Support for Matter 1.2 indicates that SmartThings can manage and operate new device types that are part of the Matter 1.2 standard. It also means that all devices supporting control through Matter 1.2 can be linked together. 

Tesla and Samsung have partnered to integrate Tesla Solar and Powerwall products into the SmartThings Energy platform. Tesla Energy customers can now manage their home’s energy usage, storage, and production all from the convenience of the SmartThings app. The SmartThings app can now display information about energy production, storage and usage for Tesla products such as Tesla Powerwall, Tesla Solar Inverter and the Tesla Wall Connector. Why Integrate Your Tesla Products with SmartThings Energy? Here’s how this integration helps you to be a more conscious energy consumer: Increase energy insights:  By enabling Tesla notifications in the SmartThings app, you can receive home energy notifications from the Tesla app on your Samsung TV, providing more access to your solar production, backup duration, and home energy usage. Smart energy management: Tesla notifications on your Samsung devices provide up-to-date information on energy consumption in your home, helping you make smarter decisions to extend your backup duration, such as turning off high-energy usage devices like dishwashers or dryers. Better prepare for power outages: During extreme weather, Tesla Powerwall owners can receive alerts through their connected Samsung TVs and mobile devices, in addition to the Tesla app. When a power outage occurs, the Powerwall automatically detects the outage and instantly powers your home with stored backup energy. If a storm is forecasted, Storm Watch automatically charges your Powerwall to ensure you’re prepared. How to Connect Tesla in the SmartThings App Now that you understand the benefits, connect Tesla in the SmartThings app: Download and Install the Apps Ensure you have the latest versions of both the Tesla and SmartThings apps. Sign in or create accounts in both apps. Connect Your Tesla Site(s) to SmartThings Navigate to the SmartThings main screen and tap the “Life” icon. Navigate to the SmartThings Energy card. Select the the ⋮ symbol at the top right of your screen. Select “Link to Partners”. Click on the Tesla Energy icon and connect the accounts.  Take Full Advantage of the Tesla Integration Through Notifications and Automations Here’s how you can make the most of the notification and automation features available: Enable notifications. Turn on Storm Watch and Off-Grid notifications in the SmartThings app to receive notifications in your app or on your Samsung TV if a storm is forecasted for your area or if your site(s) go off-grid. These notifications can help you make better decisions on when to avoid using high-energy devices like dishwashers or dryers. Here’s how to set up notifications: Navigate to the SmartThings main screen and tap the “Menu” icon. Tap “Notifications”, and click on the ⋮ symbol to expand your Notifications options. Tap “Notification settings”. Set your listed Tesla products to “On”. Set up automations. Create automation rules for your Tesla products, such as reducing power when the Powerwall switches to Off-Grid mode or prioritizing charging for maximum backup power. These automations help manage the energy consumption in your home. Here’s how to set up automations: Navigate to the SmartThings main screen and tap the “Life” icon. Navigate to the SmartThings Energy card. Tap the “Save” icon at the bottom of the screen. Follow the steps in Battery Backup Mode to set up your automation rules. Note: Notification and automation features require a stable internet connection. Ready to Take Control Of Your Home’s Energy?  Get started today by integrating your Tesla Solar and Powerwall products with SmartThings Energy and experience the future of smart home energy management. Connecting and automating your Tesla Solar and Powerwall products with SmartThings helps you maintain a sustainable and efficient home and reduce your carbon footprint. Click here to navigate to the Tesla integration within the SmartThings app. Share your experience using the Tesla and SmartThings integration. #DoTheSmartThings

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.

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.  

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.