Smart heating and blinds my setup so far

[Princess_Gwaelin]

I started automating my heating and blinds setup this month, and it’s been surprisingly effective. I’m using Home Assistant with some Zigbee sensors to monitor room temps and sunlight levels. The blinds open when sunlight hits certain windows in the morning and close automatically when temps start dropping in the afternoon. Paired with a Nest thermostat, it’s kept my house noticeably more comfortable without running the furnace as much. Still fine-tuning the automations, though like especially when clouds throw it off. Anyone else in New Hampshire doing something similar? Curious what platforms or triggers people are using to balance heat and sunlight this time of year.

 

[nygard_54]

I just started playing with automation last month. Using Alexa routines for blinds and Ecobee for heat. Haven’t added sunlight triggers yet but thinking about it. Are your blinds motorized or retrofit?

 

[rustyn41l]

@Princess_Gwaelin that sounds cool, I'm actually curious. Which specific Zigbee sensors are you using for the sunlight and temp? I’m planning a similar project and have been debating between a separate lux sensor or a multisensor.
Also, for the cloud issue, have you looked into using a weather API (like OpenWeatherMap) as a condition in Home Assistant to override the sunlight reading when 'Cloudy' or 'Overcast' is forecasted?

 

[c4peCodder]

I started automating my heating and blinds setup this month, and it’s been surprisingly effective. I’m using Home Assistant with some Zigbee sensors to monitor room temps and sunlight levels. The blinds open when sunlight hits certain windows in the morning and close automatically when temps start dropping in the afternoon. Paired with a Nest thermostat, it’s kept my house noticeably more comfortable without running the furnace as much. Still fine-tuning the automations, though like especially when clouds throw it off. Anyone else in New Hampshire doing something similar? Curious what platforms or triggers people are using to balance heat and sunlight this time of year.

get a cheap, dedicated Aqara Illumination Sensor (T1 or GZCGQ01LM) placed directly on the windowsill facing the sun. They report lux way more accurately than the multisensors.
Keep your Sonoff SNZB-02P (or similar) temp/humidity sensors placed in the center of the room for the most reliable heating data, since that reading isn't skewed by the window or the wall