A Volts listener who heard today's pod tipped me off to this -- open-source, privacy-focused home energy management software! Might have to do a whole separate pod on this.
Home Assistant is absolutely amazing. It turns my lights on and off for me, based on AI cameras around the house detecting people (all local built with google AI), checks for indoor and outdoor air quality and recommends opening windows, it controls my heating/cooling, security, power usage, etc.
One of the things I love about Home Assistant is the absolute mantra that everything should default to local control, but if you want to open it up you can. It leaves it to you to figure out what you are comfortable with.
Doctorow mentioned on the program that his solar generation is unavailable when the grid power goes down. DIYers should be very careful if trying to override such a system. You could backfeed the local transmission cables and injure or kill a linesman working on the power lines. Get an electrician.
I own an appliance repair parts business and I have to say I have no idea what the utility of smart appliances even is. It's mostly just a way to get a monthly fee out of consumers for next to no added benefit.
I worked on recipe search at Google and there was a proposal to integrate recipe search results with "smart" ovens. Who wants a website to turn on their oven for them? And is it really so hard to turn it on yourself?
I think the most underrated one was one of the first I tuned in for, Dr Ye Tao on mirror arrays for farms primarily, with applications for public parks
I have also heard them all, and Iām reticent about calling this one the best, but only due to the deep queasiness you both instigated in me. A must listen, and Doctorow is fantastic listening.
Yes. I was going to say. This was really good but Iām finishing later. Maybe you can break these long things into two parters. Still, huge fan and fascinating convo
Comments
https://www.home-assistant.io/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvG8WhSPIh0
and @speaktothegeek.co.uk
https://www.speaktothegeek.co.uk/2022/07/tutorial-home-assistant-secure-remote-access/
Are you aware of predbat?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvfqORGsZ0g