With the increasing popularity of smart home, there are more and more devices and gadgets in the home that you can connect to your smart home platform. Some very useful, others just because it’s fun. In early December, a new form of window covering was launched in the United Kingdom: Smartblinds.
What are Smartblinds?
The name says it all: Smartblinds are roller blinds that you can connect to your smart home. The smart roller blinds are powered by a wireless Eve Motionblinds motor. This motor runs on the Thread protocol, making it easy to add your roller blind to your Apple smart home. Just scan the QR code attached to the tassel of your cord, and the job will be done within a minute.
How to control smart roller blinds
Once you have added your Smartblinds to your smart home, there are several options you can use to control your roller blinds. First, we have the most obvious option, control with your smartphone. This allows you to control your blinds from wherever you are. So, you can move your home from your holiday address or from work. Perfect for scaring off burglars, for example, or in summer to make sure your house doesn’t become a sauna when the sun shines brightly inside.
When you have a smart assistant in your home like Siri, you can also let her do the work. Give your smart assistant the command such as ”Hey Siri, lower my blind”. Your smart home assistant will carry out the command and your electric roller blinds will close themselves.
Besides smart controls, it is of course still possible to operate your electric roller blinds manually. Smartblinds has a handy pull control for this purpose. A short tug on the cord sets your blind in motion. When your roller blind is at the right height, give another pull on the cord. Your blind will stop, and you have hung your blind. This way, you don’t spend an eternity with awkward pull cords.
Sustainability
Smart window coverings can save you a huge amount of money on your energy bills every year. Smartblinds’ insulating and heat-reflecting functions, together with the smart operation of your blinds, can have a huge impact on the level of your energy costs.
By tuning your blinds to sunlight in winter, you can smartly heat. Is the strength of the sun strong? Then open your blinds to allow the sun to heat your home as much as possible. Is the sun setting and the temperature dropping? Then lower the blinds again to keep all the heat inside.
In summer, you can reverse this principle. Then open your blinds and windows when the sun goes down to let your house cool down. When the sun comes out again, you can close your blinds. This way, you keep the heat out and don’t have to turn on the air conditioning. With those simple and smart tricks, you can save hundreds of euros a year on your energy bill!
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
