The 5 best automations to set up in summer: the last one you can't miss!
With the arrival of summer, the heat and humidity make daily activities even more exhausting. Driving home from work is tiring, and all we want once we get back home is to relax, rest, and not think about anything.
However, there is a positive side. As summer vacations approach, it's time to finally enjoy your home. Why not make your home smarter and more comfortable with some summer-specific automations?
Here are five automations (or Habits, as we call them) that can improve your daily comfort during these long, hot days.
Gradual lowering and raising of shutters with Freedompro's Shutter Module
Have you heard of circadian rhythms? These are natural cycles of about 24 hours that regulate various biological processes in our body, such as sleep, wakefulness, body temperature, and hormone production. These rhythms are primarily influenced by light and dark cycles and help synchronize our physiological activities with the external environment. The "master clock" that coordinates these rhythms is in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the brain, which receives light information through the eyes.
Maintaining a regular circadian rhythm is essential for well-being and overall health, and smart shutter automation can help you achieve this goal.
With Shutter Modules from the Smart Modules range by Freedompro, you can make your home's shutters smart, automating and integrating them into your daily routines. We explained in more detail how you can do this in this in-depth article.
To make the most of this Habit during the summer, we suggest a gradual lowering and raising of the shutters. How? Simply configure an automation with "Delay" – you can do this with our Freedompro Home app – to close the shutter by 20% at a specific evening time, by an additional 30% a few hours later, and finally, by the remaining 50% during the night. A quick reminder: "Delay" is a function that, when used in an automation, allows you to postpone an event.
This automation not only lets you benefit from the natural light/dark cycles typical of summer, but also increases your security: no more falling asleep in front of the TV with the shutters open and finding them the same way in the morning, or overheating because the shutters were closed too early.
Similarly, by setting up a reverse Habit, you can gradually raise the shutters from a certain time (for example, at dawn), giving you a natural light wake-up.
Automating the pedestal fan with Freedompro's Smart Modules
Who doesn't love a bit of fresh air during the summer? Fans are designed for this purpose, and pedestal fans are particularly convenient because they are lightweight, affordable, and easy to move. However, they have a drawback: they are generally not smart and must be activated with a button on the device or, at best, with a remote control.
Why not make them smart with Wi-Fi connected relays from the Smart Modules range by Freedompro? You can do this with the Smart Outlet Modules, which work directly on power outlets (learn how in this article), and thus on non-IoT devices connected to them. Alternatively, you can use Dry Contact Modules, smart and professional actuators (also Wi-Fi connected) dedicated to impulse or clean contact devices, which respond to simple On/Off commands. We also have an article that explains how our solution works: you can find it here.
The only requirement for this automation to work is to keep the device plugged in and with the button in the "ON" position, at the speed you prefer (as long as it's above zero!).
Why is this Habit one of our favorites? It's simple: by connecting a pedestal fan to one of our Smart Modules (which are super-easy to configure and Matter certified), you get a simple yet effective automation. This allows you to schedule the fan's on and off times according to your needs, ensuring a consistently cool environment without having to manually turn the device on.
Automating the dehumidifier and air conditioner
For those living in areas prone to high humidity, the synergy between dehumidification and cooling of indoor air is ideal for increasing home comfort during the summer. High humidity levels increase the so-called "perceived heat" because they hinder sweat evaporation, reducing the efficiency of the body's natural cooling.
If you have a dehumidifier and an air conditioner, Freedompro solutions easily solve this problem. You can set up your Habits using Easykon, our line of bridge devices that enhance KNX and BTicino Home automation by integrating – besides automations – voice commands and remote control (note that for some specific air conditioner models, you can also use the Freedompro Outlet Module).
In this case, we suggest configuring an automation that turns on the dehumidifier before the air conditioner, creating a virtuous flow that not only offers better control over indoor humidity (and thus their healthiness), but also optimal energy savings – especially compared to turning on both devices simultaneously.
Dehumidifier and air purifier: with the Outlet Module, wellness is teamwork
Did you know that dehumidification followed by air purification increases home comfort during the summer?
By reducing humidity, it improves the body's ability to cool down naturally. Similarly, a less humid environment is less conducive to the growth of mold, dust mites, and other allergens that thrive in such conditions.
After dehumidification, using an air purifier removes dust, pollen, bacteria, and other pollutants from the air, creating a healthier environment: cleaner air reduces allergy and asthma symptoms, enhancing overall wellness.
If you have these devices, our suggestion is to make them smart with the aforementioned Smart Outlet Modules from the Smart Modules range by Freedompro: you can manage both directly from the power outlet, simply by keeping the plug in. You can activate, deactivate, and integrate them into your daily automations with a tap on your smartphone.
And there was light: automating outdoor lights with Freedompro's Smart Modules
With longer days and increased outdoor activities, managing outdoor lights effectively is crucial for creating the perfect summer atmosphere and ensuring security. Automating outdoor lights can make your summer evenings even more enjoyable.
Using Freedompro's Light Modules, you can easily automate outdoor lighting. Set up automations to turn lights on and off based on time, sunset, or motion detection. This ensures you always have the right amount of light for any outdoor activity, enhancing both the ambiance and security of your home.
With Freedompro's smart home solutions, you can transform your summer experience, making your home smarter, more comfortable, and more enjoyable. Embrace these habits and enjoy a truly relaxing summer at home!
Automating the electric barbecue with Freedompro's Outlet Module
We know: we said we would talk about five essential summer automations. But this one is just too "tempting" to ignore – and the term is no coincidence!
The hottest months are also perfect for outdoor lunches and, consequently, garden barbecues. If you have an electric barbecue, you can install the Smart Outlet Module from the Smart Modules range by Freedompro and make the device smart right away: just keep it plugged in!
This means you can control its on/off directly from your smartphone, without leaving the kitchen, where you might be busy preparing dishes to cook. The automatic barbecue ignition is perfect for optimizing your time and ensuring the grill is hot and ready to use; the automatic shutdown enhances safety, minimizing the risk of someone or a pet getting burned by a left-on electric barbecue. Thanks to the Smart Outlet Module, you can automate both functions directly from the power outlet where the accessory is plugged in, using our Freedompro Home app.
Bonus: two useful automations if you're away during the summer
We conclude this excursus on the most advantageous summer automations by suggesting two you can use when you're not at home to ensure greater security, convenience, and concrete energy savings.
To make your home less attractive to potential intruders, you can set up the automatic lighting (indoor or outdoor) at certain times of the day, perhaps combined with the TV or radio to give the impression that someone is at home. For this, you only need Smart Light Modules (for lights) and Smart Outlet Modules (for radio and TV), which you can manage directly from your smartphone.
Finally, remember that you can use the Smart Outlet Modules to make and remotely control non-IoT appliances like the refrigerator, freezer, microwave, electric oven, and induction cooktop. You can choose to turn them off from your smartphone to save energy while you're away, or monitor their operation to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises waiting for you when you get back home.
All the automations we've suggested greatly improve the home experience, whether you're actually present or somewhere else – perhaps on a tropical beach, watching the ocean.
Happy summer!
