Smart Heating & Cooling: Temperature, Humidity & Airflow
What is Smart Home Environment Control?
Smart home environment control is all about managing the temperature, humidity, and airflow in your home—only smarter.
That means:
- Turning on your air con before you get home
- Switching off the ceiling fan with your voice
- Scheduling comfort automatically, day and night
Smart Environment Control: The Options
Air Conditioning
Whether it's ducted, split system, or a window unit, if it’s controlled by a remote or wall-mounted panel, you can probably smarten it up.
You’ll unlock features like:
- Voice control
- App-based control
- Scheduling
- Energy savings (seriously, mine almost pays for itself—at least that’s what I tell my wife)
Option 1: Remote-Controlled Aircon
This is the easiest to upgrade. Just add a smart AC controller like:
These devices plug into a nearby power point and mimic your remote using IR. Most are compatible with thousands of models, and some can even learn from your original remote.
Source: Sensibo
Option 2: Wall-Controlled Systems
If your AC is wired to a wall panel, you’ll want something like:
These are just as smart but may require professional installation, depending on your location.
Smart Fans
Sometimes, airflow is all you need to feel comfortable.
With smart fans, you can:
- Turn them on/off with your voice or app
- Schedule operation
- Adjust speed remotely
“Hey Google, turn on the bedroom fan.”
Ceiling Fans
You’ve got two routes:
- Smart fans with built-in Wi-Fi (e.g. Brilliant Smart Fan)
- Smart fan controllers (e.g. Brilliant Wi-Fi Fan Controller)
If your fan uses a remote, you may also be able to control it using a smart IR or RF remote like:
Note: Wall switch must stay “on” for these to work properly. More on that here.
Desk & Pedestal Fans
For plug-in fans (desk, pedestal, tower), your options are even simpler:
- Buy a fan with smart features built in
- Use a smart plug
Amazon Smart Plug – Not yet available in Australia
Smart Plug Recommendations:
- Aeotec Z-Wave Smart Switch 7 (Z-Wave hub required)
- D-Link Wi-Fi Smart Plug
- TP-Link Smart Plugs
Smart plugs are a great entry point—just behind smart bulbs in popularity.
Smart Home Environment Control – Extras
You’ve got voice control. You’ve got automation. Want to go even further?
Try:
- Temperature-based automation
“Turn on the AC when inside temp hits 26°C.”
- Smart blinds
Ours automatically close when the outside temp exceeds 35°C.
More on smart window coverings soon.
Got questions? Hit me up via socials or check out the rest of the Smart Home blog.
Want more ideas? Start with: