Sensibo wants to make any air conditioner smart and bring down your electricity bill

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sensibo

Just a couple of weeks after Tado launched its Kickstarter campaign, another startup has surfaced to challenge it and Nest in the world of smart temperature control. The Israeli-based team is looking to raise $70,000 on Indiegogo to fund Sensibo, a tiny device that connects any air conditioner to the internet, and can be controlled via iPhone, Android and Pebble apps.

Sensibo uses IR commands to communicate with your existing A/C -- whether it’s a window unit, wall-mounted (split), free-standing, or even central air conditioner if your system has a remote control. All codes are preloaded so setup is as easy as picking a brand or model from a list.

Some key features the campaign is highlighting includes the ability to cool or heat your home remotely, empty room detection technology using iBeacon, automatic optimization based on a room’s temperature and humidity levels, clogged filter detection, outside weather tracking and it even takes a page from Nest by learning and adapting to the user’s habits. The company claims Sensibo is able to lower your A/C’s power consumption by 40 percent.

The system comprises a smart hub that connects to your router using a regular ethernet cable, and a pod for each A/C unit you want to control. You can easily mount and unmount a pod in case you want to take it elsewhere.

Another nifty feature is that since Sensibo pods are placed directly on the A/C, they can capture any commands sent using the regular remote control and their system will remain fully  synchronized with the actual state of the A/C. Also, Sensibo’s pod runs on batteries -- which last for up to three years -- so you don’t need an electric outlet with direct line-of-sight to the A/C unit.

The campaign on Indiegogo has already reached 90% of its funding goal with 36 days to go. Pledges go from $79 - $99 for a Sensibo hub + pod kit or $139 - $169 for a duo kit containing two pods. Each additional pod is $69. The starter kit will retail for $159 when Sensibo hits the market in January 2015.

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Down here the AC is on 24/7 except for the months where it dips down to 30F. This device sounds promising but in real world living it might save less than their claims. Electric providers would make it so it only save you 40%. Maybe it really can save your 100% on your electric bill if so that would change how electric receiving funds get reduce. Best way is to install solar and wind tech on homes thus reducing all energy needs and then sell the power you produce back to the power grin thus reducing your bill even more.

This product has high hopes, but for this new tech to work in most modern cooling central systems I am sure there will be additional up keep or service contracts. Who's going to service defective controllers or pods.
 
Oh goodie, another piece of electronic garbage to save people from thinking or doing anything for themselves.

The efficiency of any air conditioner is built into the unit from the start. How you use it, determines how much you'll save or spend on electricity.

If you're too stupid to turn the air downstairs air lower when you're upstairs in bed under another unit, think of that huge electric bill as a fine for you're own laziness.

I see people all the time that think they're entitled to 65 degrees inside, when it's 105 outside. They should learn to make do with 80.

So now, you need another crap device, (Sensibo), that hooks to yet another crap device (smart phone), that connects to the internet, (fool's paradise), to save you the trouble of pushing a button, or turning a thermostat knob? Get real, and get off your a**.
 
Well I agree when the weather gets to summer peak the A/C is on 24/7 so no real savings can be made UNLESS you turn the A/C to 75 and above. I also believe all A/Cs should be made with Power saver mode and real working thermostats. As far as what they want in temp its none of your nor my business they are paying the bills not you. So if they want it at 65 so be it don't play judge and jury


Oh goodie, another piece of electronic garbage to save people from thinking or doing anything for themselves.

The efficiency of any air conditioner is built into the unit from the start. How you use it, determines how much you'll save or spend on electricity.

If you're too stupid to turn the air downstairs air lower when you're upstairs in bed under another unit, think of that huge electric bill as a fine for you're own laziness.

I see people all the time that think they're entitled to 65 degrees inside, when it's 105 outside. They should learn to make do with 80.

So now, you need another crap device, (Sensibo), that hooks to yet another crap device (smart phone), that connects to the internet, (fool's paradise), to save you the trouble of pushing a button, or turning a thermostat knob? Get real, and get off your a**.
 
same was said for the computers, FYI
FYI, I was there when it was said. The computer is a response to an old joke, "I would be into pornography, but I don't have a pornograph to play it on". Now I have at least 6.

With that said, you should be one of this first to jump on the Sensibo bandwagon. It's really an IQ test in disguise. You buy one of these devices, to find out if you've been lied to about its worth. And don't forget to give them all your personal information while you're at it!;)
 
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This is a good idea and the video was pretty entertaining. But this is basically Nest for local ACs...
 
Anything with a remote management interface built into the Internet - that says absolutely nothing about how it secures that interface from attackers - cannot be trusted in this day and age. All I see are a bunch of pissed off customers that come home to their A/C devices turned off and smartphones infected because of a software vulnerability on this device.
 
To some it is, to some it isnt. It matters who you ask.
I still see this as a scam product. Modern whole house AC, is already "smart". And the people themselves are what is costing them money.

With energy costs soaring, the average American, has to buck up, and learn to cope with summer heat, instead of fleeing from it. We'll be complaining about the cold soon enough. No need to live it in advance.

The cooler you keep your home, the more dramatic the heat is when you have to deal with it. That's where the savings should be, turn the frakkin' air down yourself. You really don't need a new toy to do it for you. In fact, the money you piss away for a "Sensibo", would probaly pay most of your electric bill for the hottest month of the year.

Today's society is truly bizarre, with dependence on smart phone apps for just about every insignificant taskl. Some fool writes an app for something a ten year old should be able to figure out for them self, and it makes the eleven o'clock news as a "breakthrough".

I'm not a luddite, and I'm fully aware of the many ways the computer and internet enrich our daily lives. But, I really enjoy playing the guitar, because there isn't an app for it. And I really don't mind picking up that big, heavy, remote control, and setting my AC all by myself.

Besides, I sincerely doubt that this device can save someone who is already energy conscious, 40%. That sounds like a number someone pulled out of their a**, to use while begging for money.

Although, they could probably sell a boatload of this junk on QVC, to the witless and unsuspecting.
 
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I live in AZ people usually go from 75-81 on their ac and some crazies have swamp coolers oh my is that miserable in the peak of summer. A app to control my ac no thx it would be quicker to get off my azz and change it.
 
I still see this as a scam product. Modern whole house AC, is already "smart". And the people themselves are what is costing them money.

With energy costs soaring, the average American, has to buck up, and learn to cope with summer heat, instead of fleeing from it. We'll be complaining about the cold soon enough. No need to live it in advance.

The cooler you keep your home, the more dramatic the heat is when you have to deal with it. That's where the savings should be, turn the frakkin' air down yourself. You really don't need a new toy to do it for you. In fact, the money you piss away for a "Sensibo", would probaly pay most of your electric bill for the hottest month of the year.

Today's society is truly bizarre, with dependence on smart phone apps for just about every insignificant taskl. Some fool writes an app for something a ten year old should be able to figure out for them self, and it makes the eleven o'clock news as a "breakthrough".

I'm not a luddite, and I'm fully aware of the many ways the computer and internet enrich our daily lives. But, I really enjoy playing the guitar, because there isn't an app for it. And I really don't mind picking up that big, heavy, remote control, and setting my AC all by myself.

Besides, I sincerely doubt that this device can save someone who is already energy conscious, 40%. That sounds like a number someone pulled out of their a**, to use while begging for money.

Although, they could probably sell a boatload of this junk on QVC, to the witless and unsuspecting.
I think what makes it really "Smart" versus one of those Honeywell thermostats is that it has an iPhone and Android app that allows you to control it outside of home. But then again, companies like Honeywell are releasing Wifi versions themselves.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but, there's smart AC product available on the market, right? Panasonic for example, because my gf's house using this kind of product
 
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