These aren't promises: they're the automations running every day at the home of Langesse's founder, in the countryside of the Loiret. Solar panels, an electric car, the EDF Tempo tariff, a gate and ordinary appliances all work together without anyone thinking about it.
The car is a Bolloré Bluecar: no app, no data, not even a battery level. So Home Assistant estimates the charge itself and decides every day: sun first, off-peak power second, and always ready for trips in the calendar. Its LMP battery must also stay warm (about 0.4 kWh per hour), which every calculation takes into account.
Compares the battery gap (plus keeping it warm until the sun is up) with tomorrow's solar forecast, then sends the decision and its estimated cost to the phone.
Charging starts only if a trip leaves early, if tomorrow's sun won't be enough, or if the "charge tonight" button was pressed.
Every hour, if tomorrow's solar forecast drops by 3 kWh or more, charging starts straight away at the night rate.
The socket is switched off: not a single kWh at full price.
If the panels produce more than 500 W and the day will cover the need, solar charging starts.
As soon as surplus stays above 500 W for 5 minutes, the car charges for free.
Solar charging stops and the phone gets the estimated level and the plan for the night.
Trips go into a calendar. Two days ahead, the house checks the remaining charging time is enough; one day ahead, it charges whatever the tariff.
When the car isn't used, the house weighs the cost of keeping the battery warm against the cost of waking it up, and suggests sleep mode only when it saves money.
In sleep mode, the estimated battery level drops a little each night. Urgent reminder at 75 days, before the 90-day limit, and a timely wake-up before a trip (6 h warm-up included).
Safety net: if the estimated level becomes critical, charging starts immediately, whatever the time, to protect the battery.
You just enter the odometer reading. The house works out the distance, the energy the socket delivered and the cost per km of the last trip.
On 1 April solar charging is switched on; on 1 November the house suggests sleep mode for the winter.
The house uses its own solar production first, then off-peak electricity, and steers clear of the expensive red days of the EDF Tempo tariff.
Walk into the dining room or office and the LED strip takes the colour of the current solar balance. No app needed to know whether it's a good moment to start a machine.
The tank heats on surplus from the panels. The 900 W threshold leaves a margin so a passing cloud doesn't mean buying power from the grid.
If the sun wasn't enough, the tank heats during off-peak hours, but at 3 a.m. rather than 10 p.m.: the water stays hot until morning with less heat loss. Off at 6 a.m.
As soon as RTE announces a Tempo red day, the phone warns you: laundry, dishwasher and car charging move to today.
On Tempo red days, the coffee machine starts at 05:55 instead of 06:15, still in off-peak hours. Just "arm" it the night before with a button.
A "Vacation" event in the calendar is enough: the water heater is switched off and the automations that would turn it back on are paused, then everything resumes when you return.
When the dining room gets clearly warmer than the living room, a fan pushes the fireplace heat into the other rooms.
Leaks, doors left open, storms, weak batteries: the house alerts you at the right moment, through the right channel, and only when it's useful.
A leak sensor under the sink detects water.
An alarm-style notification that sounds even on silent, and stays on screen.
A blinking red "Water leak" card appears on the phone dashboard.
If you're home, the Google speakers announce the leak every 30 seconds until it's dry.
Sensor dry: the alarm clears and an "all dry" message arrives.
If the freezer door stays open for 5 minutes, the phone is notified and the speakers ask out loud for it to be closed.
Gate open for 10 minutes? A notification, plus an alert card on the dashboard that closes it with one tap.
Using the Blitzortung network, the house knows when lightning strikes nearby: alert on the phone and the dashboard shown on the dining room display.
When the Loiret weather warning turns yellow or red, a notification with a direct link to the official bulletin, and a panel on the dashboard.
One alert when rain is forecast, then a second when the weather station's rain gauge actually measures the first drops. Only when you're home, and at most once an hour.
Every morning, the house checks every battery-powered sensor and sends a list of those below 20%.
Ordinary appliances become smart with a vibration sensor, a smart plug or an NFC tag. No need to replace anything.
When the phone enters the neighbourhood, the gate opens and closes again. In the morning, at the usual leaving time, opening the front door is enough to open the gate.
On weekday mornings, if the train is late: a text, a notification, and the dining room LED strip goes rainbow for 30 minutes, impossible to miss over breakfast.
A simple vibration sensor stuck on the machine is all it takes. When vibration has stopped for 5 minutes, a "Laundry done" tile appears on the dashboard.
After cleaning the dishwasher, washer or coffee machine, tap its NFC tag with your phone. Automatic reminder after 60 or 75 days.
The house reads the collection calendar and reminds you the evening before. Scan the NFC tag as you take the bin out to mark it as done.
When the computer's webcam turns on, the speakers mute and an "On Air" sign lights up by the door. Everything returns to normal when the call ends.
On weekdays, at the usual time you get home from work, opening the front door starts your favourite radio station. It stops as soon as the TV comes on.
Five minutes after a print finishes, the 3D printer's socket is switched off and the phone says the part is ready.
No proprietary subscription: Home Assistant ties together products from different brands and free public services. That's exactly what Langesse installs in your home.
Every automation shown here can be adapted to your home, your equipment and the way you live. We work in English, French and Dutch.