Samsung recently announced SmartThings Energy, a new addition to the SmartThings app. This new service allows consumers to monitor and better understand their energy consumption.

The SmartThings app connects smart devices in the home to smartphones via the SmartThings Smart Home Hub. Compatible with hundreds of products, from lights to cameras to locks, all of which can be controlled from a smartphone, SmartThings Energy allows you to connect to Samsung appliances and HVAC systems, such as dishwashers and ovens, and accurately monitor daily energy usage.

The app provides monitoring, goal setting, and notifications from compatible appliances. The app displays energy consumption data and cost estimates in real time. This helps address high consumption appliances in the home, such as air conditioners. It is also useful if the switch is left on while away from home.

The app can display all connected appliances collectively or individually and compare their energy usage to a set target. It can also compare usage to the previous month to check progress. The app can chart energy usage and break down trends, helping consumers discover and better understand their consumption data. It can also recommend energy-saving tips based on the appliances in their home and alert them when they are using too much energy. [Chanwoo Park, Vice President and IoT Business Group Head at Samsung Electronics, said, "People are spending more time at home and using appliances more frequently. Our consumers want to be part of building a better, greener tomorrow, and we are proud to help them achieve that vision by providing a more energy efficient smart home experience."

Samsung has long taken steps toward a more sustainable society by offering Energy Star certified appliances that must reach certain standards of energy efficiency. Recently, Samsung also expanded its Galaxy Upcycling Program with Galaxy Upcycling at Home, allowing consumers to repurpose their Galaxy Smartphones into smart home devices. The SmartThings Energy is Samsung's latest announcement on sustainability, and it is good to see the company striving to be a more environmentally friendly company. We are also pleased to see SmartThings Energy join what we consider to be the best smart home hubs out there.

"We are looking to build a new set of advanced features to generate more savings for SmartThings users," says Park.

"By combining SmartThings Energy's analytics capabilities with Samsung's energy-efficient products, we are changing the game for consumers and enabling them to make smarter decisions about their energy consumption."

SmartThings Energy supports most Samsung appliances and HVAC systems, and SmartThings plans to expand the service to WWST partners in the future. It is currently available through the SmartThings app.