Tell me about your "smart" house - Nest/Hue lights etc. - is it worth it?

[Madcats]

Just that really.

It all started when I made the mistake of reading about the Amazon Echo Dot. Somebody said it worked well with Philips Hue lights (how could those have passed me by!) and Nests. Others said they would rather wait for Google or use Apple HomeKit.

Our house is awash with Macbooks and iPads/phones (and black boxes to hold the data and back-ups) but, apart from controlling the TV and Sonos, we don't use them in earnest.

If nothing else, I fancy a splurge on energy efficient lightbulbs that actually enable us to see WHEN we switch them on (not 20 minutes later). I really like the idea of being able to switch the hue (from bright white to a yellow) and don't get me started on the lightstrips!

DH has been grumbling on about them being insecure...liable to bring down the internet if hacked (part in jest...), but DD and I are sorely tempted to bung a Hue lightstrip behind the TV when he's not around.

Anybody tried this sort of thing?

[user1471426401]

We have the nest and it's brilliant... It's easy to use and monitors use so you know daily how much heating is used.. Also you can control it from anywhere as there's an app on your phone... You can also control hot water so if you fancied a bath after work you could boost the hot water before leaving so you're not waiting for the water to heat... We are getting the carbon monoxide/smoke alarms as well

[Out2pasture]

We have our hue lights outside. There was a lovely colour selection available for Thanksgiving, Halloween and soon Christmas. Much easier and safer than stringing lights up by the roof.
When my daughter in law gave birth to a little girl we had all of them bright pink ;)

[Madcats]

As I start replying you will begin to understand how "new" I am to this stuff.
user1471426401 so, with the Nest to I just need an electrician to pop it where my existing (guessing 20 year old) thermostat is. I also have 3 thermostats for some later underfloor heating. That's bound to complicate things.

Out2pasture do you mean you have the Hue strips outside? It sounds a step too far for DH...but it sounds a lovely idea.

[user1471426401]

We found it tricky to get an electrician willing to do it but we did in the end.... There was a good bit of work involved....the underfloor heating might complicate it alright;)

[user1471426401]

It did just replace the thermostats

[Rojak]

I have underfloor heating and radiators - the Honeywell Evohome is the best for multi-room control.

Interested in the hue lights but £££

[Out2pasture]

Mine are individual Hue light bulbs. The iphone app sets the colour scheme.
Our smart thermostat is by Lennox, it can be controlled by our iPhones.
Dh had his espresso machine on a smart app, but the WIMO product has yet to "accept " iOS 10.