Netatmo released its Smart AC Controller on 11 May 2023, priced at 119.99 euros, the maker said. The device is sold through netatmo.com and at Boulanger, Leroy Merlin, Castorama and Fnac Darty1.
The controller is compatible with all air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps that have an infrared remote whose screen shows the settings, according to Netatmo. It uses omnidirectional infrared technology, which the company says allows the unit to be placed anywhere in the room and connected in a few minutes without building work or changes to the existing installation. Compatibility can be checked on Netatmo's website1.
"La Commande Intelligente de climatiseur est disponible depuis le 11 mai 2023 au prix de 119,99€ sans frais cachés ni box domotique à ajouter"
Control is through the Home + Control app, and the device also works with Google Home, Alexa and Apple Home for voice control. Netatmo says five questions are enough to set a personalised weekly schedule, and an "Eco-Assist" geolocation function switches appliances off when the user leaves home and back on on their return. Temperature and humidity sensors track indoor conditions over time1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release date | 11 May 2023 |
| Price | 119.99 euros |
| Works with | Air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps with an infrared remote showing settings |
| App | Home + Control |
| Voice and ecosystems | Google Home, Alexa, Apple Home |
| Extra features | Weekly schedule, Eco-Assist geolocation, temperature and humidity sensing |
| Retail | netatmo.com, Boulanger, Leroy Merlin, Castorama, Fnac Darty |
The price is given in euros in the announcement; no sterling price has been reported1.
Why it matters for households
Cooling is often the least controlled part of a home's energy use: a split unit or air-to-air heat pump is typically run from a handset, with no schedule and no link to whether anyone is at home. A controller of this kind sits between the existing appliance and the way it is operated, so the household keeps the hardware it already has and gains timed and remote operation instead. Netatmo states that programming a unit around the times of day and when people are present lightens the electricity bill without giving up comfort, and that Eco-Assist cuts the appliance when the user leaves and restarts it on return1.
For a home's energy independence, the effect is on demand rather than supply. Running a heat pump or air conditioner only when the rooms are occupied and only in the rooms that need it reduces the electricity drawn from the grid, which matters more where supply is tight or where a household is trying to match consumption to its own generation. The indoor temperature and humidity readings give a record of how the home behaves, which is the starting point for judging whether a setting or a schedule is doing any work. The device does not generate or store energy, and it does not replace the appliance's own controls.
The controller joins Netatmo's existing heating controls range, which is built around its smart thermostats. Households weighing a controller against other options may find the comparison of smart TRVs and a smart thermostat relevant, as does the Netatmo and tado° comparison. Costs of controls generally are set out in how much heating controls cost.
What happens next
No further dates have been reported. Netatmo has not stated any planned updates, subscription terms or additional retail listings beyond those given at launch1.