Smart Home Energy Management: Real-time Tracking & Predictive Billing

Take control of your energy consumption and save money with our Smart Home Energy Management System. This innovative system provides real-time monitoring of your home's energy usage, down to the individual appliance level. Forget about surprise electricity bills; our system accurately predicts your upcoming costs, allowing for proactive budgeting and informed decision-making. We achieve this through a sophisticated combination of hardware and software, including a custom-designed PCB, an ESP32 microcontroller, and a user-friendly mobile application.This comprehensive solution offers granular data visualization, empowering you to identify and address energy-wasting habits. By leveraging historical usage patterns and current consumption, the system helps you reduce energy usage by up to 20%. The intuitive mobile app allows for remote monitoring and customized dashboards, putting you in charge of your energy footprint. We provide free PCB design software licenses for students and enthusiasts, encouraging further development and innovation in smart home energy management. Join us as we explore the possibilities of conscious energy consumption.

Pros And Cons

Smart Home Energy Management System
  • Tracks real-time energy consumption of every device in the house
  • Predicts upcoming electricity bills
  • Can help save up to 20% on energy costs
LTM
  • Powerful PCB designing tool
  • Used by professionals in the industry
  • Can design PCBs up to motherboard level
  • Free licenses available for students and PCB designers

Read more: AMI Meter Reading Guide: Understanding Your Smart Electricity Meter

Real-time Energy Consumption Monitoring

This system provides real-time monitoring of energy consumption for every device in your home. It allows you to see exactly how much power each appliance is using at any given moment. This granular data empowers you to make informed decisions about energy usage and identify potential areas for improvement.

Screenshot showing real-time energy consumption data on a display
Screenshot showing real-time energy consumption data on a display

The system achieves this by using a single-phase energy meter with an RS485 output. This data is then processed and displayed in an easily understandable format, giving you a clear picture of your home's energy usage patterns.

Diagram of the RS485 circuit used for energy meter data acquisition
Diagram of the RS485 circuit used for energy meter data acquisition

Predictive Electricity Bill Calculation

Beyond real-time monitoring, this system predicts your upcoming electricity bill. By analyzing historical data and current usage patterns, it provides an estimated cost, helping you budget effectively and avoid unexpected expenses.

Screenshot showing the predicted electricity bill calculation
Screenshot showing the predicted electricity bill calculation

This predictive capability allows for proactive energy management. You can anticipate potential high-cost periods and adjust your usage accordingly. This feature promotes cost awareness and responsible energy consumption.

Energy Saving Potential

The system aims to help you reduce your energy consumption by up to 20%. By providing detailed insights into your usage habits, you can identify and correct energy-wasting behaviors.

Through the use of this system, you can implement targeted energy-saving strategies. This could involve optimizing appliance usage, replacing inefficient devices, or simply becoming more mindful of your energy consumption.

PCB Design and Software

The project includes a custom-designed PCB (Printed Circuit Board) that interfaces with the energy meter. The PCB design was created using LTM (Layout Tool), a powerful PCB design software.

Screenshot of the LTM software interface showing the PCB design
Screenshot of the LTM software interface showing the PCB design

Free LTM licenses are offered to students and PCB designers. Access to these licenses is available via a link in the video description. This allows users to explore the software's capabilities and potentially develop their own energy monitoring systems.

Image of the assembled and mounted PCB
Image of the assembled and mounted PCB

ESP32 and MQTT Integration

The system utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller to communicate with the energy meter via the RS485 interface and publish data to an MQTT broker. This allows for real-time data transmission and remote monitoring.

Screenshot showing the ESP32 microcontroller and connections
Screenshot showing the ESP32 microcontroller and connections

The provided code includes instructions for configuring the ESP32 with your home Wi-Fi credentials and MQTT broker details. This allows for easy setup and integration into your existing smart home infrastructure.

Screenshot showing MQTT broker configuration within the code
Screenshot showing MQTT broker configuration within the code

Mobile App and Dashboard

A mobile application, available on the Google Play Store, provides a user-friendly interface for viewing real-time energy consumption data and predicted bill calculations.

Screenshot of the MQTT Explorer showing real-time data
Screenshot of the MQTT Explorer showing real-time data

The mobile app connects to the MQTT broker to receive data from the ESP32. This allows for convenient monitoring of energy usage from anywhere with an internet connection. The app also features customizable dashboards for visualizing the data.

Screenshot of the mobile app interface
Screenshot of the mobile app interface

Conclusion

This Smart Home Energy Management System offers a comprehensive solution for monitoring and controlling energy consumption. The combination of real-time tracking, predictive billing, and a user-friendly mobile app makes it a valuable tool for reducing energy costs and promoting sustainable living.

While the system currently provides aggregate energy data, future tutorials will demonstrate how to track individual device consumption and integrate AI-powered predictions for even more precise energy management. This makes it a powerful and evolving solution for conscious energy usage.