Hello everyone! I wanted to share my recent success in automating my heating system to save on electricity costs, especially given the fluctuating prices in the Nordic region. I’ve always been interested in home automation, and this project was a great way to dive deeper into it.I’ve been using Vera with Fibaro relays to control my heating. The challenge was to automate the heating system to avoid peak electricity hours. After some research, I decided to use LUA scripting to create a custom solution. The goal was to have the heating system turn on during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper.Here’s a quick overview of what I did:1. Data Collection: I started by gathering data on electricity prices in my area. This helped me identify the cheapest and most expensive hours.2. Script Development: I wrote a LUA script that checks the current time and activates the heating system during off-peak hours. The script also accounts for weekends, where heating needs might differ.3. System Integration: I integrated the script with Vera and set up scenes that run every 30 minutes to ensure the heating system operates efficiently.4. Testing and Tweaks: After setting everything up, I monitored the system for a couple of weeks. I noticed that the initial script didn’t account for weekend parameters, so I quickly added that feature.The result? My heating system now runs more efficiently, and I’ve noticed a reduction in my electricity bills. It’s been a rewarding project, and I’m happy to share my experience with anyone interested in similar automation.If you’re considering automating your heating or any other system, I’d recommend starting small, researching existing solutions, and gradually building up. The community here has been incredibly helpful, and I couldn’t have done this without the resources and support available online.Happy automating! 