Climate Commander by Pythm

An Appdaemon app for controlling climate entities in Home Assistant. Set an indoor temperature target with an external indoor temperature sensor and configure your screens and provide other sensors to maintain a balanced indoor climate.

This is developed in Norway where we mostly need heating. The app will only adjust the temperature when heating, but there is some functionality to automatically set to fan_only or cool in addition to automatically closing screens when it is hot and sunny.

Installation

1. Download the ClimateCommander directory from inside the apps directory here to your Appdaemon apps directory.
2. Add the configuration to a .yaml or .toml file to enable the ClimateCommander module. Minimum required in your configuration is:

nameyourClimateCommander:
  module: climateCommander
  class: Climate
  Command:
    - climate: climate.yourClimate
      indoor_temp: sensor.yourIndoorTemperatureSensor # External indoor temperature sensor
      temperatures:   # List of outdoor temperatures with dictionary normal and away temperatures
        - out: 5      # Measured outdoor temperature
          normal: 23  # Normal temperature for app to adjust from. 
          away: 16    # Temperature to set when on holiday

App usage and configuration

This app is designed to control climate entities in Home Assistant based on outdoor temperature with additional sensors. Outdoor sensors are configured for the app, while indoor sensors are configured per climate entity.

Note

This app does not consider electricity prices or usage. Another app controlling heaters, hot water boilers, and chargers for cars based on electricity price and usage can be found here: https://github.com/Pythm/ad-ElectricalManagement

Important

You need an external indoor temperature sensor. Placement of the sensor and finding the right target temperature is crucial for optimal indoor temperature.

Climates will adjust +/- 2 degrees from the temperature defined in normal. By default, the app logs information about outdoor/indoor temperatures if it needs to adjust by as much as 2 degrees to maintain the set target. The idea behind the app was to define what temperature to set given the outdoor temperature. The colder it is outside, the higher temperature is needed to maintain a warm house. Defining a proper temperature scale will improve daytime savings and efficiency.

I have a plan to further improve automation based on forecasts from Met.no and adding more temperature sensors, such as window sensors. In the new version, you will only need to input a target indoor temperature in the external sensor for normal operation, as well as an away temperature target. If you'd like me to prioritize this project, please let me know by supporting my work at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Pythm or https://www.patreon.com/Pythm and request "Climate Commander" development. Thanks!

Outdoor weather sensors climate reacts to

If you do not have an outdoor temperature sensor, the app will try to get the temperature from the Met.no integration.

You can use an anemometer to increase the indoor set temperature when it is windy. Define your sensor with anemometer and your target with anemometer_speed. Anemometer is a Home Assistant sensor. It will also open any screens defined if wind speed is above the target. Additionally, it will activate the boost preset mode if your HVAC supports it.

Tip

Boost will not be set if the fan mode is set to Silence.

Outdoor Lux and Rain sensors are only needed if you also want to control cover entities, such as screens or blinds for your windows. You can configure two outdoor lux sensors, with the second ending with '_2', and it will keep the highest lux value or the last if the other is not updated within the past 15 minutes. Both Lux sensors can be either MQTT or Home Assistant sensors. The rain sensor is a Home Assistant sensor.

  outside_temperature: sensor.netatmo_out_temperature
  anemometer: sensor.netatmo_anemometer_wind_strength
  anemometer_speed: 40
  rain_sensor: sensor.netatmo_rain
  OutLux_sensor: sensor.lux_sensor
  OutLuxMQTT_2: zigbee2mqtt/OutdoorHueLux

Configurations for the app

You can define an Home Assistant input_boolean helper to lower the temperature when on vacation to the temperature defined as away:

 vacation: input_boolean.vacation

Important

If you have defined a namespace for MQTT other than the default, you need to define your namespace with MQTT_namespace. Similarly, for Home Assistant, you need to define your namespace with HASS_namespace:

Temperature settings for climate

Define an external indoor temperature sensor with indoor_temp, and set target_indoor_temp for the external indoor temperature. Any screens or covers will automatically open above the set temperature:

      indoor_temp: sensor.yourIndoorTemperatureSensor
      target_indoor_temp: 23

Alternatively, you can use a Home Assistant input_number and set the target from that with target_indoor_input.

As mentioned earlier, defining a proper temperature scale will improve the climate automation. You define the climate's working temperature based on the outdoor temperature. The array will be built like this, with a normal operations temperature and an away temperature based on the out temperature. In this example, the climate will heat with 24 degrees until it reaches 1 degree.

      temperatures:
        - out: -10
          normal: 24
          away: 17
        - out: 1
          normal: 23
          away: 16

Tip

Start from your current temperature and extend the array every time you need to lower or increase the indoor temperature by one degree.

Climates will adjust up until +/- 2 degrees from the temperature defined in normal to maintain the target indoor temperature. The daytime savings and increasing times will alter the measured indoor temperature +/- 1 degree to increase or decrease the indoor temperature. The daytime_savings and daytime_increasing have a start and stop time. In addition, you can define presence detection. If anyone is home, it will not do daytime savings, but there needs to be someone home to increase the temperature.

      daytime_savings:
        - start: '10:00:00'
          stop: '14:00:00'
          presence:
            - person.wife
            - person.myself
      daytime_increasing:
        - start: '05:00:00'
          stop: '07:00:00'

There are several temperature-based configurations to define behavior:

1. hvac_fan_only_above: If the external indoor temperature sensor is above the defined value, the air conditioning will change to fan_only.
2. hvac_cooling_above: Dependent on the indoor sensor, this configuration activates cool on the Air Conditioner and sets the temperature using the hvac_cooling_temp setting.
3. cooling_temp_outside_above: Disables automated cooling when the outside temperature is below the given value.
4. The default temperature threshold when the app registers it as cold outside is 18 degrees Celsius. This configuration is mainly used for notifications but can be changed with getting_cold.
5. screening_temp: Configure a minimum outdoor temperature for when screens will automatically close.

      hvac_fan_only_above: 23.3 # Fan Only and Screening/cover auto close above value. Default: 24
      getting_cold: 18 # Temperature for when it is getting cold outide. Default: 18
      hvac_cooling_above: 25 # Cooling above inside temperature. Default: 28
      cooling_temp_outside_above: 20 # Only set hvac to cool if outside temperature is above. Default: 20
      hvac_cooling_temp: 20 # AC temperature when cooling. Default: 22
      screening_temp: 12 # Outside temperature needs to be over this to automatically close screen

Note

If you have a heater that does not have HVAC capabilities (fan_only and cool), you can define hvac_enabled to False in climate.

Tip

Define an HA input boolean and configure with automate to disable automation. Turn off to stop automating temperature.

Silent Periods

Configure times to set the fan speed to Silent.

silent:
  - start: '21:00:00'
    stop: '07:00:00'
    presence:
      - person.myself

Note: The app will revert to its previous setting when the silent period ends. If the app is restarted and the fan speed is already set to silent or if the fan speed was already silent when the silent periods began, it will remain at silent until changed manually.

Windowsensors

You can add window/door sensors to switch your HVAC to fan_only if any is opened for more than 2 minutes. If you have hvac_enabled defined as False, the heater will set the temperature to the away temperature.

Setting up sensors for screens

Each screen has a lux closing and lux opening value for automatically closing or opening your cover entity. If you have windowsensors defined, every sensor must be closed for the screen to run. Add mediaplayers sensors and a lux_open_media if you want the screen to open with a different lux value than normal. Mediaplayers can be any Home Assistant entity that returns 'on'/'off' value. You can prevent covers from closing when a person/tracker is at home using a list with not_when_home.

Tip

If you adjust your screen manually, the app will not open the cover until the outdoor lux level is below 100. Rain/wind will always open covers.

      screening:
        - screen: cover.your_screen
          windowsensors: # If the screen is on a window/door that can be opened, it will not auto-close when the sensor is 'on'
          - binary_sensor.window_door_is_open
          lux_close: 40000 # Close cover if temperatures are above target and lux is above
          lux_open: 7000 # Open cover again when lux goes below
          lux_open_media: 2000 # Optional lux setting if one of the mediaplayers is on
          not_when_home: # Only close cover automatically if persons are not at home
            - person.wife
          mediaplayers:
            - switch.projector
            - media_player.your_tv

Set up notifications

You can get notifications for when the indoor temperature is low and a window is open, or if it is hot and windows are closed. It sends notifications with Notify integration. You can use 'all' or a list with recipients.

      notify_reciever:
        - mobile_app_your_phone
      notify_title: 'ClimateCommander'
      notify_message_cold: 'It\'s getting cold inside and window is open. Temperature is'
      notify_message_warm: 'It\'s getting hot inside and temperature is'
      notify_above: 28

Get started

The easiest way to get started is to copy the example provided and update it with your sensors and climate entities. You can then add more configurations as needed. Ensure that all list and dictionary elements are correctly indented. Here's an example:

Example App configuration

nameyourClimateCommander:
  module: climateCommander
  class: Climate
  outside_temperature: sensor.netatmo_out_temperature
  anemometer: sensor.netatmo_anemometer_wind_strength
  anemometer_speed: 20 # Increases temperature inside when anemometer exceeds this amount
  rain_sensor: sensor.netatmo_rain
  OutLux_sensor: sensor.lux_sensor
  OutLuxMQTT_2: zigbee2mqtt/OutdoorHueLux
  Command:
    - climate: climate.yourClimate
      indoor_temp: sensor.yourIndoorTemperatureSensor # External indoor temperature sensor
      target_indoor_temp: 23 # Target for external indoor temperature and Screening/cover auto close above
      temperatures:   # List of outdoor temperatures with dictionary normal and away temperatures
        - out: -10   # Measured outdoor temperature
          normal: 24 # Normal temperature for app to adjust from. 
          away: 17   # Temperature to set when on holiday
        - out: 1
          normal: 23
          away: 16
        - out: 4
          normal: 22
          away: 16
        - out: 6
          normal: 21
          away: 15
        - out: 11
          normal: 20
          away: 14
        - out: 12
          normal: 18
          away: 14
        - out: 16
          normal: 16
          away: 14
        - out: 18
          normal: 15
          away: 14
      hvac_fan_only_above: 24 # Fan Only above value
      hvac_cooling_above: 28 # Cooling above
      hvac_cooling_temp: 22 # AC temperature when cooling
      screening_temp: 8 # Outside temperature needs to be over this to automatically close screen
      # Cover your windows if indoor temperature and outdoor lux gets above target to stop the sun from heating even more
      screening:
        - screen: cover.your_screen
          windowsensors: # If screen is on a window/door that can be opened it will not autoclose when sensor is 'on'
          - binary_sensor.window_door_is_open
          lux_close: 40000 # Close cover if temperatures is above target and lux is above
          lux_open: 7000 # Open cover again when lux goes below
          lux_open_media: 2000 # Optional lux setting if one of the mediaplayers is on
          not_when_home: # Only close cover automatically if persons are not at home
            - person.wife
          mediaplayers:
          - switch.projector
          - media_player.your_tv
      # Notifications for when temperatures is low and window is open, or hot and windows are closed
      notify_reciever:
        - mobile_app_your_phone
      notify_title: 'ClimateCommander'
      notify_message_cold: 'It\'s getting cold inside and window is open. Temperature is'
      notify_message_warm: 'It\'s getting hot inside and temperature is'
      notify_above: 28 # Sends you a notification to open a window if indoor temperature exceeds

Key definitions for defining app

key	optional	type	default	introduced in	description
module	False	string		v1.0.0	The module name of the app.
class	False	string		v1.0.0	The name of the Class.
HASS_namespace	True	string	default	v1.0.0	HASS namespace
MQTT_namespace	True	string	default	v1.0.0	MQTT namespace
vacation	True	input_boolean	input_boolean.vacation	v1.0.0	Sets Vacation temperature
outside_temperature	True	sensor		v1.0.0	Sensor for outside temperature
anemometer	True	sensor		v1.0.0	Sensor for wind speed
anemometer_speed	True	int	40	v1.0.0	windy target
rain_sensor	True	sensor		v1.0.0	Sensor for rain detection
OutLux_sensor	True	sensor		v1.0.0	Sensor for Lux detection
OutLuxMQTT	True	MQTT sensor		v1.0.0	Lux detection via MQTT
OutLux_sensor_2	True	sensor		v1.0.0	Secondary Sensor for Lux detection
OutLuxMQTT_2	True	MQTT sensor		v1.0.0	Secondary Lux detection via MQTT

Key definitions for defining climates

key	optional	type	default	introduced in	description
Command	False	list		v1.0.0	Contains climates
climate	False	climate entity		v1.0.0	The entity_id of the climate
indoor_temp	False	sensor		v1.0.0	External indoor temperature sensor
target_indoor_temp	True	int	23	v1.0.0	Indoor target temperature and Screening/cover auto close
target_indoor_input	True	input_number		v1.0.3	Set indoor target temperature with a HA sensor
automate	True	input_boolean	True	v1.0.3	Turn off a input boolean to stop automating temperature
temperatures	False	list		v1.0.0	List of outdoor temperatures with dictionary normal and away temperatures
windowsensors	True	list		v1.0.0	Will set fan_only when window is opened for more than 2 minutes
daytime_savings	True	dictionary		v1.0.0	Contains start / stop and optionally presence to lower temperature
daytime_increasing	True	dictionary		v1.0.0	Contains start / stop and optionally presence to increase temperature
silence	True	dictionary		v1.0.4	Contains start / stop and optionally presence to set fan to silence
hvac_enabled	True	bool	True	v1.0.1	Set to false to disable HVAC possibilities for heating only
getting_cold	True	int	18	v1.0.6	Cold outside for notifications below outside temperature
hvac_fan_only_above	True	int	24	v1.0.0	Fan Only above value
hvac_cooling_above	True	int	28	v1.0.0	Cooling above
cooling_temp_outside_above	True	int	20	v1.0.6	Cooling above
hvac_cooling_temp	True	int	22	v1.0.0	AC temperature when cooling
notify_reciever	True	list		v1.0.0	Notify recipients
notify_title	True	string	ClimateCommander	v1.0.0	Title
notify_message_cold	True	string	It's getting cold inside and window is open. Temperature is	v1.0.0	Message
notify_message_warm	True	string	It's getting hot inside and temperature is	v1.0.0	Message
notify_above	True	int	28	v1.0.0	Sends you a notification to open a window if indoor temperature exceeds

Key definitions for defining screens

key	optional	type	default	introduced in	description
screening_temp	True	int	8	v1.0.0	Outside temperature needs to be over this to automatically close screen
screening	True	dictionary		v1.0.0	Contains a list of cover entities to control
windowsensors	True	list		v1.0.0	If screen is on a window/door that can be opened it will not autoclose when sensor is 'on'
lux_close	True	int	40000	v1.0.0	Close cover if temperatures is above target and lux is above
lux_open	True	int	15000	v1.0.0	Open cover when lux goes below
lux_open_media	True	int	4000	v1.0.0	Optional lux open setting if one of the mediaplayers is on
not_when_home	True	list		v1.0.0	Only close cover automatically if persons are not at home
mediaplayers	True	list		v1.0.0	list of switches/media to use alternative lux open value