Our Blog
News, tips, and guides for smart homes and automation
HEDNO (ΔΕΔΔΗΕ) smart meters in Greece: what data they provide, what the H1 port is and how a smart home uses it
HEDNO is installing thousands of smart meters a day across Greece. What they record, where you see your data, why the H1 port is not yet available to households, and how home automation gets real-time energy data today.
Balcony Solar and Standalone Batteries in Greece: What the New Ministerial Decision Allows (ΦΕΚ Β 5573/2026)
Up to 800 W from your balcony, home batteries with zero grid export, and new net billing rules. What applies in Greece, what you need to connect, and how automation makes the investment pay off.
EPBD 2024/1275: What Changes for Building Automation, Controls and EV Charging in New Buildings (a Guide for Engineers in Greece)
The recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive brings automation and control requirements for homes and commercial buildings, automatic lighting controls and EV pre-cabling. What applies, the deadlines, and how to design for it now.
Wireless KNX (KNX RF): a Smart Home Renovation Without Chasing Walls
You don't need to open walls to get professional automation. How KNX RF works, which devices exist, when to combine it with wired KNX, and when it beats options like Matter.
Is KNX Secure? What the Attacks Taught Us and How to Protect a Smart Home in 2026
Attacks on KNX installations almost always came from the same mistake: an open port on the router. What to check, what KNX Secure is, how to do remote access properly, and what the new EU rules change.
Smart Home and Solar in Greece: How Automation Raises Self-Consumption Under Net Billing
Under net billing, energy you send to the grid is paid at the hourly wholesale price, which at midday often drops close to zero. What applies in Greece, what is changing, and how a smart home makes solar pay off.
Cyber Resilience Act: What Changes for Smart Device Security and What to Look for When Buying
From September 11, 2026, IoT manufacturers must report actively exploited vulnerabilities within 24 hours. The EU is finally setting rules for smart home security. Here's what it means for you.
Dynamic Electricity Tariffs: How a Smart Home Turns Hourly Prices into Real Savings
Dynamic pricing has arrived in Greece: hourly electricity rates, HEDNO smart meters, and automation that shifts your loads to the cheap hours without you thinking about it.
KNX in 2026: what is really happening with AI, radar presence sensors and Matter
Radar sensors that notice a person sitting still, KNX IoT, KNX to Matter bridges and the first AI tools from the KNX Association. What is on the market today, what is still a demo, and what is worth having in a home.
Zero-emission homes: what KNX automation can and cannot do in 2026
How much energy automation really saves according to European standards, what the new EPBD directive requires, how KNX works with heat pumps and EV chargers, and why V2H is not yet allowed in Greece.
Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi: what changes in the smart home and what it means for the devices you already own
Zigbee 4.0 brings stronger security, hub replacement without re-pairing, Zigbee Direct over Bluetooth and Suzi for long range in sub-GHz bands. What is available today, what is not on the market yet, and where Zigbee fits next to KNX and Matter.
How an Existing Home Can Become 'Smart'
Home automation is not only for new builds. Learn how an already built home can be upgraded step by step with wireless solutions and minimal intervention.
10 Things You Didn't Know a Smart Home Can Do
Smart home automation is far more than app-controlled lights. Here are 10 practical capabilities that improve comfort, safety, and energy efficiency.
A 'Smart Home' Is Not a Luxury. It Is the Evolution of the Home.
Well-designed home automation is not about flashy gadgets. It is about comfort, safety, efficiency, and less daily stress.
Local vs Cloud in Smart Home: What you risk when 'everything goes through a server'
The key question a homeowner (and a professional) must ask: If the internet goes down or the cloud changes, what continues to work?
KNX vs Zigbee / Z-Wave / Thread / Matter: What Goes Where (Wired Backbone, Wireless Edge)
What should be infrastructure (backbone) and what can be edge? A practical guide to correct Smart Home architecture.
Home Cinema: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and HDMI vs Optical — A Survival Guide
Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, HDMI ARC, Optical… Confused? A simple guide to understand what you hear and how to connect it right.
Home Cinema: On-wall, In-wall, Ceiling Speakers (and how to choose without regrets)
In home cinema, everyone talks about amps, but 80% of the result is determined by the speakers. See how to choose between on-wall, in-wall, and ceiling.
Network: Why Without Proper LAN/Wi-Fi, All 'Smart' Things Become a Problem
The most common 'secret' behind a failing smart home isn't automation. It's the network. See how to build it right.
Security in Home/Business: Cameras, NVR, VLANs and Remote Access… Done Right
Cameras and security systems are common 'smart' installations. See how to do them right, with NVR, VLANs, and secure access.
HVAC Automation: Zones, Thermostats, Interlocks — 'Don't Fight the HVAC'
HVAC is where 'smart home' can make the biggest difference. The most useful principle: Don't fight the HVAC. Cooperate with it.
Shading Automation: Comfort, Savings, Privacy (and why 'Weather + Sun' matter more than you think)
If lighting is the most visible part, shading is the most underrated. See how blinds become a tool for comfort, economy, and protection.
Lighting: On/Off vs Dimming vs DALI — and what 'good atmosphere' means
Lighting is the most visible part of a smart home. Learn when On/Off is enough, when you need Dimming, and what DALI offers.
PIR vs mmWave: A Guide to Presence Sensors That Actually Work
The dilemma is clear: PIR or mmWave? The right answer isn't 'one is better', but: what space do you have and what behavior do you want.
Smart Home is not a Wi-Fi bulb — it's the system
Most people start with a Wi-Fi bulb. But that's usually remote control, not automation. A truly smart home is infrastructure: reliable, logical, scalable.
5 Common Myths About Smart Homes Debunked
Is a smart home only for the tech-savvy? Too expensive? We separate fact from fiction and explore the reality of modern home automation.
KNX vs Wi-Fi Smart Home: Why Choose Professional Automation
Is Wi-Fi enough for a smart home? Discover why KNX offers superior reliability, security, and longevity compared to consumer-grade wireless solutions.
Energy Saving in Hotels: How Automation Cuts Operating Costs
Learn how smart sensors, HVAC control, and lighting management can reduce energy consumption by up to 40% without sacrificing guest comfort.