Stadtwerke Neumünster launches smart home platform "Zukunftsbude" - Secure digital solutions for a more comfortable home

No more dreams of the future - the SWN future booth now has what many have long dreamed of: Users can open the front door remotely via an app on their cell phone or receive an automated signal if someone in their home is in an emergency situation. These are just two of the smart applications from the smart home platform "Zukunftsbude", which was launched by Stadtwerke Neumünster (SWN) and ROCKETHOME, the leading solution provider for Smart Building, Energy IoT. "Our aim is to use digitalization to make our customers' everyday lives safer, more comfortable and more sustainable," says Michael Böddeker, SWN Managing Director. The "Zukunftsbude" app and digital solutions in the apartment, house or garage can be used to create a smart home, network technical devices and control them digitally. "Among other things, you can optimize the consumption of electricity, heat and water, which generally leads to bottom-line savings," explains Stephanie Schröder, Project and Product Manager at Zukunftsbude. One example of this is automatically turning down the radiator thermostats as soon as all residents have left the house. The smart applications can also be used to remotely check whether all windows are closed. The roller shutters can also be controlled from anywhere.

Controlling energy use digitally
Digital applications via the Zukunftsbude also make it very easy to set up the heating to be switched on and off or the light to be operated from anywhere. "There are many ways to make everyday life more convenient and energy-efficient with the Zukunftsbude," emphasizes Stephanie Schröder. The private charging station for electric cars - called a wallbox - can also be integrated into the Zukunftsbude system. Users can then use the app to set the start and end points as well as the duration of a charging session. "This means that the electric car is always charged and ready to go at the desired time," explains Stephanie Schröder, adding: "The ecological footprint is even better if e-mobilists integrate a photovoltaic system into their energy solution that generates solar power for their own use - or if they choose our green electricity tariff."

Play it safe
"Emergency situations can arise in everyday life, especially for people who are frail or have health problems. Digital solutions increase their safety," says Stephanie Schröder. The "Assisted Living" solution uses sensor technology and notifies users in the event of unusual inactivity in a relative's home; the profile for this is based on their personal habits. In an emergency, users can let help into the house via a digital door lock. "The digital door lock offers added value in many cases. For example, if the children come home early from school, don't have a key and no one is at home. The smart solution is also ideal for vacation home owners. They can grant guests access to their vacation home without having to be there in person."

How it works
"Our trainees took a close look at every device from PropTech ROCKETHOME, which specializes in IoT services in buildings, in our trainee workshop," says the Zukunftsbude project manager. On the website, interested parties can choose from the various smart home packages and intelligent devices. Configure and connect devices, manage settings and set up rules: Users can then access their personal Zukunftsbude and make their home smart via the free app for iOS and Android or via the web portal. "Security and privacy are our top priority. We operate our cloud in a data center in Germany," explains Stephanie Schröder. Support and further information is available digitally at any time: SWN offers personal advice and help with installation by telephone and video conference.

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