HVAC with Autopilot
HVAC devices in Autopilot generally cover two areas: space heating and cooling, and domestic hot water heating.
Space heating and cooling
The available Autopilot modes depend on the connected device and integration.
Smart Schedule
Smart Schedule is the simplest HVAC Autopilot mode. It is especially useful for air-to-air devices, such as split heating and cooling units.
You define the allowed operating hours and the desired runtime, for example 3 hours. Autopilot then plans those runtime hours within the operating window. The hours do not need to be consecutive.
The schedule is planned for the most cost-effective times based on electricity prices and solar forecasts. During the scheduled periods, Autopilot switches the device on. The device heats or cools toward the setpoint configured on the device, which is also visible in the app.
When the device reaches its setpoint, the device’s own control logic may stop heating or cooling. Autopilot controls when the device is allowed to run; the device itself still controls its setpoint behavior.
AI Climate Mode
AI Climate Mode is available for certain HVAC devices. It is smarter than a fixed runtime schedule because it uses the building’s temperature flexibility.
In AI Climate Mode, Autopilot can pre-heat or pre-cool when it is most cost-effective, for example during the cheapest electricity price periods or when solar production is expected. After that, it lets the room temperature move within a band around the setpoint.
For cooling, the temperature may increase within the allowed band before the device runs again. For heating, the temperature may decrease within the allowed band before the device runs again.
The temperature band has two settings:
- Comfort: keeps the temperature closer to the setpoint.
- Cost Saving: allows a wider temperature band so Autopilot can shift more heating or cooling to cheaper times.
Domestic hot water heating
For compatible heat pumps and hot water tanks, Autopilot can optimize domestic hot water heating separately from space heating and cooling.
Depending on the integration, this may appear as a hot water tank, water heater, or hot water boost device in the app. Autopilot can shift hot water production to low-price periods or times with excess solar energy.
If your HVAC system exposes space heating or cooling and domestic hot water as separate devices, configure Autopilot on the device that matches the behavior you want to optimize.