Winter is coming, Z-Wave, Zigbee, and some telemetry

[Vadim Tkachenko]

Hello lurkers,

So, the next heating season is here, along with price increases on...
just about everything, electricity being somewhere near the top.

I was already trying to be frugal about heating, using it only in
areas of the house where it was needed - but until Z-Wave switches
were integrated (and I suspect, as a side effect, Zigbee devices as
well, with zigbee2mqtt - verification coming) that was not automated.

Standalone heating devices sold where I live are mostly dumb - even
though they have thermostats, those thermostats are highly inaccurate
and only serve the heating device itself, not people around, hence low
comfort. However, now that external sensors can be used to control
those heat sources, comfort can be improved while saving money as
well. If your switch happens to have an embedded energy monitor - so
much the better.

All you need to do to use those heat sources instead of your central
HVAC is to refer to the Z-Wave switch in SwitchableHvacDevice
configuration.

All Z-Wave devices being used are documented here:
https://github.com/home-climate-control/dz/wiki/Z-Wave:-Devices-Already-Tested

I started buying Z-Wave devices when they cost a fraction of what they
do today, prices have skyrocketed since. Zigbee devices seem to be
cheaper these days, so this is what I'll be investigating next.
Currently collecting the BOM, any words of wisdom are welcome.
Candidates:

- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KXTCMSC Zigbee hub (thanks to TK for the hint)
- https://www.amazon.com/Sengled-Compatible-Required-Appliances-Certified/dp/B08FJ5LHSN
- 15A monitoring outlet (I'd like to get a Sonoff switch for
consistency, but it doesn't look they manufacture monitoring Zigbee
devices)
- https://www.amazon.com/Temperature-Humidity-Checking-Thermometer-Hygrometer/dp/B08BCJNDYQ
- not that I don't have enough sensors, but just for the complete
picture, and because they are a complete fire-and-forget aesthetically
complete package that doesn't need to be fiddled with and just works
(at least ostensibly). The only question is - what's the battery life,
and can I get readings often enough for HCC to support decent control
quality.

--vt