To better control its energy expenditure, Aqara is launching its E1 thermostatic head in France

The economic situation imposes energy savings, but it is not easy with winter coming. To better control the temperature of your home, and therefore reduce your bill, thermostatic heads are one of the solutions to consider. Aqara, a specialist in connected homes, is releasing its latest model in France: the E1.

Supplied with an M 30 x 1.5mm threaded connection and adapters for RA, RAV and RAVL valves, the E1 would be compatible with most installations. It can also be connected to wall heaters, towel warmers or underfloor heating. If the thermostatic head does not need any particular tool, a Zigbee connection bridge, also sold by Aqara, is necessary. It should also support Matter following a later OTA update of the hub.

Dressed in a backlit color screen, the E1 indicates the desired temperature. It is possible to adjust it manually, by voice or via the smartphone application. The device supports HomeKit, Alexa, Google, IFTTT.

This connectivity offers several options to the user to try to better control their energy consumption. Programs can be defined to adapt the temperature according to the different times of the day. For example, it is possible to lower the heating, or even turn it off completely, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The radiator can also adapt to the weather and heat more in case of extreme cold. Aqara also offers geofencing. This option is based on the movement of the user and consists of turning on the heating before arriving at home. Finally, an antifreeze mode proposes to maintain a temperature between 5 and 15°C to avoid damaging the pipes.

The thermostatic head detects and adjusts the room temperature using an internal sensor. This reading sometimes turns out to be imprecise, because the sensor is obviously attached to the heat source, which is the radiator. For greater accuracy, the E1 can rely on an external sensor, such as the Aqara temperature and humidity sensor. The user must then install it in the room, connect the two products together and let the sensor adjust the thermostatic valve itself according to the actual temperature it has detected.

Manufacturer’s door and window sensors can also be connected to the E1. Once configured, the thermostatic head automatically stops when a door or window is opened.

In short, everything is designed to save energy as much as possible.

Available in France since September 13, 2022, the E1 thermostatic head is on sale on Amazon at €59.99. Knowing that we must add to this the manufacturer’s Zigbee bridge, also offered for around sixty euros.