Leviton has announced that its Decora smart switches and plugs can be integrated with Nest’s Works with Nest platform. That means that the Wi-Fi connected electrical hardware can now react with automated routines based on the sensors found in Nest’s Learning Thermostat, Nest Cam, and Nest Protect products. The switches are already relatively smart on their own and even feature compatibility with both Alexa and Assistant for voice control, as well as IFTTT integration. So this announcement really just adds one more way for users to get the most out of that system with as little effort required as possible.
Of course, Leviton provides a few of their own for use case scenarios, accessible by linking a Nest account in the My Leviton app. For example, a smart switch can be used to automatically turn on specific lights within or around the home on a motion detection event triggered by a Nest Cam. A similar scenario can be set to play out if Nest Protect detects smoke or carbon monoxide, or if Nest’s Learning Thermostat or other sensor detects that a user is arriving at home. They can also be set to kick on the lights periodically while the user is not at home in order to give the appearance the somebody is at home. Lastly, Leviton says that this can also be used to blink lights for up to 12 hours following specific events. Obviously, that would be useful for Nest Protect’s fire or carbon monoxide detection features but also makes sense if a user wants to grab a would-be burglar’s attention following motion detection with the Nest Cam.
However, for those who may not already be aware, the Decora line includes connected light switches, dimmers, plugs, and products that are combinations of those. So the possibilities for the intrepid home automation consumer really kind of endless, with regard to what kinds of smart controls can be programmed in. Better still, the fact that plugs are part of the Decora family of smart home accessories means that it isn’t just lights that can be controlled as part of the automation. It’s also entirely possible that other Nest products will be included in the future. So this may just be a must-have item for anybody looking to upgrade their home to a smart home.