Control HVAC and Water Systems From Anywhere with HestiaPi Touch

The Raspberry Pi has been synonymous with home automation since the board was released seven years ago. It made it easy to control lights, appliances, and media without the need for overly complicated hardware setups and software so that anyone could design their own platforms. The HestiaPi Touch smart thermostat fits into that home automation ecosystem quite nicely, and can even be used by itself to monitor and control heat, air conditioning, water temperature, and more.

As the name implies, the HestiaPi packs a Raspberry Pi Zero W to control the show and features wireless communication through 802.11 b/g/n WLAN, and Bluetooth 4.1 Low Energy. The smart thermostat comes equipped with a 3.5-inch LCD single-point touchscreen, integrated Bosch BME280 I2C sensor suite (temperature, humidity, and pressure), 3/4X solid-state AC relays (SSR), and connects to mains power or common wire. Everything is housed inside in a 3D-printed case with several colors to choose from.

On the software side, the HestiaPi comes pre-loaded with the OpenHAB 2 home automation package and is fully compatible with MQTT. Monitoring, controlling, and setting parameters is done via an app that’s compatible with Android, iOS, and Windows, and can function with Google Home and Alexa.

The HestiaPi is open source, and those looking to build their own can find all the files and code needed to do so on its GitHub page. Otherwise, you can pick yours up on Crowd Supply starting at $95 for a DIY kit and $145 for a deluxe kit. Delivery is slated for October.