Smart Home Energy Skill Overview
You can use the Alexa APIs to report energy usage and manage automation of devices that consume energy. The smart home energy interfaces are intended to help users manage their energy usage with the Alexa energy dashboard. You create smart home energy skills the same way you create any other smart home skill. For details, see Understand the Smart Home Skill API and Steps to Build a Smart Home Skill.
Utterances
The smart home energy interfaces are different than other Alexa interfaces. Your skill doesn't support voice user interactions with Alexa. Instead, your skill communicates with Alexa about energy usage and device automation. There are usually no user utterances associated with these interfaces.
Alexa interfaces for smart home energy skills
The following are the Alexa interfaces that you can use to build smart home energy skills.
- AutomationManagement
- Implement the
AutomationManagementinterface in your Alexa skill for your devices that support automation, such as thermostats. - DeviceUsage.Estimation
- Implement the
Estimationinterface so that users can view an estimate of their energy use for devices that don't measure energy use directly, such as light bulbs and televisions. - DeviceUsage.Meter
- Implement the
Meterinterface so that users can view their energy use for devices that measure energy use directly, such as electricity and natural gas meters. - ThermostatController.HVAC.Components
- Implement the
HVAC.Componentsinterface so that users can view an estimate of their energy use for a thermostat device or a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
Works with Alexa guidelines
Works with Alexa (WWA) is a certification program that raises the bar on responsiveness, reliability, and functionality, ensuring your customers have the best smart home experiences. When your products receive certification, they can carry the Works with Alexa badge in the Amazon Smart Home Store and on product packaging. For details, see Works with Alexa Overview.