Blueprint: basic scenario for dynamic washing machine automation

Why the washing machine is perfect for dynamic tariffs

The washing machine is one of the easiest appliances to link to dynamic Leafy Energy tariffs. The laundry has to be done at some point, but the exact hour is usually flexible. This makes it ideal for a first automation blueprint.

Goals of this blueprint

• Ensure the laundry is ready by a certain time (for example 07:00).
• Shift the cycle into the cheapest price blocks as much as possible.
• Preserve comfort: no laundry that only finishes in the middle of the day.

Smart home components

• A washing machine that starts as soon as it receives power, or supports “delayed start”.
• A smart plug or home automation controller (Home Assistant, Homey).
• Leafy Energy integration providing current and future prices.

Step-by-step logic

1. The user loads the washing machine and toggles a virtual switch “Washing machine ready for Leafy”.
2. Leafy Energy calculates the cheapest blocks between now and the desired finish time.
3. The system picks a start time to ensure the cycle finishes just in time.
4. The smart plug turns on at the selected start time; the machine runs its full program.

Demo variants

• Conservative mode: only starts during very cheap hours, with a smaller planning window.
• Comfort mode: starts a bit earlier to reduce risk, even if that is not the absolute cheapest hour.
• Hard deadline: the finish time is more important than savings; Leafy may use expensive hours if needed.

In a Leafy Energy demo, this blueprint can be visualised with a timeline showing price blocks, the chosen start time and cycle duration. It immediately makes dynamic planning tangible.