Hubitat Introduces $99 Smart Home Hub Compatible With Multiple Protocols

A new home automation hub from Hubitat erases the Zigbee or Z-Wave smart home question for consumers by integrating radios for both. The Elevation hub is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant digital assistants, Lutron’s smart home protocols, local area network and cloud-connected home automation devices, and it can integrate with some Iris smart plugs, motion and water sensors, said the company. Elevation’s differentiator from cloud-based solutions is local processing, which makes automated operations “reliable, more responsive and private,” it said. Features include a Rule Machine that creates automations; safety alerts for intrusion, smoke, carbon dioxide and water; time-based scenes; and an open developer program that enables users to develop their own code, apps and drivers to share with the Hubitat community. The hub will be available for a limited-time $50-off introductory price of $99 at habitat.com and is expected to be on Amazon beginning Friday. The company plans to run a national TV ad campaign to support the rollout.