NFC Tags

 I have reached a point in my smart home automations where it seems like I need to start adding buttons to trigger actions. Doing that would add another class of device that needs routine maintenance for batteries. The preferred solution that avoids batteries seems to using NFC tags. This approach has the added benefit of being much cheaper with the only apparent drawback being the tags seeming out of place in some installation locations. 

Home Assistant makes NFC tags very easy to use by including in the companion app both a reader and writer.  This allows you to purchase relatively inexpensive sticker tags that can be installed anywhere. These are the ones I ended up using tags , 28 stickers for a little under 14 dollars after tax.

I have added tags to trigger automations for obvious things like a bedtime routine, hue lights,  and outlet controls.  Additionally a couple more complex uses such as having a tag on my cars charging port cover that when scanned scheduled the car charger to start in 30 minutes giving the battery time to cool down  but still allowing me to have a full charge for a second trip later in the day. Also one has been setup to be scanned post shower; this schedules the bathroom fan and lights to turn off a few minutes later and handles disconnecting my phone from the Bluetooth speaker integrated into the vent fan allowing me continue playback of whatever I was listening too while the vent is still on. 

I am sure I will find some additional uses for these tags as I still have several left. I know some people have used these tags to track events instead of triggering actions. My next use for them might be to set basic alarms for things I routinely cook that rely on consistent timers.