Aussie man lights up neighbourhood with genius bin night trick

In The Land Down Under, where the wildlife is as unique as the local lingo, an Aussie bloke has taken the mundane task of bin night and turned it into a spectacle that has his neighbours and the internet calling him a 'genius'.

It's a tale of ingenuity that might inspire you to rethink your weekly routine.


Hammond Park resident Simon Gie has devised an elaborate yet brilliant system to remember the all-important bin night.

His method? A dazzling display of lights that not only serves as a reminder for himself but also his neighbourhood.

Using a 'homebrew solution' running on an automation platform called Home Assistant, Gie has programmed lights above his garage door to indicate which bin to take out weekly.

This isn't your run-of-the-mill setup; it's a customised integration of smart home technology and a bit of DIY spirit.


compressed-led lights.jpeg
Simon Gie’s unorthodox approach for a menial task stole the hearts of his neighbours and the internet. Image Credit: Facebook/Simon Daniel Gie


'Basically, you can use this platform to automate jobs around the house—it's kind of like a combination of that and an LED controller,' Gie explained.

'Home Assistant checks the calendar that I created in Google Calendar... it just takes that and then applies certain presets to my LEDs above my garage.'



His innovation does not stop there.

An hour before sunset, a gentle reminder is broadcast through all the Google Home speakers in his house, ensuring he never misses the cue to haul the bins out.

The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.

‘The neighbour across the road really liked it, he said it reminded him a couple of times,’ he shared.

In a neighbourhood that's still getting to know each other, Gie's creative approach to a shared responsibility has been a bright spot—quite literally.


The reaction has been just as enthusiastic online as well.

Comments range from vows to replicate the system to sheer admiration for the clever use of technology.

'Definitely doing this to my facade feature lighting,' one person declared.

Another exclaimed, 'This is the best thing ever! All the neighbours must love it.'

Gie's system has struck a chord with people far and wide.

In a world where we're busy with the daily grind, it's refreshing to see someone take a routine task and inject fun and community spirit into it.
Key Takeaways

  • A Western Australian man has received praise for his 'homebrew solution' using home automation to remind him of bin night.
  • His inventive setup uses a home automation platform called Home Assistant and an LED controller to provide visual and voice reminders.
  • Neighbours have appreciated the innovative approach, citing its helpfulness.
  • The story has captured the attention of social media users, with many expressing admiration for the creative system and considering implementing similar ideas in their own homes.
Have you ever come up with a creative solution to a forgettable chore? Perhaps you're now considering how you might use technology to simplify your daily tasks. Share your stories with us in the comments below!
 
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All I do is put a G or Y on the calendar every bin day at the start of each month.

The calendar is hung on the fridge so I see it several times a day.

Never had any problems and only costs a tiny bit of pen ink.
 

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