Imagine living in a home that adapts to your behaviors, responds to your commands, and creates an environment tailored to your needs. Sound like a scene from the Jetsons? It's actually real life. Home automation systems are making a big splash these days, providing added convenience for daily living, reducing energy costs through increased efficiency, and even boosting home values.
Types of Home Automation Devices
Climate Control Smart thermostats can do much more than adjust your home's temperature at specific times. Many of these devices learn from your habits and automatically program themselves to create an environment suited to your preferences. Some have occupancy sensors to deliver a consistent temperature for whichever room you're in and also adjust to conserve energy while you're away. For optimal performance, look for smart phone enabled devices that allow you to control your thermostat remotely.
Keyless Entry Gone are the days of being locked out of the house or leaving keys under the doormat. With keyless entry systems, you can unlock your door with a keypad, fingerprint ID, or even through a mobile app. Will the repair technician be stopping by while you're at work? Just assign a temporary access code. Need to let someone in on a whim? Open any exterior door, including your garage, with the simple touch of a button on your smartphone.
Security and Surveillance For complete peace of mind about the safety of your home, a smart security and surveillance system lets you monitor your home from practically anywhere. You can start with simple features like a smart doorbell to see who's at the door before opening it, or opt for a more comprehensive system that includes motion sensors, lights, and surveillance cameras. Cloud connected systems allow for easy storage of your surveillance footage. In addition, you can program your system to notify you or trigger certain actions, like turning the lights on, when specific events occur.
Lighting Smart lighting has far surpassed the clap-on, clap-off technology that was popular in the '80s. Today, you can turn the lights on or off with a simple voice command. Most also have apps that allow you to adjust brightness and hue from your phone or mobile device. You can also sync your home lighting with your schedule, so the lights come on before you get home from work and turn off when you go to bed. As an added bonus, leading smart bulbs have a life span of about 15 years and can help you save big on energy costs.
Digital Assistants Artificial intelligence, in the form of digital assistants, is becoming the zenith of home automation. Not only do these voice controlled devices simplify everyday tasks, like telling you the weather, but they also have the capability of connecting almost every smart gadget in your home. Just think if your smart lighting, thermostat, appliances, and more could all be connected through a central hub that accepts your voice commands? That, ultimately, is the epitome of a smart home.
As technology continues to develop at a rapid pace, the adoption of home automation is likely to pick up speed. To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on these emerging trends and consider whether now is a good time to start automating functions in your home.
