Nearly every facet of a modern home can be controlled with smart technology. Thanks to digital communications, we can use mobile apps on a connected device to effortlessly manage lights, locks, cameras, thermostats, appliances, and security systems. The list of benefits for advanced home automation includes greater convenience, enhanced security, and big energy savings. Besides, smart home technology is just cool.
Setting a comfortable temperature from an app? That’s nothing compared to what smart homes now offer. The technology is helping society transition to renewable energy to power our homes and our cars. If you have been searching for ways on how to make a smart home using the latest technology, you came to the right place.
The first chapter of the smart home revolution
It’s been nearly a decade since smart thermostats were introduced. It was remarkable the first time we nudged up the temperature a few degrees without getting off the couch. The intelligence built into the smart device was even more impressive. After a couple of weeks of turning the heat up or down, a smart thermostat learns your daily habits. Before long, the appliance knows the optimal temperature at each hour of the week—adjusting for when you are away. In the process, we saved money by not using heat and AC when it wasn’t needed.
At first, smart thermostats cost a bit more than traditional versions. But they delivered a return of investment based on energy savings. Today, most consumers couldn’t imagine installing a so-called dumb thermostat without mobile-app control and learning algorithms. A similar revolution has occurred with wireless home security systems, many of which can be installed DIY. These systems turn a smartphone into a house’s command center. Fire up the app to get a live feed from smart home security cameras, whether you’re inside the house or halfway around the world. When a guest rings the doorbell, you get a smartphone notification. Tap it to open a video chat with your visitor. Another tap unlocks the door to let them in.
Again, the marvel of a smart home system is not simply the ability to remotely open doors or turn on lights with the tap of a smart switch. It’s the creation of a centralized platform for scheduling when lights come on, sprinklers water the lawn, or a burglar alarm is activated. That platform—a personal network of web-enabled devices—keeps a record of these activities so you can see when kids come from school or a garage door is left open.
Smart home and smart grid
A smart home becomes turbocharged when it’s connected to external systems. For example, a home security system is remotely monitored by an alarm company. If there’s an unwanted intruder, the company (if permitted) can listen or see what’s happening in the home. That capability allows security monitors to dispatch police or firefighters with speed and confidence. It’s a potential life-saver.
Let’s go one step further. It’s predicted that utility companies will become the number one users of the so-called Internet-of-Things infrastructure. A Smart Meter (also accessible via mobile apps) allows a utility to provide customers with detailed information about energy usage at different times of the day. A consumer can use this data to manage lower time-of-use electricity rates. In turn, the utility can know when there’s an outage and quickly restore service.
Many of these activities benefit from geolocation services by enabling a connected device. For example, the smart home system knows when you (or even your car) are approaching your home. The garage door opens automatically. The thermostat is adjusted, and lights turn on. Savvy home automation enthusiasts go further by transferring a music playlist from a car’s speakers to the home audio system.