You may have heard the term ‘smart’ homes but do not fully understand what the term means. Maybe you are wondering how you can make your own home smarter. Is it something that requires a lot of capital, or are there things that can be done without spending a small fortune?
Before you can make your home smarter, you obviously need to understand what a smart home is. According to the Collins English Dictionary, a smart home is a dwelling equipped with systems and appliances that can be operated remotely using a computer or mobile phone.
Getting Smarter
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a huge fortune making your home smarter. Also, there are many things that you can do yourself,thereby eliminating the need to pay a contractor. To that end, below are a few ideas:
Switch to Smart Lighting
Smart lighting is both quick and easy to install; all you need to do is change the lightbulbs. The smart bulbs come with a hub which is connected to your router via a port. The hub acts as a bridge between the bulbs and an app that is controlled by a smartphone or tablet. It connects your phone to the bulbs wirelessly, allowing you to turn the lights on and off from a smartphone or tablet. Smart bulbs often have other features, such as dimming and brightening functions or different colors. Another benefit of smart bulbs is that they can be connected to virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google’s Echo Dot.
Install Smart Security
For peace of mind, you can install smart security cameras around your home. Alternatively, something as simple as a smart doorbell is quick and easy to install by yourself. A smart doorbell comes with motion detectors that switch the internal camera to record and an app which will notify you when there is activity at the door. You can also access a live feed via your phone from which you can talk to the individual at the door if necessary.
Consider a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat is one of the best ways to make your home smarter. With this device you can access your heating from anywhere, allowing you to, among other things, turn on the heating just before you get home. This means not having to arrive home to a freezing house or waste energy by leaving the heating on for hours before you get home. This is especially useful for those who often end up working late in the office and get home later than expected. Another benefit of a smart thermostat is the ability to check your energy consumption and the temperature of the home, allowing you to adjust it if necessary. And should you be suddenly struck with a gnawing dread that you have left the heating or air conditioning on after leaving the house, you can easily check and quickly switch it off from an app on your cellphone if need be.
Spending More to Save More
If your budget allows, you can consider solar energy. The folk at Vivint Energy, experts when it comes to all things solar, say to really make the most of your other smart devices, you should think about investing in a solar panel system.This will allow you to generate electricity, and help you make significant savings. A smart app connected to a solar panel system will let you quickly see how much electricity the panels are generating, how much you are using, and how much is being sent to the grid. Although costlier to install, a solar panel systemwill help you save money in the long term.
