Smart homes are becoming more and more popular. With the Internet of Things (IoT) and innovative home technology becoming more accessible, there’s no better time to invest in your future than now. Smart homes offer users a variety of benefits, from cost-saving devices like smart thermostats and security cameras to the ability to automate tasks with virtual assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant.
Smart homes come in many forms-from remote locking systems for cars, gates, or garages to automated lighting fixtures that can adjust the brightness based on time of day. And, they all have one thing in common; they make living life at home comfortable, more convenient, and effective.
That said, let’s look at these seven steps that can transform your house into a smart home:
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Power with solar
You can make your home smarter by powering it with clean, renewable energy. Solar panels are one of the most efficient ways to produce electricity, and they don’t produce any greenhouse gasses. If you live in an area with ample sun, solar panels produce sufficient electricity and can help you minimize electricity costs.
Solar panels work best when installed on a sunny, high-elevation roof to ensure that the panel is generating power even when clouds are blocking the sun. To maximize your return on investment, you can choose a solar power system that generates more electricity than you use. This is known as net-metering, which means you can sell back any excess power generated to the power grid.
Smart lighting for your home
Smart lighting systems hubs like Amazon’s Echo Plus or Google’s Nest Hub are a great way to turn your home into paradise. You can use these hubs to turn your existing lights and lamps into smart devices that can be controlled using voice or remotely using your smartphone. The hub can also dim the lights to help you save energy when you’re not home.
Smart lighting can adjust brightness and color based on the time of day, so it can be used to automatically switch your lights on and off when you’re away. You can even use voice controls to create an ambiance and illusion of movement. For example, you can use lighting to simulate the setting sun or moon.
Create an automated routine alarm for home
You can use automation to create a routine to make your home smarter. With automation, you can create rules that dictate when specific devices start and stop. For instance, when your lights can light or switch off.
The magic does not stop here, routine systems can also turn a pvc cutter on and off to control air conditioners, turn water pumps on and off at given times to pump water to your tanks, or create a routine that ensures your house is clean, so no one falls behind on their housework.
To create a routine, you can use a virtual assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant or set up a recurring event on your smartphone, and create a set of rules that dictate when the device should turn on and when it should turn off.
Smart TVs for entertainment at home
Everybody longs for a thrilling weekend full of entertainment after long working days to ease the stress often accompanied by work- and there is no better way of doing this than investing in a smart Tv.
By investing in smart TVs you can integrate them with the correct set-top box to make your home smarter. These set-top boxes can connect to your TV and provide access to streaming services. Install a security camera like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, consequently changing the entertainment landscape completely.
Interestingly, most smart TV manufacturers offer apps to control your TV and other smart home devices. So, when your phone limits you from doing certain things, you can turn to your Tv and enjoy more service conveniently and effectively.
Install a smart thermostat
Smart thermostats, like the Nest Learning Thermostat, can make your home smarter by controlling your heating and cooling system remotely, saving you time and money on maintenance.
They can automatically adjust your home’s temperature according to the outside temperature and minimize your energy consumption. You can also set up your thermostat to switch off your HVAC system at certain times, like when you sleep. You can also create a program that turns your thermostat on when you arrive home and off when you leave, consequently saving you some money on utility bills.
Install Security cameras
With a good security camera system, nothing goes wrong. You can monitor your home and save money on security and insurance premiums, thanks to the 24-hour surveillance system.
Interestingly, you can set up a security camera to send you an alert when it picks up motion inside or outside your home. This way, you can monitor your home from anywhere using a smartphone, tablet, or computer, saving you the need to constantly check your home even when you are busy with other things.
Electric doorbells
Keeping your guests knocking on the door can be annoying sometimes. So, investing in an electric bell is a great way to transform your home into a smart home. Electric bells, when integrated with security cameras, offer an excellent opportunity to identify who is on your doorstep or gate before opening for them.
Join with a hub
When you first start dipping your toes into automated lighting, you’ll probably need to choose a hub. All of your gadgets can be integrated by a smart home hub, which can cost as little as $30.
You may connect a variety of devices to your hub, including light switches and dimmers, blinds, vents, fans, door locks, leak detectors, security systems, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, thermostats, speakers, plugs, and voice assistants. Once linked, you may establish customised routines, such as shutting off the lights in your home office and playing music in the kitchen at the end of the day.
Your phone might be sufficient in some situations to control your smart home. But setting up a single hub is advised as you expand and incorporate more devices. A touchscreen smart hub also offers a few other benefits, such as viewing movies, making FaceTime calls, setting kitchen timers, and cooking while watching a video.
Boost the speed of your internet
It’s a straightforward improvement that is crucial right now, when more of us are working or attending school online. The price of 100 Mbps high-speed internet varies by area and starts at about $50 per month.
Consider investing in the $379.00 UniFi Dream Machine if you’re seeking for more. With the help of UniFi, you can run many devices, a mesh network, and security cameras across a high-speed (3.5 Gbps) controlled switch.
When providing higher-speed internet across the home using a scalable system like UniFi, it is possible for people who work or learn at home to move between rooms without losing connectivity.
Wrapping up
Making your home smarter can help you save money on your utility bills and make your home more secure by monitoring your home from anywhere and tracking anyone who enters or leaves your home. So, pick up the challenge and turn your home into a digital space.
