Imagine coming home after a long day at work to a warm, welcoming house. The lights turn on as you enter, your home is set to the perfect temperature and dinner is ready to be served from the slow cooker.
It’s all possible with simple smart home technology.
Today, wireless networks allow us to control many functions in our homes through apps on our smartphones or tablets. You can dim your lights, arm your security system and adjust the heat with a few swipes and taps. Not only is having a smart home system convenient, it can also save you money by helping you reduce your electricity use.
“Smart technology is all about comfort, convenience and peace of mind,” says Tim Mosley, a senior program manager at BC Hydro. “It’s also a great tool to help you conserve energy and use energy more efficiently.”
Mosley has been testing several systems in his home and likes knowing when his kids get home from school and that the door is locked behind them. He also enjoys being able to monitor their screen time. “I feel a lot happier now that I know my kids get home and they can only read a book,” he says with a chuckle.
Security is a major motivator for many people who invest in smart technology. Cameras can connect to your smartphone so you can keep an eye on things when you’re out, and smart deadbolt locks let you know who’s coming and going. High-tech smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can also connect to your devices, alerting you of potential danger no matter where you are. You can even turn off a smart smoke alarm with a tap of the app rather than waving around a dish towel. And instead of leaving the radio on when you’re on vacation to dissuade thieves, you can cue it up to turn on at certain intervals — conserving energy and creating a more realistic decoy.
The savings — of both energy and money — of a smart home can be significant.
Instead of leaving a lamp on all night for a child who’s afraid of the dark, the lamp can be plugged into a smart plug and programmed to gradually dim as they drift off to sleep. Thermostats can be set to keep the home cool at night and then gradually get warmer as it nears time for you to roll out of bed. Some thermostats are so smart, they can even learn your schedule and adjust to your needs.
While a smart home may seem like the domain of early adopters and tech-savvy fanatics, the technology is actually quite accessible. “These days it’s very simple and you don’t have to buy an entire system at once,” Mosley says. “It’s really attainable for any type of home and you can build as you go.”
Mosley recommends figuring out which key functions you want to start with, such as controllable thermostats and lights, and building a system around that. “There are lots of different products out there and they don’t all work with each other,” he cautions, adding that doing some research is essential.
The first thing you need to decide on is a smart hub, which Mosley calls the brains of the home. The hub connects to your phone or tablet with an app and supports different devices and products. Some hubs are purchased outright while others have monthly subscription fees. You may also want to consider the size of your home; if you have a lot of square footage, look for a hub that offers a good range for sensors.
“Having a smart home system that can analyze energy usage and present that information back to the homeowner in a meaningful way is really cool,” says Mosley. “It means that homeowners can make better decisions about how to run their homes and save energy.”
Learn more about smart home technology and enter for a chance to win a Samsung Family Hub smart fridge and other great prizes at powersmart.ca.