Top 5 Smart Home Upgrades
Using smart switches, bulbs and LED light strips can allow you to create any lighting concept, virtually anywhere. With all the lighting and electrical components tied together the automation options are limitless!
It seems like more than ever we are spending a LOT of time in our homes. As the warm and sunny days of summer turn into the rainy and cloudy days of fall, the kids go back to school and many of us spend our days in our home offices; wouldn’t it be wonderful if your home worked for you? There are a number of ways that you can make your home “smarter”, save money on your utilities, and automate common things that you do everyday. I have chosen my Top 5 Smart Home upgrades to help you become the “Master of Your Domain.”
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are absolutely the first upgrade I recommend to clients. While there are several reasons for this, the most appealing is how they will help you reduce your energy consumption by only heating and cooling your home when it is necessary. Older, programmable thermostats had set times that you had to program and didn’t adapt well to changes in your schedule. The beauty of modern smart thermostats, like my personal favourite the Ecobee Smart Thermostat with Voice Control, is that they learn your patterns based on when you are home, or away. Another excellent feature of the Ecobee thermostats are that they are assisted by smart sensors, which allow the thermostat to measure, and subsequently heat/cool your house based on occupancy. These sensors can be used to help in other home automations as well (like turning lights on and off).
Robot Vacuums
The point of home automation is to make things easier, and nothing makes your life easier than not having to vacuum! Robot vacuums have come a long way, and modern ones can handle a variety of floor surfaces (tile, hardwood, carpet) with ease. Some will even mop your floors! The iRobot Roomba i7 can even map the floor of your home it is on, and you can program schedules to vacuum, or avoid, certain rooms when you are away, at night, or as often as you want. Anyone with small children or pets will appreciate the amount of cleaning these devices can do for you.
Smart Light Switches, Bulbs, LED
Automating your lighting can not only help you save money on your electric bill, but in a smart home the sky is the limit in terms of the automations and scenes you can create. Combining smart switches/dimmers, light bulbs (full colour) and LED light strips (for accent or bias lighting) can allow you to create lighting in any room, in any colour. No more yelling at the kids to turn the lights out; automatic shutoff does it all for you.
Smart Outlets
In addition to smart switches, smart outlets allow you to automate the function of devices that plug into a wall outlet. Lamps (where smart bulbs aren’t needed), humidifiers, fans, heaters, and coffee machines are just some of the things that smart outlets can help you control and automate.
Smart Garage Doors
Anyone with a garage has had that sudden moment of panic after leaving their home and wondering if the garage door was closed. Almost any existing electric garage door opener can have a module added to allow the garage door to become “smart” meaning you can ask your voice assistant if the garage door is open, and if it is, to go ahead and close it. You can also automate your doors so they open when you pull into your driveway, and make sure that they are closed at night when you turn in.
Bonus Tip!
No discussion about smart home upgrades would be complete without talking about smart door locks. Much like garage doors, these can be automated so that you can check if you locked the front door, as well as remotely lock and unlock the door if you are not home. In addition to having a physical key, many will allow you to create temporary digital “keys” that can be used to let people in at certain times (think your handyman or cleaning company) while not allowing access outside of the specified times. You can also assign codes (or in some of the best locks, fingerprint access!) for different members of your family so that you can get an alert when they arrive or leave home.
I have only scratched the surface of what you can do to automate your home, and you can make your home automation as simple, or complex, as you want. Indoor/outdoor cameras, window coverings, and home audio are other areas that can be tied in together to complete your smart home. Imagine programming your blinds to close when the weather is sunny outside, or have your garage door open as you arrive home, your doors unlock, and soothing music and warm lights greet you as you walk in? Take control of your domain, and let us show you how!
