Smart home. That is, what kind of home.

Smart devices have revolutionized our lives. It is no different in the case of homes. Here, too, we can take advantage of technological innovations and turn an ordinary apartment into a smart home.

A smart home allows you to do things automatically or control them remotely

What is a smart home?

A smarthome is a home automation system. It consists of devices connected into one integrated system. It allows you to do many things in your home automatically or control them remotely. Importantly, you will configure the smart home in your own proprietary way. The number of connected systems and the range of their functions depends entirely on you. You can choose a wired system. However, it requires careful planning of the installation and routing of Ethernet and powercables throughoutthe house. That is why its installation is recommended at the stage of construction or general renovation. This solution is also more costly. However, there is an alternative. A wireless system. It works via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. You can install it at any time, even in a fully decorated house. It also gives you the freedom to modify and expand it with more components. What's more, if you move, you can take all the equipment with you. Such a system is also less expensive.

Smart systems allow full personalization

Photo: Bence Boros © UNSPLASH

How to compose a system?

The easiest way is to choose all equipment from one manufacturer. Then the whole will be compatible. This will also make it easier to manage the entire installation, as you will be able to use the application of a particular manufacturer for this. You can choose a proprietary system or opt for so-called ecosystems. These are installations based on devices from one manufacturer, but it is possible to include products from other brands. Another solution is to choose devices from different companies that are compatible with the same connectivity system. The whole system can be based, for example, on a connection to WiFi, Z-Wave or ZigBee. With one connectivity protocol, there will be no problem connecting the devices into a smoothly functioning system. The third and most difficult option is to combine devices from different manufacturers, based on other connectivity protocols. It is then worth betting on products that work with popular solutions, such as Apple HomeKit, Amazon Echo, or Google Home. One device can be compatible with one or more smart home systems. You can check this on the box, on the product's official website, or on its card in the online store.

Smart lighting can simulate the presence of household members

Security

Many of the smart devices can significantly increase security in your home. A video intercom will ensure that you don't even have to go to the door to see who is knocking or invite guests inside. The presence of a video intercom also deters burglars. Even when you are away from home, you will greet the courier and give instructions on where he should leave the package. Surveillance cameras, on the other hand, will help you see what's going on in your home while you're away. You can choose between indoor and backyard surveillance models. They record video around the clock. With the cameras, you can watch what's happening live or view the recordings later. Some models also have an option to alert you to the presence of an intruder. You can also observe the behavior of pets left at home thanks to the cameras. Smart lighting can simulate the presence of household members by programming it to turn on and off at specific times. Such an option will work especially well during the holiday season. Complementing such a system are sensors. The most useful devices are sensors for smoke, gas, flooding, as well as for doors and windows, which detect whether any of them have been left open.

A smart home system improves our security

Photo by Sebastian Scholz Nuki © UNSPLASH

An investment in savings

Smart solutions will not only improve your comfort, but also take care of your home budget. Admittedly, they initially require you to spend money on purchasing appliances, but this cost will pay off over the years. Moreover, contrary to appearances, such a system does not have to be expensive. Everything here depends on you and what and how many devices you choose. Moreover, you can start with a few gadgets and then gradually expand the system.

You can install a smart version in a classic socket. It will allow you to turn off the device remotely. This way you no longer have to worry about whether you turned off the iron before leaving the house. Moreover, even if you forget to turn off a particular appliance, you will easily do while you are away from home and save on your bills. With a smart outlet, you can also monitor your energy consumption and see which appliances use the most energy. Smart heating will allow you to save significantly on your bills. However, it will not affect the comfort of the household members. You can turn the heating off when leaving the house and activate it before you return. This way, when you return home it will already be warm in the house, but the heating will not run all the time. The function of automatically maintaining the right temperature in the rooms is also a great convenience. You can program the blinds for the same purpose. If you can get heat from the sun's rays, the blinds will be uncovered and the heating will be reduced. Similarly, in summer you can program the blinds to close at the appropriate time of day. In this way, you will reduce the heating of the rooms and save on air conditioning.