HOME AUTOMATION - A SMART HOME OPTION

SYNOPSIS

BEST REASONS TO SWITCH TO HOME AUTOMATION  Where we once had to wash dishes by hand, dishwashing machines are saving homeowners money by using less water. In a world where we are consistently focused on how our actions and lives impact the environment, smart homes can offer a measure of energy-efficiency that often has the potential to save money on lighting, HVAC management, and temperature control systems. Installation is becoming more accessible than ever, and the convenience of having second generation home automation devices like voice-activated speakers means that homeowners with accessibility issues can now focus on more important tasks, and let their home focus on running itself!  Convenience is essential to us all in a world where our attention is needed in so many different areas. With home automation, we can make sure our homes are optimized to run efficiently without having actually to be in them. It is easier than ever before to remotely lock your house and garage, adjust your temperature remotely, and check in with the family to make sure everything is fine at home. With the additional connectivity, homes with automated security systems add another layer of safety and peace of mind for homeowners without breaking the bank. More importantly, adding multiple layers of home automation also further increases the value of your home.

THE BENEFITS OF HOME AUTOMATION  Saving money  Home automation can allow you to control your home’s air conditioning, heating, and lights in order to turn them on and off when they aren’t needed. If you go on a long vacation, work a sudden late night at the office, or just need to make some changes on a budget. You’ll be able to turn the air conditioning to what you desire, turn off the heating and lights if no one’s home and save money without even leaving your chair!  Safety and security  Connecting certain aspects of your home to a keychain or phone will allow you to keep your house safe. Camera systems in your house can be attached to your phone, giving you 24/7 access to see what’s happening in your home. Whether you want to make sure your child gets home from school okay or to make sure your house is safe when you’re away, home automation can allow you to prevent problems by keeping you notified. You can even attach an alarm system to your phone, allowing an alert to be sent to you when an alarm is tripped.

THE BENEFITS OF HOME AUTOMATION  Ease of access  Do you hate having a cold bathroom when you get up in the morning? Do you not like having to wait five minutes for a cup of coffee to get started? With home Automation, you can set your bathroom heater or your coffee maker to turn on at a preset time, cutting down on micromanagement for tasks you do every day. It frees you up to do more important things as some tasks are completed for you.  Fun benefits  Do you have a large party in your home and want to turn the music up throughout various rooms? Would you like to dim the lights for a romantic evening with your spouse? Do you have a large dinner planned and want to start cooking a little earlier? With home automation, all these things can be done, and the fun can get started with a simple tap of a finger on a screen.

HOME AUTOMATION CAN BE FUN FOR US ALL, BUT IT IS GREAT FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED  Home automation could save the average person a lot of time, but it also has an efficient and extremely needed purpose regarding people with disabilities as well as older adults who would prefer to live in their home instead of ending up in a nursing home.  There are health systems embedded in things like appliances and furniture that will collect data, which can then be obtained, analyzed, and used by medical professionals (and even family in some cases) to ascertain the health of the elderly/disabled person.  As the industry expands and prices consequently go down, home automation is being installed in more homes of elderly/disabled people, which allows them to stay out of assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The process of moving out of one’s home and into a long-term care facility can create a lot of anxiety. The home automation systems let the elderly and disabled remain in their homes secure in the knowledge that—should something go wrong—help is just a moment or two away.

HOME AUTOMATION  One of the newer areas of automation is cooking. Cookers are now using Wi-Fi technology allowing their user to prepare food from anywhere. There are also Wi-Fi controlled electric smokers. Baking scales are now available with a connected app to help newbie bakers get it right the first time.  Many options are available for outdoors as well. Automated sprinklers can monitor over 10 zones and don’t water the lawn if it is raining – all controllable with the tap of a screen. Even handier are the automated mowers. Many can mow up to 20,000 square feet. The mower neatly mulches, so there is no need for raking or bagging of cuttings.  Like the mowers, several devices offer automated cleaning. Robot vacuums and mops are becoming more popular and are also controllable by Smartphone. Have unexpected company coming over? No problem. Simply launch a cleaning robot remotely and come home to a clean house.

HOME AUTOMATION  Security companies have long been offering Smartphone apps to control security systems. Now it’s easy to integrate cameras to monitor, arm and disarm your home system remotely.  It is also possible to control your home’s lighting through smart technology. Not only can you turn the lights off and on, but now you can control the intensity and even the color of the light.  The last piece of the automation puzzle and the single piece that connects all devices bringing us closer to a fully automated home are the controllers such as Echo powered by Alexa. These hubs are compatible with most of these automated machines and allow their user to control his or her home with a single spoken command.

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