First of all, the term โsmart house’ sounds really cool and futuristic, but some aspects of it have been in regular use for quite a while now without thinking much of it.
The concept of a smart house entails connecting all of your electrical appliances to the internet and then control them at a distance via the internet. There are numerous things you can control via this platform, but here are some of the most common choices, as well as a short analysis about the costs and savings.
Despite all of its benefits, electricity is very dangerous and should be treated with caution at all times. A professional electrician should carry out all wiring work and anyone worried about faulty wiring in their home can schedule an EICR Report to check the safety of their electricity. Self-electrocutions are sadly very common. That is why the Electrical Safety Foundation International (or ESFI for short) offered some useful tips on electrical safety.
Lights
This is one of the first aspects of the home to be automated. It is very simple to automate and offers you the chance to control your lighting via the internet, or more recently, via a phone app, as suggested by the experts at Patriot Electric & Generator Service here http://patriotelectric.biz/lighting-control-systems/.
HVAC
More and more homes these days have a combined heating and cooling system in place from a company like One Hour Air Conditioning and enjoy the benefits of temperature control all year round. During the summer it is really difficult not to have the AC run all day. However, if you are away for the most of that time you are wasting energy. The alternative is to come home from work into a stuffy and hot home, which is equally unpleasant. As a compromise between these two, smart thermostats enable you to remotely control the duration and the intensity of the HVAC.
Security
Everything that security companies used to do is now available to the general public, and it is not as expensive as you might imagine. Cameras and sensors can be connected to the internet in order to be viewed and controlled remotely by the user. Not only is it useful as a security measure, but it can also help you monitor other things, such as your pets.
Pet Feeders
Speaking of pets, you can also have remotely controlled feeders for them. Instead of giving them a large amount of food in the morning before you leave for work, you can control when they are given food, as well as the amount of food that is dispensed.
Appliance Control
One of the more advanced things you can do is remotely control the appliances at your home. For instance, activating your washing machine or the dishwasher or instructing your oven to preheat just in time for your return. There are more and more appliances which can be included in this system as the technology advances.
Savings
Some savings are clear and obvious, such as turning your HVAC on or off remotely, rather than having it run all day. However, other savings may be a bit more difficult to see at first. For instance, having a smart fridge will help you remember what food items you have at home, so they don’t go to waste while you buy more food you don’t need to. Furthermore, if you are intent on making some dish, you can check whether you have everything you need in order to prepare it. This saves you from a potential additional shopping run which wastes time and gas.
If you have solar panels, you can control your heavy spenders to run when the output from your solar panels is the strongest, typically around noon when most of us are at work.
It is better to hire professional electricians (like Barnett Electrical) who are certified by an appropriate authority in order to ensure that the work is done well and responsibly. Read more about the importance of upgrading electrical panels while getting home automation.
You must be logged in to post a comment.