Transforming your house into a smart home is a move that carries the potential to slash your energy usage by approximately 30%, as reported by the Connected Devices Alliance. For the average UK household, this translates to an impressive yearly savings of around £450, a calculation meticulously curated by Eco Experts through the analysis of data from Ofgem and Water.org.uk. This financial gain is worth the initial costs incurred, given the far-reaching impact on climate change mitigation, property valuation, utility bills, and the unmatched convenience that extends accessibility to all stakeholders.
In today’s fast-evolving landscape, the concept of home has evolved into the smart home, where technology seamlessly integrates into your daily life enhancing comfort, security, and efficiency. This article will walk you through 10 ways to transform your house into a smart haven.
Utilising smart light bulbs presents a brilliant method of illuminating your space effortlessly, offering remote operation without the hassle of rewiring. These bulbs are seamlessly integrated, enabling users to embrace smart technology with utmost ease. Connected via Wi-Fi, these intelligent bulbs are effortlessly accessed through dedicated apps, smart home devices, Amazon Echo, Google Home or hubs. For instance, with a Philips LED Smart Light bulb you can control smart controls at your fingertips with features like different colour settings, turn on and off via app or voice control, set ambience lighting, and more. No additional equipment is required. You simply plug in the Smart Light Bulb and download the app. The Philips LED Smart Light bulb lasts up to 15,000 hours of life, as an example of what you get for a pack of 2 costing £23.98 and uses about 70 – 90% cent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Regulate your home’s temperature with precision using a smart thermostat. There are a variety of ones on the market including Hive, Tado, and Google Nest. Installation is straightforward: mount the device on your wall and connect it to your central heating system.
One of the most significant benefits of a smart thermostat system is its ability to learn and optimise your home’s heating preferences. For instance, if your home is set to 18 degrees at 6 A.M., it adjusts to estimate heating time; thus, if it is not 18 degrees by 6 A.M., it starts earlier the next day. Therefore, if the temperature outside suddenly drops leaving you with a chill inside, the heating will come on earlier. You can also change the settings day by day. If you sleep in on weekends, you could always set the heating to come on much later in the morning too. These features work for you. They make it easier to keep your home’s temperature constant increasing energy efficiency, and provide savings on your energy bill.
According to an article in The Guardian in 2022 covering the benefits and costs of smart thermostats, “Google’s Nest estimates that UK customers can save between 8.4 and 16.5% of their heating’s energy use, while Tado estimates up to 31%, while Hive says up to £110. However, in practice, it depends on what it replaces, how you use it and how much energy you currently use.”
A smart security camera empowers you with vigilance, offering a reliable watchful eye over your property. Mount these sleek cameras at entry points, as doorbells – wherever they are needed then connect them to your smartphone. These systems give you real-time alerts when motion is detected, and view live footage from anywhere. Whether you’re checking on a delivery or keeping an eye on your pet, these smart security camera systems provide peace of mind at your fingertips. Another advantage is how some of these systems have saving energy options including solar-powered security cameras and lights that protect and illuminate your property, saving you money long-term. The prices of these systems vary. According to HouseholdQuotes.co.uk, in 2023 a smart home security system costs approximately £420-£920, and installation time required ranges from 2-4 hours.
Gone are the days of rifling through bags or pockets, or engaging in a house-wide hunt for elusive keys. Smart door locks usher in a new era, empowering you to effortlessly secure or access your front door via your smartphone, a user-friendly keypad, or a convenient fob. With a mere tap on the app or a smooth swipe of the fob, the front door unlocks or locks itself, rendering the once-challenging task and turning into an intuitive and seamless experience. This is extremely helpful if you have an ailing family member inside. You can reach them in a moment or even call 911 and provide them with the details on how to enter the property. It is also beneficial to all ages and is inclusive to all.
Let’s look at Yale’s smart locks regarding how easy they are to use and install. The installation process involves replacing your existing locks with Yale’s smart counterparts. These locks can be operated via smartphone, keypad, or even your voice. Grant access to family members or friends remotely, and rest assured knowing your home is fortified by cutting-edge technology. Yale’s system works with Hey Google, Amazon Alexa and Philips Hue smart bulbs. There are other available systems out there. Shop around to find the best price and system that suits your budget and family the most.
Bring a touch of sci-fi to your daily routine with a smart home voice-controlled system, like the Amazon Echo. Set up an Echo device in your living room or kitchen, and watch as it seamlessly integrates into your life. Ask Echo to play your favourite songs, check the weather, lower the blinds, turn on the lights, or even order groceries. This is a huge bonus for those who need extra assistance doing things around the house. It takes out the frustration of not being able to safely reach for a light switch or blinds at the top of your living room windows. With hands-free convenience, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.
Smart plugs transform any appliance into a controllable device. Simply plug in your coffee maker, lamp, or fan, and sync it with an app. Create schedules or control devices remotely, all while maximising energy efficiency. Picture waking up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, as your smart connected coffee maker starts your day on a high note.
According to a March 5, 2023 article by CNet, “The average smart plug uses at most one, maybe two watts at any given time. Zero, like that of an unused standard outlet, would be ideal, but smart plugs require a small amount of electricity to stay connected to your Wi-Fi. Still, a smart plug uses only around 10 kWh over a year.” That is in comparison to a regular plug which uses up to 100 times this amount of electricity, as reported by MyDreamHaus.co.uk.
Upgrade your home with futuristic appliances that merge cutting-edge technology with energy efficiency. A robot vacuum cleaner uses 15 times less energy than your standard upright vacuum cleaner. It is also designed to enhance your living environment, maintain your floors, and save you time from having to manually vacuum and mop your floors regularly. It is also another smart appliance that is accessible for many people since they do not need to physically push a vacuum cleaner around the house. To make that switch is life-changing for many.
Upgrade your home’s safety with a smart smoke detector. A smart smoke alarm or CO detector notifies you about dangerous situations in your home caused by smoke, fire, or malfunctioning appliances, even when you’re not at home. As such, it can save you and your loved ones’ lives, and preserve your single biggest financial investment, your home. There are many available on the market, so have a look online. Check out the latest, and see which one you prefer. Installation is similar to traditional detectors, but with the added benefits of remote notifications and self-testing ensuring you and your home’s safety is never compromised.
Smart technology allows you to start and stop your washer and dryer from your phone, choose specific cycles, see how much energy is left, notify you when the load is done, and inform you when maintenance or troubleshooting is needed. Most smart washing machine and dryer brands connect through Wi-Fi and have a downloadable app. The benefit of switching to a smart machine is that it can optimise your cycles based on load size and time of day minimising water and energy consumption.
Every parent understands the rollercoaster of emotions that come with helping an infant sleep through the night and then dealing with the challenges of keeping a toddler snug in bed, after reading a bedtime story is over. A smart baby monitor camera steps in as your sleep saviour. It tracks when your little one falls asleep, is awake feeling unwell or if they to try to sneak out of bed. That is when the baby monitor becomes your backup, giving you a break. It alerts you of any sleep hiccups before they turn into big, repetitive issues. It’s like having a sleep coach with you, making sure things stay smooth and cosy from the get-go. This is especially helpful during travel, summer holidays, and Christmas when you are visiting family and friends, and your baby is trying to sleep in a new environment. It ensures your baby doesn’t get up in that new environment, where baby safety measurements in place at your home might not be in the one you’re temporarily staying at.
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