What is home automation?
The future is now! Home automation means using smart technology to automate or remotely control household appliances and features.
Standalone devices (otherwise known as smart assistants or third-party devices) like Google Home and Amazon Alexa are becoming more popular as Australians discover how to automate everyday tasks.
These devices are great ways for beginners to explore smart technology in the home. For example, you may consider purchasing a smart bulb for your bedroom and connecting it to your smart assistant. This way, you can turn your bedroom lamp on via the corresponding smartphone app or use the voice control feature.
It’s as easy as saying, “Hey Google, turn on the bedroom light” as you enter your room. Now apply this idea to appliances like the kettle, curling iron, or standalone fan.
However, if you’re building new and have a keen interest in smart technology beyond asking Google what the weather is today, you may want to invest in a smart home, wherein smart wiring is built directly into your new home’s structure.
A new home can be wired and fitted with your chosen smart devices and then connected to achieve a seamless home experience.
Talk to the experts
A home automation specialist, much like a builder, is an industry professional who can guide you through the ins and outs of a smart home, how much is required to achieve your desired result, and how much it will cost you.
Broadly speaking, the cost will depend on how much smart technology you want to incorporate into your smart home. An automated lighting system will cost less than an entirely automated house, for example. Either way, if you are interested in a smart home then consider having the smart wiring installed during the building phase. This will likely save you the time and money that would have been spent installing a system into an already completed home.
As always, it’s important you communicate with your builder and home automation specialist to achieve your desired result. Communication between all parties is key to a successful build.
What are the benefits?
Some of the most common benefits of home automation include energy efficiency and security.
Smart energy technologies allow you to monitor your power consumption and identify which of your devices or appliances is draining the most power. Take heating and cooling, for example.
Around 40 per cent of home energy use can go to heating or cooling, which will reflect in the bills. A smart thermostat, however, can learn patterns and adjust accordingly. The best models can identify how long it takes to heat up a home, so it can turn off at the exact moment it hits a certain temperature. Best of all, a smart thermostat will automatically turn off the heating when you need to run out the door.
And when it comes to security, smart technology gives you countless options to secure your home virtually anywhere. Smart cameras can send you real-time notifications if they sense movement in your home, allowing you to remotely check if anything is amiss. Similarly, smart locks can alert you when your door opens or closes. Not to mention, a smart lock uses a passcode, or a WiFi or Bluetooth connection, to unlock your door. Gone are the days of rummaging in bags or pockets for the key.
These are just some of the ways investing in a smart home can enhance your lifestyle. But, much like Rome, your smart home won’t be built in one day as there are many elements that need consideration.
If you’re thinking about building a smart home in Melbourne, contact our friendly Team at TCON to find out how we can help you get started.
