As technology has improved over recent years, automation has become a hot topic in both commercial and private property. To further understand this sometimes intimidating subject, let’s first break down what automation systems are, how they work, and how automating your home can save you time and money, not to mention, improve your home overall.
What is a Building Automation System?
Automation allows you to control your home appliances using your smart device, or even your voice.
If you’ve ever left the house without turning the lights off, then you can already imagine a practical application for home automation. Wouldn’t it be great if you could pull out your smartphone and turn off the lights remotely? That’s what home automation can do for you and your family.
A building automation system can control and monitor everything that operates in your home, that includes lighting, heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and home security. With a building automation system, all of these devices are connected and can respond to sensors in your home. For example, an automated sensor in your plumbing system can warn you when you need to call a plumber for repairs. This type of predictive maintenance can save you thousands of dollars in repairs over time and prevent any potential disasters from occurring in your home.
Why Should I Automate My Home?
With home automation, you can reduce your energy consumption.
Whole home automation has the potential to make all of your devices intuitive. For example, by automating your lights, you can wake up to the perfect light quality. No more squinting in the harsh light early in the morning. By programming your lights to start out dim and gradually brighten as you wake up, you can wake up more naturally.
Automation also saves money and energy that is often wasted on utilities. As we previously mentioned, you can turn off lights and other appliances in the home remotely, meaning that you won’t accidentally waste energy while you’re out of the house. When you automate your home, you are ensuring that all energy used is used deliberately. Here are just a few of the many benefits homeowners experience from automating their homes:
- Increased home comfort
- Improved home security
- Less wasted energy
- Longer lasting home appliances
What Types of Automated Technology Can I Use to Improve My Home?
Use your smart home technology to control everything from your vacuum to your curtains.
There are lots of other ways that you can use home automation to improve your daily life. Take a look at some of the most innovative way we have helped clients using automation to improve their home:
Lighting
Beyond controlling your lighting from your smartphone and presetting your dimmers, you can also install sensors that automatically respond to occupancy and light. For example, you can install occupancy sensors that only trigger your lights when you are in the room. Photosensors on the other hand, will adjust your lighting based on the amount of light coming in from the outdoors. As the sun goes behind some clouds or begins to set, your photosensors will brighten your indoor lights accordingly.
Smart Home Appliances
Completely automating your home is especially worthwhile if you already have some smart appliances. Any home device that has WiFi capabilities is considered a smart appliance. There are lots of companies that manufacture appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, and dishwashers that can be integrated into your home automation system. Once these appliances are installed and part of your household automation system, you can control those appliances from your phone as well.
Plumbing
Automated plumbing is a major development when it comes to smart home innovation. By installing sensors in your plumbing system, your home can detect leaks or standing water that may be a sign of a larger issue. Smart plumbing also allows for devices like smart faucets that turn on automatically with the help of motion sensors.
Security
One of the most important concerns for homeowners is security. Private Home security has never been more robust than with a building automation system. Using smart home technology, you can lock or unlock your home using a smart device. If you can’t remember if you locked the door prior to leaving the house, you can double check using your smartphone or tablet. If your home was accidentally left unlocked, you can remotely lock your home while on the go.
Now that you know how automation systems can improve your home, it’s time to start thinking about which innovations will work for you and your family. With the demand for fully automated homes constantly increasing, it won’t be long before home automation becomes the norm.
What ways have you incorporated home automation into your home?
