The term “ home automation” may conjure up sci-fi images of a futuristic, fully automated home. But the reality is that the technology is more widely available than ever and can make a big difference in your day-to-day living.
Home automation combines hardware, electronic interfaces and communication interfaces to control household devices remotely. The technology allows users to program devices so that they can be switched on or off from anywhere. Depending on the system, these devices can be connected to the Internet or to a local network to automate them and give them remote access to monitoring and control features.
With the help of a smart hub, many different types of household devices can be integrated into a home automation system. They can include light bulbs, switches, dimmers, motorized blinds and awnings, security systems, heating and cooling systems, kitchen appliances and even health care devices like smart humidifiers.
The central piece of a home automation system is the smart hub, which serves as the brains of the entire system. The hub can be installed in a new home or retrofitted to an existing one with dedicated wiring and a power supply. Most smart hubs are Wi-Fi-enabled and can communicate with most other smart devices in your home, including smartphones, tablets, computers and other devices with built-in web and app capabilities. A high-speed internet connection is essential for reliable performance between the smart hub and other home automation devices, especially if you plan on using video doorbells or home security cameras with your hub.
A home automation system can be programmed to perform a single task or multiple tasks simultaneously, reducing the need for manual intervention and freeing up time. For example, that west-facing window that lets in too much sunlight and overheats the rooms below it can be automatically closed each morning at a specific time. Then, when your child’s tuition teacher stops by at the same time each afternoon, you can program your security system to unlock the front door and ring the smart speaker to welcome her, while turning on the lights to create a warm, welcoming entryway for her.
Energy conservation is another key benefit of a smart home automation system. People forget to turn off lights and electric appliances far too often, resulting in unnecessary expenditures that can be counteracted with a smart device setup. A smart home system can be programmed to ration electrical loads, disconnect plugs that aren’t in use and create electricity consumption reports for the homeowner.
Once the basics of a home automation system are in place, it becomes easy to add more devices to create more sophisticated automation routines. Imagine pressing a button on your keypad, tablet or smartphone that turns on certain lights, plays a favorite song in the kitchen and family room, adjusts the temperature to a more comfortable setting, opens the garage door and shuts off the lawn sprinklers—all with the touch of a single button. A home automation interface makes this possible, and a professional can tweak yours to suit your unique lifestyle and entertainment preferences.