What is SMART Home Automation and How Does it Work?

Each year, more and more consumers are discovering that smart home automation systems have a little something to offer everyone.

Put simply, smart home automation describes a system of networked, controllable devices that work together to make your home more comfortable, customized, efficient, and secure. You “speak” with your automated home through a remote control or smart device. Homes that have a high degree of automation often have all of their automated items and appliancves accessible on one device or app, making it truly easy to control your home with the touch of a button. The range of controls that you have over your automated devices vary depending on the purpose of the device. Some controls allow you to turn a device on or off at a specific time, while other devices may be triggered by some external events.

You probably live with a number of automated devices in your home already: automated device examples include thermostats and other heating and cooling devices, alarm systems, smart lights, motorized blinds and shades, and even audio systems! While a truly automated home might have all of the above (and more), the good news for today’s consumer is that you have the ability to pick and choose the aspects of home automation that are right for you. Not a gardener? Automated sprinklers might not be up your alley. But the host or hostess who likes to set the tone of the evening just right might rank motorized shades or blinds at the top of his or her list.

Whatever your needs and preferences, now is an exciting time to make your home more automated. In the past, automation was only available for commercial buildings and the highest-end homes. However, advances in technology and an increased demand for these technologies mean that home automation is within reach for those consumers who wish to create a truly smart, intuitive home.

Once upon a time, home automation devices were both pricey and hard to use. Today’s high end brands have invested in improving the user experience, because they know that today’s savvy consumer isn’t interested in a product that makes them work to be able to use it. That’s good news all around. Here, we dive a little deeper into smart home automation, with an eye towards helping you decide whether home automation is right for you.

What parts of my home can be automated?

Picture this: you’ve just arrived at work. Suddenly, you begin to feel that old, familiar, anxious pull. Something’s amiss. Did you leave the stove on? Is the door unlocked? Is the dog roaming free in the house rather than locked up safe in her kennel?! If your home isn’t automated, you may feel that you have no other options but to pack up and go home to turn off the oven/lock the door/put Muffin safely in her kennel. But an automated house has your back. From the convenience of your smartphone or tablet, you can give yourself the ability to investigate and rectify all of the above scenarios. Check the status of common kitchen appliances, lock and unlock the doors, even peer in on the pets (or your children!) via surveillance cameras to make sure thing everything is copacetic at home.

In addition to making adjustments when you're out of the house, home automation can simply make your home run more smoothly. Take, for example, automated thermostats. There are several popular and well-respected products on the market today that allow you to control the temperature of your home remotely. If no one is going to be home, lower the temperature to save on energy costs. Come home every day at 6:00? An automated thermostat will allow you to tell the heat to switch on at 5:00 so that by the time everyone arrives, the house is toasty warm. In fact, today, there are some automated thermostats that are so smart, they can even begin to learn your habits and predict what you’ll want in the absence of specific directives from you!

From kitchen gadgets to security lighting and cameras, to motorized blinds and window shades, there is truly something for everyone out there. The trick is to look before you leap, however – while there are more products on the market than ever before, it's still important to understand the cost and benefits of automating various devices in your home, and to evaluate how each one fits with (or can enhance) your lifestyle.

What are the benefits of an automated home?

The benefits of smart home automation are many. The first and often most persuasive benefit of home automation is the convenience factor. There is just nothing like being able to communicate with your home remotely, from wherever you are. A smart home is truly the next level in convenience and customization. However, not to be glossed over are some of the ancillary benefits of home automation. These include:

Safety and Security

A smart home is one that anticipates your needs, even when you aren’t there. We've talked about devices that adjust your heat when you need it, but let’s take a moment to talk about something that goes beyond simple creature comforts. The security of your home (and family!) is probably one of the most important things about it. Home automation can make a secure home even more secure. Let’s say, for example, that you have houseguests for the weekend. Wanting them to have the freedom to come and go, you provide them with a key for the duration of their stay.

While those house guests wouldn’t be likely to use the key for nefarious reasons, what if they mistakenly forget the key? Rekeying your locks is expensive, but not doing so could put the safety of your home at risk. An smart door lock system can do away with all of that worry and expense! Instead of handing out physical keys, keyless entry systems allow you to provide guests with a code. Once they no longer need access to your home, you can simply delete the code. This is just one example among many of how home automation can increase the security of your home.

Energy Efficiency

In addition to enhancing home security, home automation can make your home run more efficiently. With more and more homeowners looking for ways to reduce consumption, it’s no wonder that automated devices have come to fill that niche. Automated window treatments are a perfect example of home automation that delivers on a variety of levels. Not only are motorized blinds far more convenient than manually adjusting the position of all of the blinds in your home multiple times a day, but they can also help your home run much more efficiently. How?

Consider this: In an effort to reduce energy bills, you turn the air conditioning off during the summer when nobody is home. You might have a few warm and uncomfortable hours after your return home while you wait for the house to cool down again, but then you realize that your windows have actually been working against you all this time. When your shades or blinds stay open all day long, they let the sun in and that heats up your space. While this is a plus in the winter, it is a definite negative in the summer, when you have to drop the temperature down that extra seven degrees. Instead of allowing Mother Nature to heat things up in there, schedule your blinds to raise and shut in time with the sun. In the summer, shades down at the peak of the day and in the winter, shades up when you need all the help you can get.

Are you intrigued? Hopefully home automation is something that you are interested in learning even more about! If you like research, you’ll find that you are in good company – there is a wealth of information out there that exists for you to explore and the more informed you are, the better suited you’ll be to choose the automated solutions that work for you!

If you'd like more information on motorized shades and blinds, please connect with a Somfy Expert dealer in your area to discuss your project.