The home automation industry is booming, with new technologies making it possible to control devices like lights, thermostats and security systems remotely. Whether you’re interested in automating your entire house or just a few smart devices, there’s likely a system that suits your needs and budget. But is it worth the investment?
Home automation uses a network of interconnected devices that are controlled via apps, voice assistants or centralized units. Once connected, these devices can talk to each other and respond to events, meaning that you can set your lights to turn on automatically at sunset, turn the air conditioning up about an hour before you return home from work or make sure the house is locked before a babysitter arrives.
Smart homes are becoming more commonplace, with Canadians increasingly seeking out ways to improve their quality of life through the use of technology. According to research from Parks Associates, 12% of Canadian broadband households owned a smart home device in 2018, with many leveraging a security system in addition to the devices that are typically associated with home automation.
One of the biggest benefits of home automation is that it reduces the amount of worry and stress that comes along with running a household. With a connected home, you’ll never have to worry about forgetting to turn off the lights or lock the door, as most systems can be controlled with the touch of a button on your phone. You can also rest easy knowing that your home is secure, with 24×7 monitoring from companies like Vivint that can warn you of burglary and even unseen threats such as carbon monoxide.
Another reason to invest in home automation is that it can make your home more energy-efficient. When your thermostat and lights are controlled by a home automation system, you can keep an eye on how much power your appliances are using, which can help you save money on electricity bills. In fact, you can even have your heating and cooling controlled by a smart device based on the outdoor temperature, ensuring that you are only paying for what you need.
For seniors living alone, smart home systems can offer a sense of security and independence. For example, a video doorbell can alert homeowners to visitors, while sensors under mattresses and on the floor can track when someone gets out of bed and whether they’re moving around the house or staying in the bedroom. As they get older, this technology could be used to monitor the health of seniors by tracking their breathing, heart rate and blood pressure and triggering an emergency call to a loved one if any of these parameters change outside of normal ranges. This is just the tip of the iceberg for what’s possible with modern home automation, with experts forecasting that this technology will be able to assist with a wide variety of health and wellness concerns in years to come. If you’re considering investing in a smart home, you should start by looking for a solution that can do the most things for the lowest cost. home automation canada
