Smart Home Disaster Stories Aren't That Hard To Find Online 7 Smart Home Products You Probably Should Avoid 7 Smart Home Products You Probably Should Avoid Security concerns, compatibility, and high cost of entry continue to hurt a market looking to add adopters. Here are some smart home product categories worth avoiding, at least for now. Read more . However, don't let this discourage you from taking the plunge. As a starting point, consider the following smart home solutions. Each is practical and relatively inexpensive. Some will even help you save money.
One of the most popular smart home devices remains the Nest Thermostat (CA, UK), which first burst onto the scene nearly five years ago. Now owned by Google, this smart device offers an immediate benefit to homeowners:it will help you lower your energy costs.
Central to everything Nest can do is its ability to monitor its comings and goings. As such, you can fit everything from air conditioners and fans to heating units. “away” State every time you leave your house. When you're away from home, you can tell the unit to turn off devices or adjust the temperature, saving you a lot of money on day one.
Nest says independent studies have shown the device saves homeowners an average of 10 to 12 percent on heating bills and 15 percent on cooling bills.
That's just one of the ways you can benefit from installing Nest. There are 13 other things you didn't know you could do with a Nest Thermostat. 13 things you didn't know you could do with a Nest thermostat. You'll be amazed at how many tricks you can pull off with your new Nest Thermostat! Read more ways too.
Installing a Nest Thermostat is relatively easy as it works with the existing wiring in your home. You can also find a professional Nest thermostat installer online.
If you want to save money on your energy costs but can't afford Nest, consider WeMo Insight Switch (CA/UK) , which connects your home appliances and electronic devices to your Wi-Fi network. Doing so allows you to turn devices on and off remotely, and even create custom rules and schedules so devices only run when you want them to.
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As its name suggests, the WeMo Insight Switch has another trick up its sleeve. Provides insight into how much energy devices in your home are consuming by sending energy and cost reports right to your phone, courtesy of the WeMo app. Better yet, it provides tools to save big cash on your next energy bill. It's never been easier to find the power hogs in your home.
Setting up a WeMo Insight 6 Non-Belkin WeMo Smart Plug Switch 6 Non-Belkin WeMo Smart Plug Read More Download the WeMo app and plug the switch into a power outlet. Connect the switch to your Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. Now turn your home electronics/appliances on or off from anywhere.
Another change worth considering is the GE Smart Wall Switch (AC) (various models starting at around $40). With this product, you can turn lights on/off from your smart devices, and also turn lights on when certain events occur. For example, when someone opens a door or leaves a room. The switch also works well with ceiling fans, which can turn on/off depending on the room temperature.
Motion detectors are a growing subsection of the smart home industry. These serve various functions, including the ability to control whether doors, windows, cabinets, or your garage are open or closed. They also have the ability to control movement in your home. The benefit here is that you can ensure that individual devices are turned off every time you leave a room or house.
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Products that monitor motion are usually part of a great smart home solution, but not always. Popular Samsung SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit (CA) , for example, includes a motion detector, a hub, multipurpose sensors, and an outlet. In contrast, the Canary Islands (CA / UK) and Withings Home (CA/UK) provide everything in one The coolest smart devices compatible with a SmartThings hub The coolest smart devices compatible with a SmartThings hub SmartThings smart hubs connect wirelessly with hundreds of compatible smart devices, allowing you to monitor, control and secure your home from anywhere in the world. Read More Home Security Systems Looking for a DIY home security system solution? Try One Of These For A DIY Home Security System Solution Try One Of These In the age of digital technology and always-on hardware, setting up a home security system should transcend the art of setting up a box shaped alarm on the wall. Read more.
Looking for a less expensive solution? Consider the iSmartAlarm Wireless Motion Sensor (UK) , which detects suspicious movements and provides instant notifications via your smartphone. The D-Link DCH-S150 mydlink Wi-Fi Smart Motion Sensor (CA/UK) performs similar tasks.
Think of the many ways smart switches and motion detectors could save you money:
Smart Plugs are also growing in popularity. These are devices that plug into an outlet. Instead of plugging your appliance into the wall, for example, you would plug it into the smart plug.
The benefit is to control the smart plug remotely. Some plugs are even programmable to automatically turn on or off depending on certain timers or events.
Among the smart plugs, which one is the best for you? Which smart plug is the best for you? Even if you're not into the whole smart home automation trend, you should still get some smart plugs. They are one of the easiest smart home products to use. Read More , iHome Wi-Fi Smart Plug , and the Nyrius Smart Output (CA) . As you can see, these are also low-cost solutions that can help you save money right from the time of installation.
We all need a good night's sleep. 6 Smart Gadgets to help you sleep better. 6 Smart Gadgets to help you sleep better. Sleeping well is not a good way to start the day. Fortunately, there are many home gadgets that can help you get a good night's sleep. Read more . Unfortunately, stress and other discomforts 3 Relaxation Techniques to Help You Sleep Better 3 Relaxation Techniques to Help You Sleep Better Sometimes it takes a long time to fall asleep. Technology can help us sleep better with the help of better sleep habits. Try these suggestions to turn off your brain. Read more of life sometimes makes this impossible. Instead of taking sleeping pills, consider a smart low-cost solution.
The Misfit Beddit Sleep Monitor (CA / UK) provides information about your nightly sleep habits. Placed directly on the mattress under the sheets, the band measures sleep cycles and quality by tracking breathing, heart rate, movement, snoring, and ambient sound.
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The information collected by Beddit Sleep Monitor is transmitted to your smartphone, where you can view vital statistics and sleep graphs in the free Misfit app.
The free smartphone Philips HF3520 Wake-up Light with Sunrise Color Simulation (CA / UK) It is also worth considering. The stationary light gradually wakes you up starting 30 minutes before your scheduled wake-up time.
Another non-smartphone solution is the Drift-Light (CA / UK) . Unlike Philips Wake-Up Light, Drift Light focuses on making the start of your sleep better. Over a short period, the drift light slowly dims to help promote relaxation and a rise in melatonin. This combination makes you more relaxed before bed.
Not all smart home solutions are expensive. Many, as you can see above, don't even require a hub. Instead, they work independently over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. When searching for a smart home solution, be sure to answer two simple questions. First, do you need it? Second, will it help you save money or improve your life? If you can answer "yes" to these two questions, go ahead..
What smart home solutions have you been thinking about implementing in your home?
