Many of us think of Smart Home technology as a privilege confined to the rich and famous: think window blinds closing at the touch of a button and automated sprinkler systems on the grounds of a flashy holiday home in the Hamptons (or Waiheke, if you’re looking for the Kiwi equivalent).
At its essence however, smart home simply means that your devices can be controlled remotely through an internet connection. This revolutionary technology is not just a flashy gimmick for tech geeks; quite aside from the convenience it offers, smart home automation can generate significant reductions in energy usage, and savvy home and business owners who are looking for painless ways to cut costs are reaping the benefits.
Smart Lighting
The applications for this technology are many and varied, and they are improving all the time. Smart lighting uses controls, sensors, and timers to adjust your lighting based on natural light levels and room occupancy, and the savings can be significant.
Smart Heating
Smart heating allows users to set up a heating schedule via their smartphone app, which can substantially reduce their power bill. If homeowners are away on holiday they can override the schedule and turn the heaters off altogether until a couple of hours prior to their return.
Smart Appliances
From Smart towel rails which only heat your towels in a four-hour window either side of your showering session – after all, your towel can only get so dry, so why heat it 24/7? – to appliances that can be switched on and off remotely, Smart technology is fast becoming commonplace in homes around New Zealand. Running late after work and your guests are arriving in an hour? With one touch of your smartphone, you can preheat your house, ensuring a warm welcome as you walk in the door.
Smart Security
With their early adoption of this relatively recent technology, home security systems have advanced beyond measure in the last decade, with interconnected cameras, sensors and alarms allowing homeowners to monitor their properties in real time. With modern video technology even allowing residents to interact remotely with visitors at their front door, the old “Beware of Dog” sign accompanied by a Neighbourhood Watch sticker has become well and truly obsolete.
Even without factoring in the reduction to your power bill, the installation costs of Smart Home technology are often surprisingly low, so if you feel like your life could do with a bit of streamlining and you’re keen to reduce your everyday expenses, give the team at Pye Electrical a ring on 03 365 0907 or email info@pyeelectrical.co.nz and join the Smart revolution today.