Our lives are run by technology. Think about it. We text from our watches and our cars park themselves. Many of us rely on our smartphones to navigate our way downtown. We share video and photos instantly. Technology is everywhere, and now, you can live inside it. If you’ve dreamed of living life like The Jetsons, then building a network of smart home devices is likely on your to-do list.
What Are Smart Home Devices?
A smart home is defined as one where the lights, alarms, thermostats, TVs, smoke detectors, coffee machines, washing machines, keypads, cameras — pretty much any electronic you can think of — are all connected and controlled remotely by a smart phone, tablet or computer.
Sounds pretty futuristic, right? There are a number of smart home devices already on the market, and stats show that 80 million smart home devices were delivered worldwide in 2016 — nearly a 70 percent increase from the year before.
Smart Home Devices Have Many Benefits
So why make your house smarter? Studies show that people most frequently cite energy savings as their top reason for buying smart home devices. Smart home appliances to use less energy, which could save money on energy and water bills. Automatic timers and monitors mean you only use the amount of energy you want or need. There are even more advanced smart home devices that can sense when you’re in the room and adjust the temperature to your set preferences.
Technology can also make your house more accessible while you’re away. Did you leave for vacation and forget to turn your air conditioner down? Just pull out your phone, open the respective app, and let your smart home devices do the work.
Smart Homes Cost Less Than You Might Think
One of the main reasons homeowners are wary of making their homes “smart,” is because they assume that new smart home devices are too expensive and difficult to manage. However, according to a recent study, the technology is less expensive than you may think. Data shows that the average person starts with four smart home devices and spends about $200.
Whether you’re looking for added security or to boost your energy savings, there are many smart devices and options out there to make your home smarter. And who knows, maybe one day soon we’ll be able to fly our cars to work and live our Jetsons dreams to the fullest.