Smart Home Automation has taken a paradigm shift in the consumer industry and has become an integral part of residential homes across the UK. Thanks to emerging IoT technology.
According to YouGov’s Smart Homes Report, 23% of British people own one or more smart devices. According to a Smart Home Week poll, 57% of UK households own a smart device.
The integration of smart technology into consumer devices has made it a lot more simple for consumers to automate day-to-day manual operations. The technology helps you to manage, monitor and control smart devices through your phone.
One of the main reasons it has gained so much traction lately is its ability to give complete control over the functionality of these devices. These smart devices are also available in various price ranges, ranging from as little as £20 to thousands of pounds.
In this article, we will cover the main aspects of Smart Technology:
- What is Home Automation?
- Why is Smart Home Automation important?
- How Home Automation Works?
- Suggestions for Automating Your Home
- What are the advantages of a smart home automation hub?
- Privacy and Security Concerns of Home Automation
- Future Trends in Home Automation
What is Home Automation?
Home automation systems rely on a combination of hardware and software to function. Smart devices communicate with a central hub or a cloud-based platform, allowing users to control them remotely. Communication can take place through various means, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or Z-Wave.
Why is Smart Home Automation Important?
Smart technology adoption is increasing and has become more of a necessity than a trend. According to Statista, smart home penetration in the UK will be 37.4% in 2021 and is expected to reach 63% by 2025.
Smart home automation comes with a plethora of benefits and is no more just limited to asking Alexa for a weather update. You can now automate tasks like locking your door or turning off your heating system from your phone itself.
There are loads of advantages to the user with smart home automation and probably why people are switching to smart homes technology looking to improve their quality of life.
1) Enhanced Security
There were times when people used to rely on traditional ways to protect their homes. For instance, getting a loud dog, ensuring the doors and windows are shut before leaving, or asking neighbours to watch out.
These methods have worked in the past, but as burglars are going more creative, it is our responsibility to stay one step ahead of them.
And this is where smart security systems can help users with enhanced security and provide complete protection against burglars 24*7.
Smart technology-enabled home security systems let you take proactive measures to secure your property efficiently. Users can choose any smart security system- smart doors, smart locks, smart cameras, smart alarms, or a smart doorbell to protect their homes in the best possible way.
These smart home systems offer a higher level of security, and their remote monitoring feature allows people to monitor their homes remotely.
2) Energy Efficient
All smart home devices are designed to be energy efficient because they only function when required. Smart HVAC and heating systems, for example, will operate automatically based on the circumstances. These systems are outfitted with motion sensors that detect movement in the room, allowing them to operate only when necessary. You can control them remotely using a smartphone app and manage them from anywhere, at any time.
3) Cost-Effective
Because these smart devices are energy-efficient, you can save a significant amount of money on your electricity bill. Despite the initial costs, management efficiency in smart devices will save in ongoing running costs.
4) Increased Productivity
The automation of these smart devices improves your overall productivity. You can enable a set of automation tasks that allow smart devices to operate without your intervention.
For example, you can programme your smart lighting, HVAC system, or other smart devices to turn off when you leave the house. This way, you can free yourself from day-to-day manual tasks that no longer require your involvement while increasing your productivity.
5) Convenient
Routine tasks can be automated using smart home automation systems. Some of these devices can communicate with one another, making life easier for you. For instance, you can connect your smart lock to your smart alarm so that your alarm automatically activates everytime you lock your door.
6) Peace of Mind
The remote monitoring capabilities of the smart security system provide homeowners with complete peace of mind. You are aware of all activities even when you are away from home. It could be anything like checking on your children while working or answering your doorbell remotely.
8 Smart Home Automation Ideas for your Home
1) Smart Alarms
Unlike traditional burglar alarms, smart alarms use cutting-edge technology to enable users to monitor their property remotely. It communicates with a smartphone app, allowing you to manage, control, and monitor the system from anywhere. In the event of an emergency, you will receive all notifications on your smartphone.
For example, when your smart alarm is triggered, it immediately sends you an alert along with the photos or videos that were captured at the time. You can easily validate the alarm trigger and take the appropriate actions. It aids in the control of false triggers and provides comfort.
FHA offers a variety of smart alarms that can be tailored to your specific requirements. All you have to do is schedule a free consultation call to discuss your needs.
2) Smart Cameras
Smart CCTV systems are used for monitoring and surveillance. When someone approaches your property, its motion detector immediately sends an alert to your phone. It comes with a smartphone app where you get all the notifications, and it also allows you to monitor your property from the app itself. This way, even when you are not at home, you know what is going on.
FHA provides ultra-low-light, impact-resistant, and compact high-resolution smart camera systems. They use high-end, high-spec cameras, as well as high-quality recording systems with simple backup options. You will be able to live view CCTV footage using a smartphone app or via a remote computer with internet access. All of our CCTV systems include a motion-detection recording feature and continuous recording, and a one-year warranty.
3) Smart Lights
Smart lights save energy and money and are super easy to manage. You no longer have to turn on and off the lights manually. Instead, you can manage them using voice control devices such as Alexa or Google Home. You can also operate it through your smartphone app.
Some smart lights are equipped with a motion detector that activates every time a movement is detected within the room. Due to their startling effect, they are also quite effective against intruders who are attempting to slink through your premises in the dark.
Some smart lights can adjust brightness and colour based on the environment. You can, for example, dim the lights in your TV room to enjoy a movie night or increase the brightness in your kitchen while you are cooking dinner.
Philips and TCP are two well-known companies that provide smart lighting systems. These devices are easily available online and offline.
4) Smart Doors
Smart locks allow you to manage people getting access to your property. You have full ownership and can decide who can and cannot access your door. It connects to your smartphone app, which will enable you to control your lock from anywhere using a unique access code.
You can also pair it with other smart devices such as,
- a) Security system- By pairing your smart door with your security system, you can automate the arming and disarming of your alarm system when the doors are locked.
- b) Video Doorbell- When you pair your smart door with your doorbell, you will be able to grant visitors access after visually verifying them via the doorbell.
Smart doors provide advantages to homeowners who want to protect and manage their homes in an efficient way.
5) Smart HVAC systems
A smart HVAC system is a smart solution that maintains the air and heat flow within the building while also improving air quality.
Installing a smart HVAC system gives you complete control over your heating and cooling system. It offers numerous advantages such as lower energy consumption, improved performance, and remote access and automation. It also has a significant advantage in terms of energy consumption and costs.
You can have better temperature control in different rooms based on your usage and requirements. You can also connect these systems to other smart devices for voice control, such as Google Home or Alexa.
6) Smart Doorbell
A smart doorbell is a relatively new product on the market that allows you to manage and respond to visitors at your door remotely. It works with your home broadband and connects to your smartphone, where you receive all notifications.
It supports motion-triggered notifications. For example, when someone approaches your door, the device will send an instant notification to your smartphone app before the doorbell rings.
It also has built-in cameras that can send you live video notifications and allow for two-way video communication.
There are numerous smart doorbell devices on the market. Sky Bell and Ring are two well-known brands that offer a variety of subscription plans. You can also integrate them with your other security systems as part of your home automation hub.
We at FHA offer a home automation kit that includes a smart security system with built-in cameras and can be paired with the Skybell doorbell. If you’d like to learn more about these systems, please contact us and speak with one of our experts.
7) Smart Speakers
Smart speakers like Alexa and Google are pretty popular nowadays. They do multiple tasks like playing music for you, turn on your smart lights, play a movie on your smart TV, or wake you up in the morning. It can not only automate tasks for you, but it can also assist you in answering questions and setting reminders for yourself.
In short, smart speakers assist you in a lot of day-to-day task. Three of the most popular smart speakers are Alexa, Siri, and Google Home, and they are all available both online and offline.
8) Smart Kitchen Appliances
Traditional kitchen appliances that once required manual assistance are now powered by advanced smart technology. These appliances can communicate critical information to homeowners thanks to the IoT technology used and controlled via a smartphone app.
For example, your smart fridge will notify you when it reaches a specific capacity for common items, or you will receive a notification when the food in your oven is ready. This will make cooking easier for you, and you won’t have to worry about overcooking your food.
Think of your refrigerator adding items to your shopping list or even ordering your shopping when milk and essential supplies are low.
Smart Home Automation Hub
Smart technology has numerous advantages, and consumer home automation has made life easier and more convenient for homeowners.
Managing all of the smart devices through different smartphone apps, on the other hand, could be difficult. This is where the smart home automation hub can come in handy, allowing you to manage everything from a central location.
When all smart devices are linked together, they form a smart home automation hub. A smartphone app allows you to control the smart home automation hub from your phone easily. You no longer have to manage separate apps for each of your devices. Instead, you can manage everything from a single app.
Alarm.com provides a home management solution that offers homeowners an all-in-one system that manages everything from a single platform. You can control everything with just a few clicks, thanks to its user-friendly app.
This allows the system to manage different devices and manage the energy load and can grow with your home and its needs.
Privacy and Security Concerns of Home Automation
As with any technology, home automation raises privacy and security concerns. Manufacturers and developers must prioritize data encryption and implement robust security measures to protect users’ personal information and prevent unauthorized access to smart devices.
We recommend all smart devices and technologies be fully encrypted and connected via reputed and secure servers from established manufacturers. NDAA compliant devices are always recommended for commercial and domestic use.
Future Trends in Home Automation
The future of home automation holds exciting possibilities. Advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning will lead to even smarter and more intuitive systems. Additionally, increased integration with renewable energy sources and smart grids will further enhance energy efficiency in smart homes.
Conclusion
We live in a digital technology era where many devices are becoming smart home automation enabled. Smart home automation offers numerous advantages and is no longer considered a luxury but rather a necessity. It provides better security for homeowners and provides access control, allowing you to manage, monitor, and control it from your phone.
FHA is a home security installer based in England that specialises in home automation security solutions. If you are looking for a complete smart security solution for your home, you can schedule a consultation call with one of our experts. We are happy to discuss your requirements and provide you with the best solutions.
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