Smart home ecosystems have been around for a couple of decades now. The late 2000s and early 2010s saw the rise of now-household names like Nest, Google Home, and Amazon Echo.
While the capabilities of these devices continue to advance (especially with AI), many consumers struggle to integrate a system into their lives as much as they can. If you know you underutilize your smart home setup but aren't sure how to improve it, here are four key areas where you can unlock that latent smart home power in your life.
1. Start with (Thoughtful) Security Integration
Security is a huge advantage that home ecosystems make easier than ever. From contact sensors to doorbells to cameras, there are countless smart devices you can tie into a larger system. Don't just buy something, though. Take the time to compare first. Get quotes from different equipment manufacturers and installers, and look at things like transparent pricing, expert guidance, and access.
Home security quote and system comparison service Smart Security Concierge lists the many new and upcoming tech innovations that are changing what you can expect from a smart security system. One of the most interesting of these is the ability of artificial intelligence to transform a passive recording system into an intelligent AI-powered support—or as Smart Security Concierge calls it, an "intelligent security partner." Things like facial recognition, behavioral analysis, and vehicle recognition are making more advanced systems more capable than ever.
Of course, the amount you're willing to invest still will dictate what you can access—but it's worth considering all of your rapidly expanding options before committing to a system. Once that system is installed and set up, you can update and add, but you don't want to be swapping out entire security systems unless you have to.
2. Optimize Energy Use
A good security system brings peace of mind and safety to your home. Another practical area where a smart system can have a big impact is your bank account—especially your utilities bill.
Schneider Electric reports that "43% of homeowners already consider smart home technology as an easy way to reduce energy use." In other words, if you want to get the most out of your smart home ecosystem, start by hooking it up to your thermostat.
Check your utilities provider to see if they offer any smart home programs, too. There's a good chance you could get a rebate or even upgrade to a nicer thermostat for free or for minimal investment. That results in greater convenience and smart home automation for a cheaper, more comfortable home environment.
3. Streamline Your Entertainment
Tech has already made entertainment more diverse, personalized, and available than ever before. Smart homes make them more convenient, too. A few of the best ways you can tie your TV, tablets, and other devices into your system are through:
- Voice activation: TVs often come with voice activation features that can work with an Alexa or similar device, allowing you to turn them on and off, and control what's playing from a station or app on your phone.
- Multi-room speakers: Smart homes make it easier to hear your favorite shows and music through speakers that can not just interconnect wirelessly but also run through the house and play in specific groupings based on each situation.
- Streaming hubs: There are a lot of different entertainment options out there. A platform like Google TV or Samsung's Smart Hub can centralize everything—and they integrate with smart homes, too.
Don't just chase the gadgets and apps. Like your security, you want to compare each brand. Smart tech company NXP stresses that interoperability standards are important here. Make sure the entertainment hardware and software you choose give you flexibility, simplicity, and peace of mind as you connect each of them into your larger system.
4. Automate Everyday Activities
Remember that a lot of small improvements can add up to a big impact. Sometimes, the best ways to use a smart home system are to look for the little ways it can lift your day.
There is an ever-growing number of ways you can use a smart home system to make small but meaningful improvements in your day. A few examples are:
- Build routines for each part of the day, especially the morning and evening.
- Add reminders for things like laundry and pet care.
- Create an "away mode" that locks doors, shuts off lights, and lowers the thermostat while you're gone.
- Set up motion-triggered lighting and cameras, and have external lights turn on when the sun sets.
- Turn on weather warnings and adjustments, such as automatically adjusting the thermostat if it's a particularly hot day.
- Sync grocery lists and then add to them through your system.
Lifewire points out that many of these things are constantly improving. For instance, Samsung's SmartThings is adding AI-powered automation that makes it easier to set up routines with natural language. If you aren't in the habit of using your smart system to take care of little things, stop underestimating it. Start pushing its boundaries and see how far you can get.
Getting the Most Out of Your Smart Home System
Smart home systems are powerful, but often much of that power remains potential. If you invest in a system, it's worth exploring all of the capabilities at your fingertips. The results can incrementally change your life and lead to huge changes for the better over time.
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