We’re living in the age of technology and if you haven’t modernised your home, you don’t know what you’re missing! Home automation is rapidly advancing and with good reason. It’s easy, it’s chic, it’s safer for the environment, it’s fast, and it’s remote. But what exactly is it?
It’s the automatic control of all systems within a home by hooking them up to a remotely controllable network, as opposed to isolated programmable items like smart thermostats and sprinkler systems. You can control nearly everything—appliances, smoke detectors, sprinklers, alarm systems, windows, locks, HVAC systems, outlets, smart light switches— from any location in the globe using a mobile device. Ready to join the home automation revolution?
What Is Home Automation?
Home automation is the future. It’s a step toward the internet of things where everything will have an assigned IP address that can be tracked and accessed. A home automation system automates all devices in your home, activities, and functions. Simply said, it means you can simply control the appliances and features in your house online to improve convenience, increase security, and even reduce household expenses. Features include:
- Thermostat control
- Lighting Control
- Blind control
- Appliance control
- Surveillance control
- Security control
- App access & real-time alerts
- Keyless entry
- Voice-activated control
Using home automation, however, doesn’t eliminate the need for doing things manually around the house. It simply makes the most popular home routines, such as those for smart outlets, locks, lights, and thermostats, a little bit easier. Continue reading to know more about home automation technology and know how to join the bandwagon.
How Does Home Automation Work?
It works in three key ways:
- Scheduling
Schedules outline a plan to carry out a procedure. Having said that, scheduling in home automation involves setting up routines on your devices. For instance, you may program your smart thermostat to turn on the heat if the temperature goes too low or schedule your lights to turn on at a specific time.
Even something as simple as turning on the front door lights every day at the same time could be an important routine for safety. You could also have a more complex morning schedule where multiple smart devices work together to execute various tasks. For example, as part of a daily “good morning” routine, you could program the coffee maker to start, the lights to gradually get brighter, and the radio to play the morning news.
- Self-Learning
Smart devices like smartwatches have a mind of their own. They read our minds, health, and even mood. Home automation is no different. Smart home systems have self-learning traits that earn them the name ‘smart’. Self-learning is an upgrade from scheduling in that, the device automatically learns your routines and takes care of things.
With self-learning systems, for instance, you can go from setting schedules for your thermostat to having it do it automatically once it has learned when you are and aren’t home. They detect your location using your smartphone and take care of things for you in your absence.
- Remote Control
This helps you to manage your smart home appliances even if you are not physically close to the system control panel. As long as you have an internet connection and the right app on your smartphone, tablet, or a portal on your web browser, you can manage the operations of various smart home appliances whether you’re across the country or just across the room.
Benefits of Smart Home Automation
- Remote Access
This allows you to control systems in your home from a distance through Wi-Fi, whether you’re close by or across the globe. Remote access also upgrades your security system. How so? If your home automation system notices any unexpected activity, you will be notified right away. You can then proceed with immediate action, say locking all your smart locks permanently before your return.
- Convenience
Left your lights on or forgot to turn off your HVAC system when leaving for work? Don’t fret, you don’t have to drive back or go in late for work. At the tap of a button, you can shut them off. You can also schedule smart home devices to turn on and off automatically to get such routine tasks out of the way so you can focus on more important matters.
- Comfort
Automating your home can give you revolutionary comfort. Why? It makes your home more livable by always making sure that the temperature is right, that the lights are at an optimum level, and making sure many more settings are just right. All you need to do is preset your chosen settings in advance.
- Energy Efficiency
By detecting when people are using a room and when it’s not, you can switch off the lights, which means smart home systems increase energy efficiency. What’s more, they switch off systems that you accidentally leave on. Smart thermostats can, for example, turn off while you’re away to prevent energy waste. One research study showed that smart thermostats can save heating and cooling expenditures by roughly 12%.
- Safety
Lastly, automation comes with major upgrades to home security systems. Countless devices function in real-time to let you know exactly what is happening in your house, including security cameras that detect movement, video doorbells, sensors for doors and windows, and many others. By doing this, you can be sure that your house is secure even when you’re not there.
Home Automation System Components
So what makes up a home automation system? Ideally, everything that can be added to a network can be automated and managed remotely. Many of the smart gadgets sold in stores are packed with cutting-edge features, but only a small number of them offer the level of integration required to be a part of a full home automation system.
For a fully automated system, you need an expert and the right kind of devices and for that, Advanced Living solutions can help. Here are the 3 main components of a home automation system:
- Sensors
These keep an eye on variables like motion, sunshine, and temperature. Then, according to your preferences, home automation systems can change those settings and more. Devices work by responding to the sensor’s data and responding accordingly. Good examples of devices with sensors are thermostats, smoke alarms, smart lighting, temperature, humidity, fire, and carbon dioxide sensors.
- Controllers
You could call them the ‘command centre’ or ‘brain behind everything’. They are machines, such as smartphones, laptops, or tablets that are used to transmit and receive messages about the functionality of automated systems in your house. They do so with the help of an advanced system that connects all devices in your home and helps them talk to one another. They also include an app that helps you control and monitor your devices.
- Actuators
The sensors collect data and tell you that a room is too cold, the controllers help you interpret the data and tell the machines what to do. So, what next? Actualising your command. That’s where the actuators come in. They are devices that bring the controller’s commands into operation and include motorised valves, motors, and switches. They are set up to be activated by a controller’s remote instruction.
Final Thoughts
Alexa, turn on the lights! We’ve all heard about the mind-boggling Alexa if we’re yet to integrate her into our homes. Well, it’s not just about voice commands to turn your lights on. You could wake up to a freshly brewed cup of coffee, enjoy revolutionary security, and save money from the convenience and energy efficiency of smart home systems. If that sounds like a plan, you know what to do!
Enhance Your Life with Advanced Living Solutions
Smart homes are a dream come true. It may be the solution for you if you find daily tasks repetitive and time-wasting. You also don’t have to worry about turning off your HVAC system every time you go to work, or watering your lawn and waiting until it’s finished before you can leave. You don’t even need to turn your lights on and off every few seconds!
Automation improves your life in a straightforward, practical way. We have everything at Advanced Living Solutions—everything you need for a fully integrated home automation system. Lighting systems, smart thermostats, security systems, appliance control systems, and more.
Please call us today on (03) 9212 7999 or leave an enquiry to learn more!
