There’s no doubt that a well-designed living space leads to a happier home life, and it’s perfectly apparent that
The history of smart home technology goes back further than you might think. When you get right down to it, smart homes began with the invention of the thermostat, and the first programmable thermostat was actually developed by Honeywell all the way back in 1906! Since then, the smart home industry has expanded into one of the fastest-growing segments in the technology sector.
Smart Home Statistics:
Of course, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the thermostat became digital and more closely resembled the kinds of programmable devices that we’re used to today. Modern smart thermostats—not to mention other smart devices, such as smart home security systems and appliances—began to show up as early as 2007, when Ecobee launched the first smart thermostat. All of a sudden, the term “smart home” no longer sounded like something you’d only hear about on The Jetsons.
What is a smart home? Even if you’ve heard the term tossed around, you may not know for sure exactly what it means to call a home “smart.” The simplest explanation is that a smart home is equipped with appliances and/or devices that can communicate with your smartphone or tablet through the internet. This is sometimes called the “internet of things.” Everything from your thermostats to your appliances to smart home security systems can be controlled from anywhere with the touch of a button or even just the sound of your voice. Want to make sure you remembered to turn off the oven when you left for work? Need to answer the doorbell when you’re not even home? Smart homes can potentially allow you to interact with just about anything in your home that runs on electricity from anywhere that has an internet connection or a Wi-Fi signal.
How popular are smart homes? You might be surprised! As we mentioned, the smart home industry is one of the fastest-growing tech sectors in the world, with the United States leading the charge when it comes to automated appliances and other smart devices. In fact, it’s estimated that three-quarters of all U.S. households will have at least one smart device by as early as 2023. What’s more, smart home statistics suggest that the market’s massive growth is unlikely to wane anytime soon, as more and more people become comfortable with the idea of smart devices in their homes. By 2022, the market for smart home devices is expected to eclipse $53 billion.
What are the benefits and cost savings of smart homes? Fundamentally, smart homes are intended to add convenience to your life, but they also provide other benefits, as well, from added security and safety to cost savings. In fact, a smart HVAC system with a programmable “learning” thermostat has been shown to save as much as 50% on the average utility bill, and that’s just one of the many smart devices on the market. Because you can control smart devices from anywhere, you’re less likely to leave lights or other electronics on all day when you’re away from the house, as just one example.
Breaking down the different types of smart home technologies:
We’ve explained how smart homes work and why you might want one. Now let’s take a closer look at a few of the more popular options on the market when it comes to smart home devices and technologies, from appliances to security systems and beyond.
Smart Home Security Systems to Help Keep You Safer
There are any number of ways that smart homes can help keep you and your family safer. You’ll be able to make sure you shut off the oven or see who’s on the front porch when the doorbell rings. You can also protect your home with smart home security systems, which can range from the kinds of cameras and monitoring that you might expect to more surprising options like the ability to lock your doors remotely, even when you aren’t at home.
Smart Home Lighting, Appliances, and HVAC to Save You Money
As we’ve already mentioned, smart appliances and thermostats don’t just let you control the temperature of your home. You can turn appliances and other devices on and off at your leisure, whether you’re lying in bed, driving to work, or waiting at the airport for a flight. Many smart homes extend this same control to the lights, allowing you to turn on the porch light when you’re going to be home late, or turn off the lights when you’re away. All of this can save you a surprising amount on your utility bills each month.
Smart Voice Assistants to Make Things More Convenient
Whether you opt for Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, or some other option, voice-controlled “virtual assistants” can do all sorts of things, from telling you the weather to turning the lights on and off at your command. You can use them to make phone calls, search the internet, or do just about anything that your connected smart devices and appliances can do, all with just a simple voice command and without ever having to leave the comfort of your recliner.
Smart Appliances (and More) to Make Life Easier
Just because you don’t necessarily have a smart oven or refrigerator doesn’t mean you can’t get some of the benefits. Smart outlets can actually go a long way toward converting any electronic device into a “smarter” version of itself, allowing you to turn them on and off via your phone or other devices. And if you do want to scale up, you’ll find all kinds of smart appliances on the market that offer a wealth of interesting features, not to mention loads of data that you can access via the internet, such as power usage stats and much more.
For decades, most of us could only dream of living in a home where we could control the lights, the music, and the temperature with nothing more than a word or the press of a button. It was the stuff of science fiction. Today, however, smart homes make our everyday lives more comfortable, convenient, and safer. The future is here, and it’s just getting started, as new innovations in smart technology help to make the homes of today and tomorrow safer, more comfortable, and, let’s face it, cooler, too.
Want to take a tour of a new home with smart technology already built right in? We know where you can do it! Located in Van Alstyne, Texas, Mantua is a master-planned community where the future is so bright, you’ll have to wear shades. To learn more about our growing community surrounded by the natural beauty of Texas, all you have to do is fill out the form above, and we’ll be in touch!
