You may have heard the term ‘smart home’ floating around quite a lot recently. But you may be left wondering what exactly is a smart home, and how do you achieve one?
In essence, smart homes make your home accessible and secure, they also save energy and heat, which then makes them a lot eco-friendlier. And what’s more, they are easier to achieve than you may think. If you’re wondering if you could benefit from a smart home, we’ve put together a handy guide help you turn your home into a smart one.
Get a smart meter
Now an estimated 21.5 million of us have smart meters installed in our homes, so chances are – you may already have one. But why are they recommended?
Well, smart meters measure how much energy you use and allows you to see your energy consumption. That way you can make changes to bring the price of your energy bills down. After all, if you can see how much you’re spending, you may think twice about switching on the kettle!
What’s more, some advanced smart systems let you control your combination boilers from your smartphone with a smart thermostat to ensure the house is heated effectively.
Add some smart lighting
As well as adding a touch of drama to your home, smart lighting is a great way to save money on your electricity bills. With lighting making up to 15% of a typical household’s electricity bill, it’s a good idea to save where you can.
Smart lighting allows you to control your lighting from your mobile. So, if you end up rushing out of the door and remember you’ve left the light on – no need to panic! Simply go to your app and turn the lights off.
Invest in some smart plugs
If you haven’t already, perhaps it’s time to invest in some smart plugs. Smart plugs (as the name suggests) plug into your electrical outlets and are used to manage the energy consumption of whatever appliance you’ve attached to it. You can control these from your phone or set them to turn off at a certain time. Or, if you’ve forgotten to turn something off once you’ve climbed into bed, you can turn them off without lifting a finger.
They’re great if you’re trying to manage your family’s screen time too, as you can simply program TVs to switch off at a reasonable hour.
Don’t forget the garden
If you’re serious about having a smart home, then don’t forget the garden. Rather than watering your plants from a hose, consider investing in a smart sprinkler system. That way you’ll be able to have a luscious lawn without wasting water.
The bottom line is that there are plenty of ways to transform your home into a smart home. By making some small changes you can knock money off your household bills and save the planet at the same time.
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