Do you have enough hours in the day? Most busy people probably wish they had a few more. Connected appliances, while they can’t make a day longer, they CAN help you recapture more of your own time. One recent study estimated that connected appliances could save a typical household 100 hours a year.
The time savings from connected appliances could come from a number of places, including an easier process, automated tasks, and remote operation.
The concept of a “smart home” is steadily becoming a norm in daily living with the market introduction of smart plugs that can connect internet-enabled home appliances and gadgets alike.
Once the devices are connected through a frequency operating under your home broadband Wi-Fi, the homeowner can remotely access and operate these internet connected devices even when the person is away from the house.
Smart home technology is making strides in making it easier for homes to adapt and quickly realise the benefits of home automation. With an emerging steep market and a competitive industry being moulded with the home automation platform, companies and tech providers are now keen to introduce better products within the near future.
According to the Internet of Things (IoT) analysts, the future of the smart home will evolve from its commercial “plug and play” setting into an “integrated” feature where smart home technology will be a standard feature for new homes built in the future.
Here are a few benefits of these new integrated smart homes:
Peace of mind: If you’ll be away from home for a while, connectivity can allow you to make sure your appliances stay in working order while you’re gone. Connected appliances can also help you keep tabs on older or ill family members or friends who are under your care.
Repairs made easy: Connectivity could revolutionize appliance repairs and make long waits for a repair technician a thing of the past. Manufacturers are already developing features that will allow repair technicians to remotely identify problems and, in some cases, repair them without even visiting your home.
Simplified process: A connected dishwasher could “learn” when you typically wash dishes and be set up to begin the process automatically when appropriate. Clothes washers could give you advice on how to wash a certain type of garment, saving you the time of doing research. That’s one less thing you have to worry about.
Lower energy costs/ automation: Connected appliances have the potential to work with the Smart Grid to drive energy cost savings and improve the environment. They could automatically reduce energy use based on the user’s preference, or allow users to access renewable energy when it’s available.
With automation in place and the strategic application of functional energy incorporated into the home, homeowners can decide which part of the house can be powered by solar, home battery or electricity.
In connecting the energy sources in an automated — smart home energy management system, homes will be able to adjust heating and turn off connected lights, appliances, water without human assistance. This makes for a very efficient home as the home can monitor its energy consumption by itself and make informed decisions with the guidance of the homeowner in making adjustments to reach a level of energy efficiency.
