The Internet of Things is expanding at roughly the same rate as the universe, connecting all manner of items to the web. Some of these smart home gadgets are exceedingly useful, integrating features that make the items even more functional than they were prior to smart technology — but a great many smart items that homeowners invest in are little more than expensive, high-tech gimmicks.
If you are eager to bring your home into the 21st century but don’t want to waste money on useless tech, you should prioritize the following smart home appliances in your budget:
Smart Thermostat
Temperature control is among the most energy-intensive processes in your home. Even if you live in an enviably gorgeous climate, you likely utilize temperature control to make your interior spaces perfectly comfortable year-round, and that temperature control demands excessive energy to heat and cool your spaces. Fortunately, a smart thermostat can reduce your energy consumption and lower your energy bill. Besides offering temperature schedule settings like any thermostat, a smart thermostat can be altered from anywhere, so you can raise or lower your interior temperatures when you are not home. Even better, you can set up a geofence around your property to trigger your smart thermostat to change temperatures when you leave or arrive back home. Though it might not be as flashy as other smart home gadgets, a smart thermostat is arguably the best smart upgrade you can put in your home.
Smart Ceiling Fans
While on the subject of smart temperature control, we might as well mention smart ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are among the most energy efficient fixtures you can place in your home, especially if you live in a warmer environment. Ceiling fans can help spaces feel cooler without actually lowering the temperature of the air, which means you can save significant amounts of energy (and money) on cooling. However, the effect ceiling fans generate is not effective if no one is around to experience it. Thus, you might consider installing smart ceiling fans in your home, so you can turn them off and save even more energy while you are away.
Smart Garage Door
There are so many good reasons to keep your garage door closed — but there are many reasons you might want to open it, too: allowing friends and family to access your home while you are away, permitting delivery personnel to stash your boxes in a secure environment and more. To ensure you get all the benefits of a securely closed garage door and the flexibility of an open one, you might invest in a smart garage door opener. Then, you and those you trust can access your garage space without your physical presence on the premises.
Smart Irrigation System
One major reason the indoor plant fad has died off at the tail-end of the COVID pandemic is that so few people remain home to water their verdant gardens as frequently as they require. Similarly, outdoor landscaping requires regular watering to stay lush and green. If you do not enjoy the process of dragging around your hose — or physically bringing pots to your kitchen sink — you might invest in a smart irrigation system. The complexity of smart irrigation systems can vary, depending on the amount of attention you want to give your plants, so you should research your options and find a smart irrigation tool that makes sense for your lifestyle and garden.
Smart Security
If all you have is a dog that barks when the delivery person knocks on your door, you don’t have effective security protecting your home. Smart security systems include motion-detecting lights and cameras that connect to your network and devices, providing you with 24/7 visibility over your property. The best benefits of smart security is the cost; you can invest in as many or as few elements of the system as you need to feel safe and secure. Some smart security tools come with expert support, and others rest entirely on your own attentiveness, so you should know exactly what you are getting before you set up your security solutions.
Sure, you could blow your smart home budget on a $700 juicer or a gadget that tracks your trash. However, if you want your smart home to improve your lifestyle, you should select products that will boost your energy efficiency and automate difficult tasks — like those items listed above.
