How to Use Tech to Improve Your Home
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[edit] How to Use Tech to Improve Your Home
Nowadays, we already have tech in our homes one way or another. Even if you’re not interested in modern technology, you probably still have a lot of devices in your home. In the modern day, there is no escape from technology.
So, if you’re looking to improve your home, here are a few ways you can incorporate technology to make your life easier.
[edit] Smart Home Systems
Smart homes use the internet to connect devices to allow the user to control, monitor, and manage the appliances in their homes.
As a part of the Internet of Things (IoT), devices and smart home systems operate together and can also automate their operations based on the data from the user. Many of these systems use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while some depend on proprietary wireless protocols.
You can program your devices using mobile or web apps to follow specific commands or schedules. They can also respond to voice commands through mobile assistants such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant.
Some examples of technologies you can upgrade to smart home technology include bulbs, TVs, thermostats, kitchen appliances, monitors and plugs
[edit] Locks and Security System
Although smart locks and security systems are also a part of IoT, they are often a part of a different subcategory.
You can incorporate smart security systems into your home to boost security. Smart doorbells allow users to talk to the visitors at their house, regardless of their location.
Smart door locks allow you to track and control who can enter your home. Many of these locks come with biometrics like face recognition or fingerprint authentication. They also have dedicated mobile apps that allow you to block unauthorised access.
Smart cameras and alarm systems allow you to monitor the activity inside and outside your home. Alarm systems can also be paired with cameras to detect unusual activity like trespassing, fires, leaks, and more.
[edit] Better Internet Connection
Having a bad internet connection is a pain to deal with. Most times, bad internet just doesn’t mean that access to content will be slow. Sometimes, you can’t access certain types of content and even lose progress on something you’re working on.
A slower internet also restricts the functionality of smart home systems if you decide to implement the smart home system we talked about above. Camera systems can also have a low-quality video feed with stutters and lags.
So, having a great internet connection is important in this day and age. Make sure you do proper research to find an internet service provider that caters to your service needs.
I recommend internet services by Spectrum as they offer great internet speeds with no data caps, which means that you can use your smart home devices without worrying about any pesky data caps.
[edit] Sustainable Power Solutions
Opting for renewable energy for your home is a great way to lower bills, make your house more sustainable, and save the planet. Renewable energy is produced from natural sources like sunlight, wind, water, and biomass and is often referred to as "green" or "clean" energy.
One of the best ways to produce energy for your house is by using solar panels. The power is generated during the day and is stored in batteries for use later on in the night. You can also opt to feedback excess energy back to the grid which can add credits to your utility bill.
Solar panel efficiency has improved drastically over the years. Due to this, they have become more affordable for homeowners. The government also offers tax rebates and incentives for using solar panels which can help reduce the initial investment even more.
Not just that, solar energy can also be converted into heat which can be used to provide heating and hot water throughout the year. The power generated can be used to heat water stored in a cylinder.
[edit] Robot Vacuum Cleaners
These tiny little cleaning bots aren’t something I would recommend buying a few years ago. However, now with better batteries and even better AI systems, these automatic cleaning bots can be a great addition to your house.
Nowadays, there are a lot of options you can choose from. Some cheap models can clean the dirt from your house while you're away. Some of the more advanced models have built-in AI and can empty the dustbin all by themselves.
Most robotic vacuums have a mobile application as well which you can use to remotely control the robot.
[edit] Wrapping Up
Being a little tech-savvy in today’s world can be very valuable for your house. Although a lot of these home improvements can demand an upfront investment. But, they can improve your home a lot in the long run.
Adding technology to your home can make your life easy and can often save you from a lot of frustration.
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