Home Tech Savvy

Hey y’all!  While the real estate market, stock market and world economy are in full summer blockbuster mode – with more plot twists and high stakes adventure that we may actually desire, I thought we should ponder what cool stuff we need in our homes! Around 100 years ago, having indoor plumbing, electricity and maybe even a telephone were the heights of in-home technology.   But we’ve come a long way, baby! In 2022 our Smart Homes feature gadgets for home use highlighting energy efficiency, security, and device compatibility. The goal of all this smart home technology is to make our lives easier and our homes run more efficiently.   What’s the tech item for your home, you can’t live without or are looking to get your hands on?  Let’s check out a few categories of items along with consumer and tech professionals’ reviews.

Connected, Compatible and Secure

These days, there’s a smart version of pretty much every home device you can think of. In general, these products connect to the internet, so you can control them from your phone via a companion app. Most also work with various forms of voice control. The device compatibility streamlines our number of products needed, allows for remote access and overall ease of use connecting different devices.    Many tech companies have their own specific product line guaranteeing simple compatibly.

With Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, you can set up routines to program your devices to work together and do multiple things at once, like adjust the temperature and lighting when you get home. With Apple HomeKit, you can control your devices with Siri voice commands, or from an Apple Watch, and create scenes to trigger several devices at the same time. Using IFTTT, a service supported by many of the top smart home brands, you can link various internet-connected devices and easily program them to respond to real-world events, such as setting your lights to turn on automatically at sunset.

For those times you want to check whether it’s a delivery person or an unwanted solicitor knocking on your door, a video doorbell will let you see who’s there without getting up from the couch. Beyond this convenience, video doorbells can serve as a first line of defense against property theft, home invasion, and porch pirates. They not only let you see and speak with the person outside, but they also record footage of visitors that approach your door while you’re away or unable to answer. One favorite budget-friendly model, the Ezviz DB1C Wi-Fi, delivers sharp HD video with a wide viewing angle, offers local and cloud video storage, and supports IFTTT as well as Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.

Another piece of technology you’ll want on your front door is a smart lock. Arguably the most important part of a truly connected home, these devices offer both security and flexibility, letting you come and go as you please, and monitor who is entering and leaving your home while you’re away. A great option to check out is the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, which is easy to install and stands out for its automatic locking and unlocking abilities, robust third-party integrations, and stylish design.

For a more affordable alternative, do-it-yourself smart home security systems are ideal for homeowners who want to save money by monitoring their homes themselves. The SimpliSafe Home Security System, is a favorite DIY option, lets you secure and monitor your home from afar without spending a bundle or signing a long-term contract. Just keep in mind that DIY systems leave it up to you to take action when an alarm is triggered.

Getting Greener

A smart home uses technology to make life easier with savings and energy efficiency as the end result. If your goal is not only a device compatible home but a greener one, here’s a few switches to make or items to add to your home.

Running a whole-home HVAC system (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) all the time can waste a lot of electricity, but an automated, connected thermostat system can make it more energy efficient.  Smart Thermostats — like Nest, Ecobee and Sensi, these thermostats automatically adjust based on your behavior, weather and your home.  Google says the Nest Thermostat reduces that average owner’s energy bill by about 15% and is compatible with 85% of HVAC systems.   If you’d like to make your home smarter and more energy efficient this is the place to start!

Another interesting item to consider might be a Smart Water detector.  The small sensor continuously monitors your room’s temperature and humidity and will send your phone a notification if it detects water.   This can help you identify leaks as soon as they happen, so you can avoid wastefulness and property damage.  A product to check out is Moen’s Flo Water detector, which is super affordable with a small, sleek design.

What about composting? It’s not just for gardeners and farmers, but it’s a simple way to cut down on waste and here’s a product that makes it too easy and convenient for your excuses – Vitamix’s Foodcycler FC-50.  This simple appliance is even apartment friendly and it efficiently dries, grinds and cools natural food scraps for easy compost for personal use or to deliver to composting center.

While Thomas Edison received credit for the lightbulb’s origins – the new smart bulbs that can last 10,000 hours longer that traditional incandescent and work on Wi-Fi are pretty mind-blowing for a seemingly simple tech item!  Environmentally all LED bulbs are beneficial because longer lasting mean less in landfills, but with Wi-Fi enabled bulbs you can set on a schedule and they draw less power when they’re on.

And if you want to go bigger with your home, solar panels might be on your list of must haves. While they’re certainly a  bigger financial commitment and perhaps location specific, homeowners that installed solar panels save thousands in energy costs annually.   Nature Power offers an easy, all in one kit to perhaps test drive if solar panels are a good fit for your home before financially committed to a whole house kit.  Their kit includes a single panel, power inverter, and 11 amp charge controller which terminates into a pair of standard outlets.   Getting off the grid must be a smart choice for your home!

Hope you gathered a few ideas for your home to function more efficiently, save money and reduce your carbon footprint – making your home Smarter!   I’d love to hear your favorite products and resources, find me @makegigharborhome to share and learn about other tech items together.   If you’re ready to find your smart home in Gig Harbor, I’d love to help you!