Does the following situation sound like a familiar one? You’ve gone out for a dinner or a drink and suddenly remember that weather forecast calls for heavy storms. You also realize that half the windows in the house are still open. At that moment, how great it would be to have an option to close the windows remotely? Well, this possibility is about to become available to every home owner, as a result of the tremendous progress in the field of smart home construction. So, what can we expect from a new generation of smart buildings?
Let the sunshine heat you
Solar panels have been around for awhile, and though many traditional homes already have them, solar has yet to reach its peak. In California for example, solar energy generation increased by 1,378% between 2009 and 2014. However, if you’re thinking about installing a photo-voltaic system in your home, know that there is much more to it than the mere panel installation. First, decide whether or not you want to power your entire home from solar panels. Second, decide whether this system will connect to the electric grid or not. Lastly, choose a specialized and, more importantly, licensed company that will take care of other important solar features, such as connecting the panels to a smart heating system.
IT intelligence for smart buildings
Once your home uses natural, solar energy, attach more devices to your home grid. Today, there are already a large number of smart home devices on the market. For instance, install a smart thermostat that can be controlled directly from any smart device, such as your tablet or your smartphone. These especially useful during the cold winter months, when you can turn the heating system on before you get back home to work, to make it warm. Conversely, you can ensure that the heating system is always off when nobody is home.
Moreover, improve your smart home’s security with cutting-edge entrance identification features. For instance, install a camera with a built-in face recognition system to increase your overall home security.
DYK: most common US #smarthome item is the #wireless #speaker system, then the smart thermostat. #IoT #technology pic.twitter.com/7B0DBEWdWz
— ??Curtis S. Chin (@CurtisSChin) July 15, 2016
Keep the home cool
Safety standards and the advancements by manufacturers in new home-cooling systems are raising the bar. These modern A/C systems provide home owners with state-of-the-art cooling solutions. New air-conditioners require far less electric energy and offer higher cooling efficiency. The result is more eco-friendly living spaces.
New regulations also require that homeowners regularly inspect their air-conditioners, fans, and ventilation systems with custom grilles. Have your cooling devices checked and improved after every Summer, so as to ensure that they are free of harmful microorganisms.
Restrained energy consumption
New building materials play a major role in reducing energy consumption in smart buildings. The most important feature here is insulation. When choosing the insulation for your home, always check the R-factor. This number will tell you how efficient every type of material is when it comes to heat retention.
As for the home interior, every ecologically aware home owner will go for modern LED lights. They produce more light at a much lower energy consumption rate than traditional incandescent bulbs. For more information, check out this table. See for yourself how LEDs could cut your electricity expenses.
Innovations in smart homes will completely change the face of the construction industry and home design in the years to come. Many governments are encouraging constructors and homeowners to make a shift towards more efficient and greener home solutions. The average homeowner should capitalize on the advantages of this next generation of smart buildings.
[Image Credit: Flickr / jeremylevinedesign]