SmartHome features were once thought as the plots to science fiction movies. But with home automation, the future is really here. Controlling lights with a wireless device? Seeing who is at your front door from a small computer that fits in your pocket? Setting specific, reactive schedules based on weather and time of day?
Believe it or not, home automation is much more accessible than it used to be. With plenty of direct-to-consumer products created by some of the biggest tech companies today, more and more people are discovering the amazing benefits of home automation.
Why Home Automation?
For one, it can help boost any existing home security systems in place, while also running your home much more efficiently. The innovative home automation solutions from ACS Security connects your home directly through your smartphone, tablet or computer.
How it works:
Like an amazing universal remote control, SmartHome automation from ACS Security gives you the power to control not only your security system, but all exterior door locks, interior and exterior lighting, as well as temperature control, from anywhere!
There are plenty of myths surrounding home automation. Maybe you’re thinking, “this all sounds great, but is it just a more costly hassle than what I currently use?” We’re so glad you asked. On average, people with home automation actually receive home insurance savings of 15%. This equates to an extra $1,154 per year (which is about $3 per day back in your pocket!).
The average household energy bill is $110 each month (or $1,320 per year), but with home automation savings of 15%, you’d save $16.50 each month or $198 per year! With monthly energy and insurance savings combined, that is a total of $1,352 back in your pocket, annually.
What about the specific features? Extra savings are great, but they’re really the icing on the cake of the comfort, convenience, and control offered by home automation gadgets. Let’s take a look at what you’re really getting with a SmartHome.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are your first line of defense against increasing energy costs. By more meticulously regulating the temperature of your home, you can be sure that nothing is wasted. When outside temperatures fluctuate to highs and lows in summer and winter, especially at different times of the day, you can be sure your thermostat reacts.
Set specific schedules based on time, or create a rule that your home temperature never gets to an uncomfortably high or low degree. Plus, the remote control means you not only see your energy use on the fly, but you can change temperatures from anywhere.
That means if you left for vacation and left your air conditioning running, you can easily adjust or turn it off completely, even if you’re already at your destination. Remotely control your thermostats while away to ensure heating and cooling costs stay low. On average, heating and cooling makes up 56% of your energy bill. Take control by adjusting the temperature in your house while away.
Smart Lights
Much like your smart thermostat, a set of smart lights can greatly cut into your energy usage. You can not only control brightness and set timers to ensure lights that don’t need to be on stay off, but analyze your usage in real time to get the most out of your light sources.
Consider this: a single lightbulb can last 2.28 years when dimmed by 50%. That’s twenty times longer than normal! The smallest tweaks to your schedules and routines can make the biggest difference to your monthly and annual savings. And, also much like smart thermostats, controlling smart lights remotely ensures you never accidentally leave the lights on while you’re out of the house.
Doorbell Cameras and Surveillance
Doorbell cameras have become increasingly popular as a standalone, direct-to-consumer home security product. And it’s no wonder! Doorbell cameras are useful because they make it easy to securely screen visitors, check for packages, and monitor your front door. And when you choose to include doorbell cameras as a part of your home automation package, your camera feed will be a part of the same user experience platform as all of your other SmartHome features.
And you can take home surveillance to another level with Perimeter Early Detection Systems (PEDS), a customizable early-warning detection system comprised of an array of infra-red sensors that provide early warning to home or business owners. The PEDS system enhances your home alarm system and can provide you with valuable time to respond to an alarm emergency and take the appropriate action required. And, like your home security system, the alert could potentially discourage an intruder before they even reach your home.
Smart Locks
Most people think about the general convenience of smart locks. Have you ever stayed at an AirBnb or house sat for a friend, but didn’t have a key? In those cases, maybe you received a door code to punch in for quick entry. And while remote locking and unlocking is a major selling point for smart locks, it’s really only the beginning of some other amazing features.
For one, did you know you can give every member of your home unique access codes? This lets you better track who is coming and going and when. Have a maintenance worker stopping by, but can’t be at home to let them in? Set a temporary code for access that won’t work beyond the given day.
Monitor and control locks on every exterior door of your home. Forget to lock the front door? Do it remotely. Lock your keys in the house? Easy fix. Need to let a neighbor in? No problem. And remember, like every other product and feature in this guide, you have the ability to control everything from the convenient platform of a single smart device. Now that’s control!
For More Security and Home Automation Tips and Solutions, Stick with ACS Security
Home automation is only going to continue to grow in the amazing ways it boosts security, energy efficiency, and general comfort and convenience for homeowners. Learn more about how you can start integrating a home automation package into your home security plan, and make your home a SmartHome.
And if you’re looking for more ways to keep yourself and your family safe, check out our home security and automation services at ACS Security. We offer a wide range of home security options to protect you and your family. If you’re ready to discuss our custom solutions, contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you prepare for what’s next.