How you can benefit from smart home technology
With recent advancements in technology, smart home devices have become more accessible to homeowners than ever before. Now you can control the temperature, locks or lighting in your home with the touch of a finger or simple voice command. What once seemed possible only in the world of science fiction has quickly become our everyday reality.
There are several gadgets on the market with wireless capabilities that can help make your home “smarter.” Whether you’re interested in enhancing your home security, saving money on your energy bills or expanding your home entertainment system, smart home technology can assist you.
Enhance home security
There are a variety of smart home security systems to choose from. Each system offers a range of security options, including cameras, motion detectors, audio sensors, outdoor motion lights and smart locks. Can’t remember if you locked your door before leaving home? Smart locks can be accessed from your smartphone so you can lock up remotely. Most smart security cameras can also be accessed from your phone if your phone has a cell signal and your smart devices are connected to Wi-Fi. This means that you can check on your home no matter where you are – whether you’re stuck late at work or soaking up the sun on a tropical vacation.
Alert you to safety risks
In addition to smart home security systems, you can improve the safety of your home – and the people inside it – by investing in smart smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and even water leak sensors. These smart devices can be programmed to send an alert directly to your phone as soon as trouble is detected. Some models can even tell you what part of the house the safety hazard is coming from, so that you and your loved ones can get out safely. Since smart home safety devices alert you at the earliest sign of danger, they can help to prevent significant damage to your home and belongings.
Help you go green and save on your energy bills
Investing in smart plugs, smart lights, or a smart thermostat are eco-friendly changes you can make that will save you money in the long run – a win-win for the environment and for your wallet. Smart plugs allow you to turn anything that you would normally plug into your wall outlets into a smart device. Any electronic device or appliance that is attached to a smart plug will be accessible from your phone – meaning that you can control it remotely or schedule it to turn off or on at a certain time. Smart lights function similarly, and some models will even turn themselves off automatically once you’ve left home.
A smart thermostat will allow you to monitor your energy consumption in real time and control the temperature of your home remotely. Some models can learn and adapt to your schedule, so you can conserve energy while you’re out of the house and still come home to your preferred temperature. These devices can save you big in the long-run and will help to reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.
Entertain you and your guests
Smart home technology has made big improvements in home entertainment over the past few years. A smart television allows you to access streaming services and other downloadable applications directly from your living room. Most models respond to voice commands, so you can ask your smart television to play your favourite song, queue up the show you’ve been binge-watching or recommend trending playlists and videos.
Entertaining guests? Ask your smart television to find a popular, upbeat playlist. For an added touch, install multi-coloured smart lights and use your phone to customize their colour and brightness. Some models even allow you to sync your lights to the beat of your music for an added wow-factor!
Ready to embrace the smart home era? If you’re researching an intruder alarm system or fire alarm system, note that you can get a discount on your home insurance if the system is monitored by a company, such as a Central Alarm Station, that can track and respond to any alarm alerts 24/7. To qualify for an insurance discount, the company must be ULC certified. To learn more, contact your OTIP Insurance Broker at 1-888-892-4935.