It is important to have the latest electrical solutions to make your home more comfortable and functional. Whether it is installing an efficient heating system or a smart thermostat, there are many options that can be added to your home.
Upgrading your circuit breaker panel or adding new outlets are also beneficial for a safer and more efficient electrical system. If you are considering a renovation, be sure to have these updates done!
1. Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are devices that allow you to adjust the temperature of your home from a remote location. Many of them can be controlled via a smartphone, and some even connect with virtual assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home.
Most of these devices use a touch screen and user interface that’s designed to be easy to navigate. The best models feature large, clearly stylized temperature indicators and simple interfaces that make them easy to read at a glance.
They also come with a wide range of smart features to improve your energy usage and cut your utility bill. Some of these smart thermostats are able to “learn” your energy usage patterns so they can recommend slight changes to your heating and cooling settings that will help you save money over time.
These types of devices are available from top manufacturers such as Ecobee, Nest and Honeywell. They offer a number of convenient features, including the ability to track your energy usage and compare it to other households in your area.
Some of the more advanced models have movement detectors that ‘learn’ when people move around your house, which they then adjust the temperature accordingly. This could mean dropping the heat when you have guests, or raising it if you’re going to be away for a while.
Using this type of technology is not only a great way to conserve energy, but it can also make your home more comfortable for you and your family. In addition, most of these devices can be controlled remotely and programmable to meet your individual needs.
One of the best things about these thermostats is that they can be easily programmed to adjust the temperature when you’re away on holiday or out at work. You can set the thermostat to the ideal temperature when you’re away, and when you return the system will automatically change it back to your pre-set setting.
If you are looking to get a smart thermostat, consider a model that has voice control, such as the Ecobee4. This device comes with built-in access to Siri – Apple’s voice assistant – so it can be controlled from the comfort of your bed or in the kitchen while cooking. It’s also compatible with other Alexa-enabled devices, such as the Amazon Echo and the HomePod Mini.
2. Smart Lighting
Smart lighting is one of the latest electrical solutions to make your home more comfortable. It can help you save energy and reduce your bills, and it also makes your life easier by letting you control your lights from anywhere.
Smart lights use wireless transmissions to send and receive signals that can be controlled from a smartphone app, tablet computer, or even smart speaker such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. You can tell them to turn on or off based on your schedule, such as when you wake up in the morning or when it’s time for bed.
Some of the best smart lights also have motion-detection capabilities, which can automatically switch them on when unusual movement is detected in a room. This is a great convenience for people who have mobility issues or live in homes with noisy or creaky stairs.
You can also program the lights to blink or change color based on specific events, such as when you get a text message or an Instagram post. This works especially well when you’re at work or at a party and want to keep an eye on the event without opening your eyes.
Many smart light bulbs connect to your home network via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. If you want to get more sophisticated with your system, however, you will need to purchase a ‘hub’ that plugs into your router and can translate the Zigbee signal that the bulbs send.
There are also Bluetooth-only bulbs, such as Samsung’s Smart Bulb, which can be controlled from a smartphone app. These aren’t as advanced or feature-packed as the Wi-Fi-based Philips Hue, but they do offer a lot of useful features for a fraction of the cost.
When you do decide to go for smart lighting, you’ll need to pick the right bulbs for your needs and budget. If you want to take advantage of the programmable features, choose LED lights as they can last up to 35,000 hours on average and are energy-efficient.
Another consideration is whether you want your lights to communicate with a central home control system. For instance, if you have an automated home system such as Control4, your lighting can be integrated with it to create a unified interface for controlling all the devices in your home.
3. Smart Power Strip
A Smart Power Strip is a great way to save energy in your home. These devices connect to a smart hub, such as an Amazon Echo or Google Assistant, and control outlets for all the things plugged into them.
They work by reducing the amount of power consumed by appliances that are plugged in, or they can help cut off power when certain electronics are in standby mode. These features can save you money on your utility bill and make your home more comfortable.
Some smart power strips can be controlled with an app on your smartphone or tablet, while others let you use voice commands to turn them on and off remotely. Most smart power strips have Wi-Fi capabilities, which allows you to set timers and schedules or even remotely monitor your energy usage.
Another great feature is that some of these power strips have a sensor that detects when appliances are in standby mode and automatically cuts off the power to them. This can double the savings of a regular power strip by preventing idle devices from drawing extra electricity when they’re not in use.
This feature can reduce standby power loss, which can be a major source of energy waste. It can also protect your electronics from power surges, and it helps avoid overheating.
A smart power strip can be a very useful addition to any home, especially if you have a lot of appliances that are plugged in. The best smart power strip will let you control it from afar, either through an app or your voice command, and you can even use the device to control other appliances in your house too.
There are several different options available, and they vary in price. For example, Linganzh’s smart power strip is an affordable option that contains four power outlets and supports Alexa and Google Assistant. It’s a simple and convenient solution that can be easily installed in your home or office, and it’s very lightweight too.
4. Smart Switches
Smart switches are an excellent option to make your home more comfortable and convenient. They allow you to remotely control your lights, appliances and other devices, so you can save energy, improve security and reduce your bills.
Some smart switches are voice-controlled and can be controlled by Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, which can make them even more convenient. They are also compatible with other smart home devices, so you can set up scenes to turn multiple appliances on and off at once.
One of the biggest advantages of smart switches is that they let you control your home appliances from anywhere, as long as you have a WiFi connection. This makes it easier to manage your energy use and save money on utility bills, especially during peak hours when electricity rates are highest.
They are also a great way to automate your home lighting, so you can set different scenes and dim the lights based on activity or mood. This can be helpful for making your house more cozy and relaxing during the evening or while you’re asleep.
There are many different types of smart switches available on the market, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs. Generally, you’ll want to look for a switch that is Wi-Fi or Bluetooth compatible, since this will make it easy to control with your smartphone or other smart devices.
You’ll also want to make sure that your switches are compatible with the lights you have in your home, especially LEDs. Lutron, for example, offers a compatibility tool that lets you check the models of light bulbs that work with its switches.
If you have a lot of smart devices in your home, it’s a good idea to get smart switches that are designed for multi-room control and have a smart hub built in. This will help you control all of your smart devices from a single place, and ensure that everything is working smoothly.
Some smart switches have built-in timers and schedules that will automatically turn on your lights when you come home from work or leave the house for the day. This can be useful for keeping your home safe and secure, especially if you’re away for an extended period of time.