One in six Americans now own a smart speaker according to new research from NPR and Edison Research. The Smart Audio Report reports that number is up 127% from January 2017. According to the survey, “42 percent of users say their device is now ‘essential’ to their everyday life and 65 percent wouldn’t go back to life without one.” Whether you are one of the sixteen percent of Americans who already own a smart speaker or are simply looking to start simplifying your life with automated technology, here are five reasons to start investing in smart home technology.
1) Safety and Security
Owning a home is still the quintessential American dream. It is not only one of the more secure ways to build wealth and create equity but the place we raise our families. Creating a safe environment at home has never been more affordable. With some of the products on the market you can monitor many of the functions of your home even when you’re not there. Security systems were once reserved for the wealthy, but with some of the security products on the market today you can monitor your home with no month-to-month cost. Smart locks, garage doors, lights, and cameras can all be monitored from your phone giving you a virtual presence at home from anywhere. Home automation can now protect your most important asset while you’re away.
2) Cost Savings
Perhaps the easiest reason to invest in smart home technology is because it can save you money! Nest Labs performed a study and produced a white paper and found that on average home owners who installed smart thermostats could save between ten and 12 percent on heating and 15 percent on cooling to the tune of $131-$145 a year. In addition to that, most gas and electric companies offer a moneyback rebate for installing Energy Star smart thermostats. A smart thermostat nearly pays for itself its first year and allows you to control the temperature of your home from anywhere. Boost the heat so your pipes don’t freeze in the winter or turn off the A/C when no one is home in the summer.
3) Peace of Mind
Home automation technology will give you the peace of mind you are looking for whether it be unlocking the door to let your kids in from school or monitoring your pets while you’re at the office. Additionally know if something is wrong with smoke and water leak detectors that let you know if there’s an emergency even when you’re not home. Home automation gives you the comfort and peace of mind of always knowing what is happening.
4) Convenience
Though Americans are rapidly adopting smart speaker technology, many are still in the dark about the full capabilities of what these machines can do. To transform these devices from slightly improved radios to powerhouse intelligent assistants, capable of whole home connected awesomeness, one need only invest in some home hardware. With an assist from your smart speaker, switching out common light switches and outlets with smart switches and outlets will give you voice command over all the lighting and appliances in your house. You can even assign your smart assistant tasks that run through a checklist of actions to perform to start and end your day.
5) Going Green
Going green goes hand-in-hand with saving money but sustainability in its own right is also extremely important. Our homes take up a rather large ecological footprint and require many of life’s natural resources to power them. The reality is that these resources are finite. By adding smart home technology, you create efficiencies to consume fewer resources every day. By controlling your temperature and lighting remotely, you can reduce the amount of wasted energy needed to power your home. Adding smart outlets is also a great way to lower your footprint. Unbeknownst to many consumers, many of today’s electronics and appliances that are physically plugged in still consume energy despite being powered down. If you know no one is home during the workday there’s little need to spend money powering your television, cable box, sound system and more. Powering down these outlets are both good for the planet and great for your pocketbook.
These are just a few of the many reasons to start thinking about smart home products. There are countless others especially if you happen to own multiple properties that split your time.
If you are curious about smart home products and interested in making modest improvements to your home, please fill out the form below for a free consultation from one of our smart home experts to learn more.