{"id":19658,"date":"2021-11-16T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/?p=19658"},"modified":"2021-11-12T15:10:48","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T20:10:48","slug":"smart-technology-for-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/smart-technology-for-homes","title":{"rendered":"Is Smart Technology for Homes Worth the Investment?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Smart technology for homes has become all the rage in recent years. But, if you don’t have at least one smart device in your home, you probably know someone who does. Swedish research firm Berg<\/a> predicts that by 2024, 179 million homes will be smart equipped across Europe and North America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does that mean you should immediately run out and purchase a smart system to wire your entire home? The answer depends on your plans for your home.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you plan to stay in your home for several years, you’ll immediately reap the benefits of the technology. If you’re planning to sell, smart home technology will entice a younger demographic that values a connected home. Conversely, if this home isn’t your forever home, be aware that smart home technology is a fast-changing world. The setup you install now may fall out of date and need upgrading a few years down the line.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Advantages of Smart Technology for Homes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Here are our top reasons to consider investing in smart technology for your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Convenience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The number one reason homeowners choose to add smart technology to their homes is for convenience. Sure, we can use the light switch or make the coffee ourselves. But the power to turn off the lights from your bed with your voice or set the coffee machine to correspond with your morning alarm not only saves time but adds a touch of luxury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Setting the blinds to open at a specific time each day can help ensure you wake up on time. Being able to let the repairman into your home when you’re at the office is highly efficient. You can even feed your pet remotely. A wired home is a home that works for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better for the Environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Smart homes also appeal to the energy-conscious among us, with good reason. Climate change is a pressing issue, and innovative home technology minimizes our energy usage across appliances. For example, suppose you could have your shower water automatically heated to optimal before turning on the faucet. With that kind of tech, you, in turn, use less water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, you use less electricity if you can turn the lights off automatically when you leave the room. Finally, a smart thermostat will lower energy usage by sensing home occupants and automatically reducing the temperature when the house is empty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saves Money <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Saving money is a significant benefit to smart home technology buyers. For example, when you use less electricity and water, you save money on your bills. In addition, the prospect of saving cash lets most homeowners perform a direct cost-benefit analysis, weighing the potential money savings against the upfront cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the upfront cost to set up smart tech can be pricey, the long-term savings make up for it. If you have children, the cost savings improve further. You’ll be able to program your television and lights to turn off when they leave a room. The ability to control these tools from your smartphone means you’ll never have to worry about forgetfulness increasing your electricity bill.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improves Accessibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For the elderly, children and those with disabilities, smart homes are revolutionary. Standard automation that is designed as conveniences can remove barriers to access home functions. For example, smart plugs ensure that your child can turn their bedroom light on and off even before they can even reach the switch, just by asking Alexa to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What might be seen as a convenience to some can be life-changing for others. For example, for an older person, the ability to control the home with their voice will increase comfort, convenience, and safety. In some cases, the accessibility offered by smart home technology can even be a literal life-saver.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Smart home security allows you to monitor your home inside and out no matter where in the world you are and can alert the authorities the minute an unauthorized person steps foot in your home. For example, a smart doorbell can show you exactly who is at your door and allow you to let them in remotely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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These cost-effective security measures can be a game-changer for anyone living alone. You can also use smart home security for convenience. For example, a Wi-Fi-enabled security camera lets you check in on pets and children from your smartphone. You can even converse with them via built-in microphones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Disadvantages of Smart Technology for Homes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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While the upsides are convincing, don’t run out and invest in a smart home setup without considering the downsides.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyber Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While a smart home has increased security capabilities regarding connecting quickly to first responders, that connectivity comes with a price. The fact that your smart home system is connected to the internet means there is a risk that hackers could penetrate it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This risk is similar to those associated with your home computer. That said, the more smart devices are connected to Wi-Fi, the higher the potential security holes. You can mitigate this risk by researching the devices you plan to add and ensuring the organization has a stellar record for cyber security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

System Longevity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like any other device or appliance in your home, smart home technology can malfunction or stop working altogether. When your smart home devices stop working, it’s not always straightforward to fix, so having access to a manual backup will ensure you don’t lose access to essential home functions like lighting and heating. Smart tech is convenient, but if you rely on it for everything, you could end up in an uncomfortable situation until it’s fixed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With all that in mind, smart home technology is here to stay, and for most Canadians, it’s not a matter of if they will add smart home devices to their home, but when. If you’re new to the world of smart homes, your best first step is to try out one piece of technology, smart plugs to control lighting, and see how you like it. Then, if all goes well, consider investing in more budget as your budget allows.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is smart home technology worth the money? We weigh the advantages and disadvantages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":93,"featured_media":19671,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"guide":[],"class_list":["post-19658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-design"],"acf":[],"zolo_excerpt":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/93"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19658"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19672,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19658\/revisions\/19672"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19658"},{"taxonomy":"guide","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guide?post=19658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}