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The house is not a home unless you bring thought to it. And smart homes are on another level. The concept of the smart home is not something new. It’s been around since the early 2000s. Nowadays, we enter the new era of smart houses that not only focus on making your life easier but save the planet.
As a student, you might start thinking about your own house and how to make it efficient. Even if you are far from accomplishing your dream, you should begin researching the market. Smart technology is not the cheapest one out there. Yet, for the past 20 years of intelligent houses being the reality, the options made to fit consumer needs and budgets.
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We prepared a list of must-have gadgets for making your house more secure and practical. Of course, some aspects would be more relevant for you in particular. Some devices would be useless at all. At the same time, having an intelligent home doesn’t mean you have to replace everything or buy all possible products.
Home Assistant
Virtual voice-controlled assistants are a baseline of any home, even if it’s the only gadget a person ever bought. There are several choices between the industry leaders: Google’s Assistant, Apple’s Siri, or Amazon’s Alexa. Each of these assistants has its advantages and disadvantages, but you choose the one that fits your needs.
Google’s Assistant:
- It’s one of the most affordable options between three;
- The assistant’s performance is as good if not better than Alexa and Siri. Yet, it’s relatively weaker with specific requests;
- It’s summoned by ‘Okay, Google’;
- Google Home’s audio system is not the greatest one;
Apple’s Siri:
- Apple worked with multiple home accessory makers, which means the technology used is controlled by different developers;
- The company always improves the response and request processing time;
- It is very easy to connect your home assistant with other Apple gadgets;
- Siri is exclusive for Apple products;
- Stricter privacy requirements at Apple result in high security.
Amazon’s Alexa:
- The best option for beginners;
- Amazon’s Echo products are easy to set up and use anywhere in the house;
- The average product’s quality in terms of sound is high;
- The app for smartphones can experience delays.
Smart Security
If you are the type of person who constantly has panic attacks over whether you locked your door, these gadgets would be a saving grace. Consider August Smart Lock, Eufy Smart Lock, or Level Bolt to say goodbye to old-fashioned door locks. You can access your house via voice command or smartphone app, and it would keep those without permission out. These locks guarantee you double safety in use and reduce the risks of someone breaking in.
Smart motion detectors and security cameras are your gateways to controlling your property, even if you’re away for long. They send you a notification if something unusual is spotted. At the same time, you have solid proof that everything at home is fine. Here are few names you should check out:
- Hubitat Elevation;
- Ring Alarm;
- Arlo Pro;
Another level of security, which can be added with devices is video doorbells. A door peephole may be a cheaper solution. Yet, the video doorbell provides you a wider angle to check your visitors before opening the doors to them. Video cameras have a feature of recording, so you can check who visited you when you were away.
Your security system can also be linked to professional services that immediately respond to triggers by calling the police or fire department. These on-demand monitoring companies are good when you’re traveling and can’t come back home within minutes or hours to check it.
Smart Thermostats
Depending on your budget and priorities, a thermostat can be something in the middle of the list. Or, in this case, the beginning. Having an automated thermostat lowers your heating bills when you adjust the temperature according to what you need. You may also look for options that check the quality of the air indoors.
You can choose from various options like Nest, Ecobee, or any other brand of your choice. The most important thing in installation is to check the compatibility with your assistant and software. For instance, Ecobee Smart Thermostat has a built-in Amazon Echo speaker.
Smart Smoke and Carbon Detectors
Conventional detectors are proven to be a solution helpful only when staying at home. A detector connected to a smartphone notifies you and trusted contacts that you must take action before it’s too late. This additional security measure helps you prevent unpleasant consequences of something beyond your control back in the day. You can look for Nest Protect, First Alert Onelink Safe & Sound, or Roost as a starter kit for intelligent fire-prevention solutions.
Smart Light
A lighting system is a perfect solution for saving some cash on electricity bills and changing your house vibe. Many systems offer you a variety of options and ways to command the environment. You can change color, brightness, and automatic switch on and off when connected to motion detection.
Here are some brands to consider:
- C by GE;
- Sylvania;
- Wiz;
- Lifx;
- Philips Hue;
Smart Kitchen
Automated cooking is something every student would appreciate. Connected kitchen devices that provide you with needed updates save your time and health. It can be a small cooking appliance like the Tovala Steam Oven or Brava Oven, or bigger refrigerators, LG or Samsung. Regardless, you would have better control over the quality of your food.
Wrapping Up
Setting up an automated house can be a whole ordeal if not taken seriously. There’s no need to hurry into buying the first gadget you can find. The perfect solution is to learn about all options and take careful steps in setting them up. Over just several weeks, you can become a proud owner of a smart house that would make your life comfortable and easier.