Smart home technology

Fire/CO detection

Sensors in your home.

 

Fire is far and away the number one cause of property damage. For years the humble fire detector has been beeping away at the first sign of smoke in the home, but there are several types of pollutants that can threaten our home environment and air quality, all which could lead to property damage and harm to the people inside. A carbon monoxide detector measures levels of CO in the air and will warn people if levels are dangerous. Since CO is odorless and undetectable without assistance, a detector can be a life saver, especially when it is connected to an emergency monitoring service.

Some new sensors not only detect both smoke and CO, but also can monitor the overall air quality in your home and watch for pollutants like dust, soot, pollen, temperature, humidity, air staleness, pollution, and particulates. Even more attractive are the discounts that insurance companies offer when you use these sensors.

Leak/moisture detection

Sensors to detect leaks and moisture.

 

Water and freezing damage is the 2nd leading cause of home insurance claims. No one wants to get the dreaded call informing you that your house has water pouring out of it and water is leaking into the unit just below you. A water line to your ice-maker broke and water has been running non-stop for 24 hours. This is an expensive accident.

A moisture detection sensor can give you a heads up if your home is at risk due to freezing pipes, or even a broken waterline. These sensors alert you to leaks in your home so can fix the problem immediately and not after the damage has been done. The sensor can be placed around water heaters, dishwashers, refrigerators, sinks, sump pumps and anything at risk for water leakage. If the sensor detects unwanted water a notification is sent to you, so you can hurry home to check out the problem.

Video doorbell

These link up to your phone or other device.

 

The video doorbell is also a theft deterrent sensor. This device allows you to see who is at your door from your smart phone. Whether you are inside alone and want to screen who is at the door, or if you are at work and someone is at your house. You will know. Ring is one of the original video doorbells on the market, but there are several good options now.

Smart thermostat

You can control the temperature of your home, wherever you are.

 

The smart thermostat gives you control over the heating and cooling in your home – from any location. Not only are smart thermostats cool, but they’ll also help you save money by monitoring the temperature and humidity inside and outside of your home. When you are in and out of your house, the temperature of your house also changes and a smart thermostat can adjust the temperature based on your behaviour and room usage. The best thermostats adjust the temperature on a room by room basis allowing you to maintain your ideal temperature when you are in the room and can default to an energy saving mode when no one is in the room. Applying cognitive technology to these sensors is paving way for a home that thinks and knows you and your temperature preferences.

Artificial intelligence

AI offers energy-saving benefits for smart homes.

 

One of the key benefits of integrating AI into smart home products stems from its energy-saving abilities. AI can optimize energy consumption and distribution, resulting in significant cost savings for homeowners. Additionally, AI can learn users’ energy consumption patterns and adjust them accordingly, changing lighting, temperature, and other settings in real-time to optimize energy usage.

Smart home systems using AI can monitor appliances, predict how much energy they will consume, and then adjust their usage so that energy consumption stays within a specified range.

This can be beneficial for reducing energy bills while still maintaining the comfort of living spaces.