When we think of smart home technology, it’s easy to picture the benefits of automation and having everything at our fingertips. Yet one of the most significant benefits of an intelligent home system for any family is the ability to save money on your energy bills while also saving the planet.
Smart homes are designed to adapt to lifestyles and how we interact with our environment. From sensor-based lighting systems to smart climate controls, the wonders of modern integrated technology can help us to maximize our homes’ energy efficiency here in Dallas.
And this is what we explore in this article.
Ways to Smart Wire Your Home
One of the very first things to consider when installing smart home technology is wiring. “Structured wiring” is a term you’ll need to know.
This is the smart modern version of traditional home wiring capable of supporting digital signals as opposed to the older analog ones. The structured wiring infrastructure is commonly referred to as a “bundle”. A bundle usually consists of two coaxial cables, two fiber optic lines, and two communication cables.
The vast majority of smart home devices need a reliable Wi-Fi connection. It’s therefore important to have a robust Wi-Fi network in your property that allows you and your family to use multiple devices and appliances simultaneously.
Most smart-home devices operate on a 2.4-GHz frequency, but this is changing, with more devices using a faster 5-GHz frequency that also benefits a multi-device system. Moreover, an even newer power-saving Wi-Fi protocol that supports a superior 6-GHz is gaining ground and will soon become the norm, hence the importance of preparing for future technology today.
With smart gadgets for nearly every possible use imaginable, it’s critical to ensure every room is remodeled to be a connected room. You never know what amazing energy-saving smart tech might be developed in future years.
Smart Climate Control
With energy costs increasing and concern for the environment growing, finding ways to lower energy bills and decrease our carbon footprint are considered essential smart home features. Thankfully, smart technology is meeting these requirements in the form of smart climate controls.
Smart heating systems provide the perfect internal climate for every room, with temperatures automatically adjusted according to preset figures and the current temperature of each space.
Your smart system can use temperature detection to turn on the heating, enable the air conditioning, or close a blind/curtain to ensure the inside temperature is consistent with your desired levels at different times of the day and year. It can even detect the temperature and the amount of light outside the house.
Even more amazingly, a smart climate control system will recognize patterns in your behavior and get to know your daily routine. As a result, it will help you enjoy an optimum temperature when you’re most likely to be in the house or a specific room.
All this saves money and energy by ensuring your heating and cooling systems are only used when and where they are needed.
Smart Security and Garage Doors
With crime levels fluctuating from one year to the next, smart home security systems are a constantly in-demand feature. One-touch monitoring of the interior and exterior of a property is a great way to achieve peace of mind when it comes to residential security. You can see multiple areas of your home right from your smart device, whether at home or on a different continent.
Automated door locks are another popular smart technology product. These in-built devices are capable of opening your door when you approach, especially when your hands are full, and use face and voice recognition technology. The same tech can also be used to communicate with people outside your house based on who they are.
You can also receive alerts on your smartphone if your interior or exterior sensors detect any unusual activity, so you can quickly determine whether any action is required. Alarms can be enabled or disabled in different places.
Smart garage door technology is also increasing in leaps and bounds. As one of the most common points of entry into a property, it’s crucial to ensure your vehicles and home are kept safe. Smart tech can detect if you’ve left the door open or unlocked and spot unusual activity patterns based on when you usually enter or exit the garage.
Smart Lighting
Like home heating, home lighting is now smart, programmable, and very simple to manage. It’s also energy-efficient and less likely to increase your energy bills. Most smart lights are LED designs that burn less energy and replace the more traditional incandescent bulbs.
Smart lights are dimmable and even have the ability to change color. In addition, they can be programmed to turn on a different times and at different intensities, right from the comfort of your favorite smart device. With a whole-house smart lighting system, you can control lights in individual rooms and program them to turn on and off whenever you desire.
You can even have lights illuminate when you approach and turn off immediately once you’ve left a particular area. There are many different smart lighting styles and designs, with many more in development. Smart lighting is ideal for everyday functionality, aesthetics, energy conservation, and security.
Upgrade Your Garage to Be Electric Vehicle Enabled
Electric vehicles are the future. So much so that California plans to ban the sale of gas vehicles by 2035. With electric vehicles more widespread throughout Dallas and Texas, home garages will need to be electric vehicle-enabled, whether for present or future use.
It can take up to 12 hours to fully recharge an EV, so most electric vehicle owners prefer to power up at home. There are two main ways to charge your vehicle in your home garage: via your standard 120V outlet or via a pre-installed EVSE wall station.
The benefit of a standard outlet is that it’s likely you already have one. However, charging your vehicle this way is slow (ranging from 2 to 5 miles per charging hour). The EVSE wall station is similar to the commercial systems and is much faster (10 to 20 miles per charging hour) but needs installation and is more expensive.
Blend Technology into the Design of Your Home
Smart home technology is ideal for all types of modern and traditional properties. So whether you have an ultra-modern or rustic style of home, you can blend smart technology into the very fabric of your home décor.
Think of how you can hide gadgets and appliances. For example, TVs could be hidden discreetly behind artwork, projectors installed in ceiling spaces, and speakers camouflaged in the walls.
Look to hide wires where possible and consider going wireless. A smart home hub where all your smart devices are wirelessly connected allows you to reduce the number of cables you need. Alternatively, you can hide cables in hollow baseboards or behind crown molding.
Remember to include USB outlets as well. Many devices have a USB cable, such as smartphones, tablets, e-readers, game consoles, other mobile devices, and even electric toothbrushes. These days you can find multi-functional power sockets in a number of different designs.
Take Advantage of Energy-Efficient Home Improvement Credits
Want to lower your taxes while saving the environment? A legislative package designed to combat climate change provides homeowners with energy tax credits if they install energy-efficient home improvements.
You can enjoy a federal tax credit of 30% of the cost of qualifying geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, small wind turbines, or fuel cells incorporated into your property. The credit also applies to any related labor and installation costs.
You can read more about this here: Energy-Efficient Home Improvement Credit.
Remodeling Your Dallas Home with Energy-Efficient Smart Home Technology
Before embarking on a new remodeling project, it’s sensible to sit down with experienced building industry professionals who have experience with smart home technology. With proper guidance and correct planning, you’ll be able to achieve the home renovation of your dreams.
The design-build remodeling team here at Blackline Renovations in Dallas can help you with every aspect of your home improvement project. From the initial meetings and evaluations to the design process and the construction phase, we’ll be by your side and guiding you through every step of the way.
We offer friendly and expert virtual or in-home consultations where we discuss your specific needs and smart technology requirements and provide you with the optimal design solutions to meet them.
Call us today at 214-827-3747 or schedule a consultation.