2020 has seen many changes in our lives. Covid-19 is more than likely at the forefront of your mind and how it has changed your life. Many people are working from home with potentially little incentive to return full time to an office.
So what are the top 5 (and a bit) needs a smart home should have?
- If you are spending more time at home, and specifically during daytime hours, you will be more than likely heating or cooling your property for much longer. So make sure your house is passively efficient as possible – seal up the door/window gaps, check window coverings, insulate, warmer or cooler clothing, etc.
- Still need assistance in getting the temperature right? If you have a dedicated room fro your home office think about an efficient localised solution to moderate the temperature in that room only.
- How is your internet speed?. Think about how you connect your computer/s to your network and how others in your house might also need the internet as well – e.g. how they connect, usage type, time of day, etc.
- Lighting can rate as almost your lowest energy user in your house – use efficient LED lighting only – and better too switch on only what you need.
- Air quality monitors – if you have made your residence as weatherproof as possible you may not getting sufficient fresh-air circulation. Air quality monitors can be included in smart smoke detectors or a dedicated air quality monitor.
- Smart speakers should not be smart listeners. If you are working within ‘earshot’ of a smart speaker, I would unplug it, for peace of mind that nothing you say, or someone else, triggers your smart speaker to monitor and perform the next best action.
Hopefully some of those 5 (and a bit) tips will save you money regardless of 2020 – so aim for the repetitive savings!
You might be thinking ‘geez, there is not much tech advice in those points’. True, but remember, a smart homeowner is better off than the owner of a smart home!
Stay Safe. Be Smart!