‘Smart home” can be something of a loaded phrase.
Depending on your worldview, the term may evoke something between eye-roll-inducing images of people using a phone to turn on the toaster and dreams of living in a home where everything from ambiance to security is efficient, customizable and easily controlled.
A smart home today is a living space with any combination of appliances, lighting, security, heating and other comforts that are connected to the internet and/or each other and that automates tasks humans would otherwise perform. At the basic level, a smart home can simplify tasks. With some careful planning these technologies can also improve home security, provide flexibility and convenience, and reduce energy consumption.
Like any home-improvement project, it’s important to have clear goals and expectations in mind before you start on your home’s smarts.
“Tech companies call something smart when it has Wi-Fi/app capabilities. Those devices lean toward convenience and informational and only save you money when you act on it,” said Clark Public Utilities Program Coordinator Cameron Daline. “Only a few products, namely smart thermostats, are built to help save energy automatically.”
The best smart thermostats learn your behaviors and program themselves around your life and habits, without any input from you. Manufacturers claim they can save a typical home up to 12 percent on their heating bills and 15 percent on cooling bills. The list of benefits they offer grows when they’re combined with other smart devices. However, they won’t yet work in homes with baseboard heating or ductless heat pumps.
If you’re curious but not ready to jump in with both feet, start small with a smart speaker. Just note, you’ll need a smartphone, tablet or computer with internet access to set one up. They can do everything from remind you to take medications, play audiobooks, deter burglars by playing the noises of a busy household while you’re away, and much more. Plus, many can serve as the connection hub should you decide to add other smart devices.
A smart smoke/carbon monoxide detector could be the smart device you never knew you wanted. When the alarm goes off they’ll send an alert to your smartphone. If you have more than one, they can tell you what room the alarm is originating in. If they’re connected to other devices, they can turn on your lights to help you escape and shut down your HVAC system to prevent smoke from spreading.
Taking control
With smart LED lights, you can control lights with your voice, smartphone, or tablet. Many enable total control over the brightness and even the hue the bulbs produce. Many can be paired with other devices to turn off or on automatically when you enter or leave a room. Because they’re LEDs, they’ll use less energy than a CFL or incandescent bulb, but the added convenience does come at an added cost.
Smart locks can make home security a hands-free experience. Some can be controlled with a phone or voice command, in addition to old-fashioned keys. Others automatically lock when you leave the house and let you assign special access privileges to specific people while you’re away. Many even have tamper and force-entry alarms that warn you of possible intruders, and keep you up to date with real-time notifications.
Smart outlets plug into existing electrical outlets. You can use them to create customized schedules for everything from lamps to coffee makers. You can track your power usage for connected devices and better understand and possibly reduce your energy use. Through an app, the outlets can be controlled from anywhere and don’t need a central hub, just a wireless connection to be “smart.”
Multipurpose sensors can be placed anywhere around a house to measure temperature and alert you when doors, windows or cabinets are opened and closed. They can also be paired with other devices to trigger your thermostat to adjust, turn lights off or on, and more.
“Whatever products you bring into your home, consider the value they’ll bring to your life,” Daline said. “Many make things more convenient, others bring peace of mind and safety, but, right now, only smart thermostats are proven to save energy.”
Currently, the utility offers a $50 rebate on select smart thermostat models; visit clarkpublicutilities.com for details.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
