Home automation is actually nothing new. It ahs been around for many years with the introduction of X-10. Although the technology does advertise it can save you money, it
is more of a cool playboy and a convenience feature then it is a money saver. If you do the math, buying modules and software to initially set up your system will set you back quite a few dollars. The question is, how long will it take with your lights being remotely controlled to get all that invested money back in your pocket? The answer is probably never.
With that said, I am a die-hard believer in home automation. It probably will not save you a dime but it can make managing your homes lighting and small appliances a lot easier and it can make managing your home actually fun. Home automation can come in variety of flavors and personally I still use the original X-10 system that was introduced in the 80’s. I virtually have every lamp and light connected to a computer controlled program that turns on my low voltage lighting, lights in the living area and I even have several lights that work with a motion sensor. I know it will not save me a dime but it is fun to maintain and program.
Now, Google has already introduced some new products that allow you to control your thermostat remotely. The item is sold under the brand name of Nest. They are available at most home improvement stores. The product is very expensive and you can expect to shell out a good 200 bucks to get the new technology. There is no question that raising your thermostat when you are not home can save you some cash but it will take some time before it pays for your new toy. In addition, there have been some reported security concerns with this product as well.
Since I keep my thermostat at a steady 76 degrees, this is not an addition that I would be considering as an addition to my home automation collection. If you own a programmable thermostat, they can accomplish the same thing at a fraction of the cost and with no security concerns.
Just recently, Nest introduced a network smoke alarm that could contact you in the event of a fire. Those have been recently recalled due to an issue with the ability to silence the alarm while simply waving your hand in front of it. Once perfected, this might be something worthwhile to look into. Although expensive, they can save you money overtime by not having to pay for a monthly service to do the same thing.
In the future, more and more modules and apps will become available for this new technology. But remember, all this stuff is still based on the original idea that was created by X-10. They are the original home automation company and their products work great for the most part. If you have a lot of items that cause interference along your electrical lines, they have filters you can use to minimize the interference.
In review, home automation is more of a convenience then it is a money saver. If you are somebody who likes to tinker and create, you will love the technology. If you are not, it is best you stick to the original manual light switch.
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