One of the latest crazes in home construction and ownership is what is known as “home automation,” also known as a “smart home.” This sort of automation is designed to maximize a house’s comfort while minimizing it’s energy usage. The concept of smart homes has existed since the 1950s when companies began experimenting with timer switches and turning appliances on and off via telephone, but it wasn’t until the development of modern computers that the smart home really became practical.
Modern computers allow for for lights and appliances to be turned on and off automatically, ensuring that energy is not wasted when the homeowner is at work or otherwise out of the house. More advanced systems can even turn on and off the air conditioning or open and close the blinds with the sun in order to stabilize the temperature of the house while using a minimum of energy. But is all of this automation worth the expense?
Automating a house is certainly not cheap beyond the installation of timer switches on outside lights or other simple devices. The fact that this system must be installed on the vast majority of a house’s electrical system makes it notoriously difficult to retrofit into existing houses, although it is attractive to new homeowners who are building their own home. This does not mean that older houses are off limits though, as new wireless technologies make it possible to automate the electrical system of almost any house.
The high cost of this equipment means that is generally more a convenience than a cost saving measure. It can, however, be very useful in houses located in areas with high energy costs, especially if the house is large. Most larger houses now have such automated systems to help keep down the cost of heating and cooling, as well as ensuring that appliances are turned off in unoccupied rooms. This is particularly useful if a house is large but often empty, such as in larger houses with few occupants.
Lesser levels of automation are useful in smaller houses, especially those with only one or two occupants. People who live alone or are out of the house much of the time can appreciate a house which doesn’t turn on the lights until it is dark or which minimizes air conditioning during much of the day. These energy savings add up over time, and in many cases simple automation can pay for itself in a few years. More extensive automation takes longer to recoup costs of course, and may be more of a convenience issue than a cost issue. Still, to many people, an automated “robot house” is one which they find much more comfortable and convenient, and it’s important for a home owner to feel at home, even if this costs a little money.
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