The smart home industry today looks quite different from how it did a few years ago. Certainly, it will continue to change with the passage of time as it is expected to incorporate more energy efficient and safer innovations. With the introduction of the concept of smart homes, many people are adopting ways of making their homes operate in a more convenient, comfortable and environmentally friendly manner.
Consumers are now looking for automatic energy monitoring services such as automatic temperature monitoring devices. Here are the top 5 trends that are shaping the smart energy homes for the future:
SOLAR AND SMART ENERGY
If solar panels are already installed in a house, it is important to understand the average energy consumption so that you know how much energy you can save. Hence, energy monitoring and management are of concern for solar companies. There are companies who are now introducing solar systems with an energy management system, thermostat, control panel and other sensors for free. Data can be collected in the smart system and using algorithms and artificial intelligence, suggestions are made to the homeowners. The sensors determine whether the house is occupied and then adjusts the lights, locks, and thermostat accordingly.
FAMILY AWARENESS
Based on the concept of family awareness, home monitoring is a growing trend these days. Energy sensors are combined with algorithms to alert parents when their kids are using devices like music systems or Xbox, or when the garage door opens. There are devices that connect to the breakers in a house’s electric panel that identifies which appliance is consuming electricity. This information is then sent on a mobile app to notify users. This is usually termed as energy disaggregation. This device can be used to inform consumers of the energy usage of appliances in the house.
SIMPLE SMART LIGHTS
There are new lights known as smart lights which are more convenient for users. There are now multicolored bulbs enabled by Bluetooth that connect to mobile applications. There are smart lights that can control light in a room using hand gestures on a smartphone. As adding connectivity to lights makes them complicated, considerations are made for easy installation and user-friendliness.
TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER AIR AND WATER
The tech industry is making great strides with other resources such as water and air. Countries facing air pollution problems are increasingly adopting air detection and purification systems. A series of air purifiers that can be voice controlled are now trending. There are various water purifiers linked with apps that are now sold as well. The methods for purifying air are unusual – for example, a smart scarf that can keep a cyclist’s lungs clean. There are smart showerheads that use integrated LED lights to change the color of the water coming out of the showerhead. The color changes from blue to red to indicate excess usage.
BATTERIES
Big home batteries are still not advertised widely, but this will probably change as companies lower their cost. For all those using smart devices, the latest lithium-ion batteries as the core source of energy are gaining popularity and are charged by the grid. There are various other next-generation battery innovations that use a lithium-ion battery. Bendable batteries are also designed in sleek and interesting shapes that are so slim that they can be embedded in a credit card!
There are tech companies focusing on building latest software or processors to ensure that devices are using batteries in a highly efficient manner.
