According to data collected by Monitronics and published in a recent infographic, more than 12 million home automation systems will be installed throughout the U.S. by 2016. The home automation market in this country will exceed $5.5 billion during that same period. Furthermore, more than 44 percent of U.S. adults say they are open to the idea of utilizing home automation equipment themselves.
So why all of the interest in home automation? It comes down to efficiency. Our busy schedules make it more difficult than ever to properly manage lighting and thermostats for maximum savings. Home automation changes the game by giving homeowners the tools needed to control lighting as well as heating and cooling systems at any time of day.
Manage Your Lighting
When you were growing up, did your parents constantly remind you to turn off lights when leaving a room? You might even have to remind your own children of the same thing. However, what about managing lighting when no one is home? That’s where home automation comes in.
Home automation allows you to turn lights off and on at various times throughout the day. For example, set up a schedule so that the lights in the entrance turn on just about the time you are scheduled to return from work. If you are going to be late one night, just access your system using a smart phone or tablet to make the necessary adjustments.
Managing lighting also allows you to turn lights on and off for security purposes when you are away for extended periods. The obvious benefit is not leaving lights on 24 hours a day. Turn them on remotely for a few hours at night in several rooms within your house. It not only looks like someone is home, but it also saves electricity.
Manage Heating and Cooling
Heating and cooling are among the most costly parts of owning a home. You can purchase a programmable thermostat that lets you set the temperature of your home on a seven-day cycle, but a programmable thermostat only works well if you have a fairly simple schedule. A more complex schedule requires something different.
Home automation lets you set your thermostat according to your normal routine, but it also allows you to change your settings on-the-fly. For example, let us say you are taking an extended vacation to get out of the winter weather for two weeks. With a programmable thermostat, you would have to change your existing program or set the thermostat to hold a specific temperature. With home automation, it is a lot easier.
Home automation lets you set a specific temperature to hold as you leave the house. When you are within an hour of returning, just access your system with your smart phone and resume your established program. You will save money while you’re away without coming home to a cold house.
Save with Home AutomationUsing a home automation system to control lighting and thermostats can reduce your energy bills by as much as 15 percent each year. For the average American household, that amounts to nearly $200. When you combine home automation with home security and 24-hour monitoring, it is an incredible value that is well worth the investment.
One-Stop Communications offers this functionality by way of HomeTouch home automation. Please contact us for all of the details regarding equipment, pricing, and installation.