In the past, it was a novelty to have our homes cleaned by Roomba vacuums or lit by smartphone-controlled light switches. It was on Saturday morning cartoons like the Jetsons, but not real life… at least not for most of us. Today these devices are mainstream. The America’s Smart Homes Market research report estimates the smart home industry to grow to $22.4 billion by the year 2020. Here’s a look at what to expect in 2015 and beyond.
Climate-Controlled Homes
One of today’s biggest technology trends: turning your home into an efficient smart home. Start your technology journey with an energy management system and save yourself needless trips to the thermostat. When the sun sets or it starts raining, you don’t need to get up and readjust your thermostat. A product like the Nest Thermostat adjusts the climate of your home based on your habits. The thermostat can tell when you’re home and adjust the temperature as soon as you enter your home. That means if no one is there, the Nest automatically adjust to save energy and money off your utility bill.
Lorex Night Vision Security Cameras
Security cameras can protect your home from theft and vandalism, but what about outside your home? A standard outdoor security camera can only capture so much and leave you with a distorted image of what’s going on. Lorex’s security camera 900 TVL with 150 FT night vision offers high-quality video, a low-light image sensor and is also fully weather-proof for long-lasting durability. Unlike its competitors, Lorex cameras are subscription-free making it a no-hassle way to protect your home.
Smart Refrigerators
Imagine your refrigerator that sends up the alert when you’re out of milk and eggs by snapping a picture of its contents and sending it to your app. Smart fridges are hooked up through a Wi-Fi network and can even connect to your other appliances through a system like Home Connect. Once you’ve got your grocery list in hand and home stocked with food, let your fridge find recipes based on what’s inside. Samsung’s smart fridges even let you check the morning weather, check your Facebook status and leave notes for your family.
Wally Home Monitor
Protect your home from water leaks and damage with a water leak detector by Wally Home. Sensors are placed on areas like sinks, toilets and other places water is prone to leak or collect. Even the smallest hint of a leak is sent to your app right on your smartphone so you can address the problem before it gets out of hand. Wally will go into detail and tell you which sensor picked up on the leak.
Smart Washer and Dryers
Whirlpool unveiled its Smart Top-Load Washer and Dryer with the ability to control your machines via a smartphone app. But it does more than just let you turn your dryer on or off. Slash your utility bill by programming it to only run during off-peak times. The machines can be used like your normal washers and dryers if you want. But those old knobs are replaced with a sleek new interface and touchscreen with specialized laundry options.
