Part II has us visiting the world of proptech and its impact on the world. We have been reading a lot about home automation as of late, right!? Whether it’s the protection of our data or the fact that you can fortify your house with security, and ensure you barely need to lift a finger in order to achieve mundane tasks. I don’t think we truly know the options that exist out there. Take a look for yourself and get lost in the available options online. Let’s dive into our views on home automation and where we think it’s going.
Home automation and smart homes
Here we are in 2021, teaching our kids’ to play their favourite songs by chanting “Alexa, play….” throughout the house. Here, in my home, we have one device for now, but I’m sure our kids’ will need a few more in order to attain the level of entertainment they desire in each room. It’s only a matter of time until “Justin Beaver” needs to play in my oldest boy’s bedroom, while I’m listening to Simon & Garfunkel in the living room. We already took the first step of getting him a cell phone to Facetime with friends during the pandemic.
This year and beyond, new connected devices and technologies in communities (such as connected locks, smart thermostats, and voice assistants) will go from novel and differentiated, to something that residents simply expect to be included in their homes. The key driver behind this would be to save money and provide residents with a better experience, which will be crucial in markets which are seeing higher vacancy rates and falling rents.
Home automation started with security many years ago, but has now manifested into:
- Climate control
- Smart lighting
- Security
- Entertainment
- Smart sensors
We would be better off if the prices for using electricity would remain stagnant for a while to appreciate these technologies even more. But, we have the opportunity to help save our planet by using technologies that limit energy waste. We are just entering where these technologies go, but imagine how they will interact with the changes we are experiencing with blockchain technology, and its implications on supply chains (VeChain), environmental credits for good behaviour, and many other efficiency seeking technologies. You can even buy a television that doubles as artwork, and with a simple hand gesture or command, you can prompt the switch to happen. We all get the sense home automation is on the verge of greatness.
It’s safe to say that many others feel the same way, as illustrated by “Me” below.
All of this talk about automation has me wondering, what does optimal home automation look like for me?
In my eyes, it involves interconnected devices, systems and software, with the internet managing all of the devices from a central hub. We know the big name players in the market for home automation dominance, but there is surely opportunity to have fragmentation for a long time to come as the demands on a fully automated home would require all parties to be involved in some way, at least for now. There are still issues with watching your favourite hockey team on Amazon’s Firestick, since some sports broadcasting companies do not have an Amazon app in play. For the most part, you can use Google Chrome to tie programs to the television, but I don’t think it is efficient to have to use two devices and two developed softwares in order to bring a hockey game to your living room. Changes are needed to make the house more easily managed across the various automation companies. As Assa Abloy said, “it’s a compilation of different technologies that has made installation and use difficult for many smart home adopters. But this will all soon change.”
As for what is available right now, we are witnessing competitive options, allowing consumers to purchase automation that fits the budget. What we should consider is the impact on our carbon footprint when buildings utilize automation. Imagine knowing the exact moment to turn off the heat based on weather reports, yet for millions of people in a given city. Picture the billions that are saved across the planet when we have smart automation managing the lights for every building and home along one network of operations. You can even bring your own ideas to life using free resources like Random Nerd Tutorials to build your own home automation ideas. You can also check out resources like Blue Genie Home, where they customize your home automation needs. Here is an excerpt from their website:
“Life is so much better when your home knows your routines and knows what you want when you touch a switch or call out a command. Imagine 30 minutes before your morning alarm, the heat goes up. 15 minutes later, the blinds roll up. And 5 minutes before you need to wake up birds start chirping on the speakers. Giving you the perfect wake-up routine. What happens after your alarm is all up to you, turn on the shower or make a cup of coffee. Let your house take care of you!”
We know that the insurance industry is working on apps that allow them to monitor your risks for claims. While smart water sensors aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about smart home security, they can come in handy by preventing flooding or alerting you of a water leak. The device usually connects to your home automation systems or your wifi network and sends a notification if it senses water or moisture.
Here is a ranking of the top Smart Home Devices (Courtesy of Hubspot):
- Amazon Echo (4th Generation)
- Philips Hue
- TP-Link HS220
- Ecobee SmartThermostat
- NetGear Arlo Q
- Char-Broil Digital Electric Smoker, Deluxe
- ConnectSense Smart Outlet
- Ecovacs Deebot N79S
- LG Smart TV
Home automation is not just a dream anymore, it is a reality, rooted in imagination, and the next part will be for us to fully embrace it so that the merge of many will let the power of home automation thrive. Render Developments has had its share of technology improvements that have helped those in need. For example, think about what the world is going through with Covid right now, where we need to operate real estate sales in a safe way. The technology that we use has been helping to save an industry. We have been enabling real estate developers, brokers, and real estate agents to express the homes they represent, in a way that might be more expensive than a conversation, but the returns are demonstrable, scalable, and will always keep our clients coming back for more. We are eager to find comfort in what this pandemic will bring to the technology forefront for the real estate development industry. Right now, technologies that could impact every commercial and residential building in the world are being used to save lives. After all of the strife, we will surely have a safer and more automated society, which could have its perks and follies.
Until next time, we are the Render Team! Feel free to reach out to us to discuss your projects: Contact Render Developments
