If you tend to believe that home automation is just another fad, you might want to rethink things. The U.S. smart home market was worth $87.2 billion in 2023. Market experts are expecting growth (CAGR) of more than 10% over the next five years.
In North America, the number of smart home systems topped 275 million last year. Not all of them are complete, whole-home systems, but the number is still impressive. The fact is that consumers appreciate home automation and are willing to put money into it. How about you?
If you are not yet part of the smart home revolution, here are five good reasons to consider joining up:
1. Saving Money
Vivint Smart Home published their own list of 10 reasons to adopt home automation a couple of years back. The first item on their list is still relevant today: saving money. The savings are rooted in using less energy for heating, cooling, and lighting.
Smart thermostats can reduce energy bills by way of programming, artificial intelligence, and remote access. Meanwhile, smart lighting can be utilized to reduce energy consumption by maintaining better control over all the lights in the home.
2. Better Security and Safety
Today’s home automation market is not limited to just thermostats and light bulbs. Home automation systems include security devices like video cameras, smart locks, and motion sensors. Security devices can be fully integrated into being part of the smart home ecosystem.
Devices like video cameras and door sensors function as a deterrent to burglary. Meanwhile, smart locks reduce the need for keys and, subsequently, the risk of losing one’s keys and having them fall into a stranger’s hands. Even smart lighting can improve security through programing that deceives criminals wondering if a home is occupied.
3. Improved Comfort
For some people, the big advantage of home automation is improved comfort. Consider a thermostat that is programmed not only on a day-to-day basis, but also by season. The home is more comfortable in terms of both heating and air conditioning without a homeowner having to manually program every time seasons change.
Similarly, automated shades can be programmed to open and close based on both time of day and season. During the summer, they are closed at the hottest times of the day to help keep the house cool. During the winter, they are open so as to let natural sunlight in, sunlight that also helps heat the home.
4. More Convenience
For me personally, it is all about convenience. I love the fact that I can program a certain group of lights to turn on early in the morning, at the same time I am scheduled to get up. I don’t have to wake up in a dark house requiring me to fumble around looking for a light switch. When we are out at night, I have my system programmed to automatically turn on lights as we arrive back home.
5. Voice Control
Voice control is an excellent feature of modern home automation. For someone who has trouble getting around, being able to control everything from lighting to thermostat setting with one’s voice is indispensable. And of course, smart speakers can be utilized as reminders to take medications, complete daily tasks, etc.
Home automation is popular enough that new homebuilders are beginning to include it in their designs. At some point, whether it is 25 years down the road or 100, I imagine every house in North America and Europe will be outfitted with a complete home automation system. Why not get on board now?
