Technology is evolving at an incredibly fast pace, yet this is making it more affordable and accessible than ever before to have the benefits of a smart home, writes Stephen Fenech.

It isn’t the individual systems at work under one roof no matter how hi-tech they happen to be.

Just as our arms and legs are merely limbs until they are directed to action by our brain so it is in our home.

A smart home is one that takes these individual systems and connects them in a way that gives them a level of intelligence and intuitiveness.

In many cases it takes the decisions out of our hands and also set up to react in the way the owner intended to make their lives easier and, believe it or not, simpler.

Take a look around and you’ll see we are literally surrounded by technology. Whether we like it or not, it is now an unavoidable part our daily lives.
We have mobile devices, computers, high-speed connections to the internet and the latest entertainment equipment.

It’s no wonder then the idea of a smart home is no longer just something home owners thought was something we could expect many years into the future.

Nor is it purely the domain of the wealthy who were the only ones with enough money to turn their smart home vision into a reality.

The good news for today’s consumers is that technology is improving quickly and getting more affordable at the same time – a perfect storm of factors for anyone planning their dream smart home.

Today’s modern and savvy architects and designers are now as well versed in the possibilities for a smart home as they are of the number of load-bearing walls in the design.

And with the help of specialised CEDIA certified smart home solution consultants the path is clear for anyone who wants their home to incorporate entertainment, communication, security, lighting and energy saving systems – all of which are linked with structure cabling that really puts the smart in smart homes.

People new to the concept of a smart home think it’s simply a house with a home theatre and a universal remote control. Wrong.

Certainly a home theatre can be part of the mix but only a fraction of the overall make-up of a connected smart home.

To understand more completely we can go back to the comparison of a smart home being like the human body with our brains controlling our limbs and senses which often also work in combination to complete certain tasks.

Apart from a home theatre the entertainment experience can extend to other rooms in the house with multi-room audio and multi-room video as well. A central networked hub which contains multi-media content which can be accessed on any screen or computer in the house is just one example of the possibilities.

To fully appreciate the idea of a smart home one must consider the entire framework which, apart from the obvious entertainment aspect, includes communication, climate control, security, lighting and energy management.

Imagine a home theatre experience that’s better than the movies and as easy to operate as turning on and off a light switch. In a smart home that scenario is a reality.

On the communication side today’s modern homes have a high-speed connection to the internet and can access fixed and cellular telephone networks. These can be utilised in a smart home to supply content and communicate with the outside world.

Another benefit is being able to control and monitor the home remotely. It is possible to connect to your home using a computer or a smartphone and turn all the lights on and off, switch on an alarm system, close blinds and shutters, check security camera feeds and even record your favourite TV show.

Part of the attraction of building the home of your dreams is to be able to live in comfort. Some of that comfort comes from temperate control. And just having ducted air conditioning doesn’t qualify as smart.

But if that system can call in the help of other parts of the home to reduce or increase the temperature then that it’s definitely in the smart ballpark. It is possible to program blinds, windows and skylights to open and close to suit the conditions and reduce the workload, and power usage, of the ducted system.

Security is of prime importance for the safety of your property and family so it is to your advantage to ensure that system is smart.

Surveillance and monitoring has never been easier with system that provide discreet protection without making your home look like a fortress. Technology including sensors and small hidden cameras give users the ability to keep an eye on things from your own living room or the other side of the world.

Even if you’re watching a movie in your home theatre or lounge room, owners can see exactly who’s ringing their front door bell when a small window appears on the screen. They can even speak to them and decide whether to allow or deny them entry onto their property.

Before smart homes the most impressive things you could do with a light was turn it off and on and dim it.

Today lighting is a powerful character in a smart home. It can be used and programmed to create moods and settings in a home and also used to spotlight highlights of the architecture or precious items and artwork in the home.

Apart from the atmosphere lighting can create it is also easy to control in a smart home. Imagine coming home and having a path to your bedroom or living area illuminated the second you open the front door or disarm the security system after coming home at night.

Or what about being able to turn every light off in the house with a single switch instead of having to go from room to room? With a smart home you can.

Now many people would think that having a smart home full of hi-tech equipment means an electricity bill that’s as expensive as a mortgage. Not necessarily.

Just on the lighting front it is possible to run energy-efficient globes and downlights at a setting significantly below 100 per cent capacity which already adds up to a saving.

Because of the intelligence of the connected systems it can also determine the ones that need to be operating and for how long and even disable those not needed.

And because this is automatically controlled instead of being left to human judgment it can save energy – which is also good for the environment – and money.

Solar panels are now common additions to many new homes and they can provide more than enough power for even a large home. In fact some provide so much they can also make a contribution of that additional energy back onto the grid and even be paid for it.

The wonders of a smart home which once seemed like the stuff of science fiction films are a reality today. The convenience and efficiency a home like this can bring was something many hoped for in the past – today it is something we can expect.