Smart Home Flipbook AU

TOP TECH

Get with the programs and make your life easier for less with smart gadgets for every area of your home

Words Jane Parbury

There are many reasons to give your home a smart update.

For the elderly or people with disabilities, smart products can make home life easier to navigate, potentially helping users retain their independence. Fun, convenience, energy savings and enhanced security are just a few aspects of a smart home from which we can all benefit.

Adopting a smart strategy isn’t actually that complicated. Gadgets come with their own app: download to your phone, follow the set-up prompts and you’re ready to go. There are devices for a range of home fittings and appliances, including heating, cooling, lighting, security and more. Multiple gadgets could let you run virtually the entire house and garden from a single device, whether you’re at home or not (see Do I need a home hub?, following page). You can create schedules for all devices to work automatically, operate them with your smartphone or use a spoken command if your home hub has a voice-compatible assistant.

SET UP FOR SUCCESS

Good internet coverage is important for a fully functional smart home. It’s common to have patchy internet, especially in larger properties, says Tegan Hamilton, Bunnings national buyer security and general hardware. “But you can help extend your signal to dead spots around the home with wi-fi extenders and whole-of-home mesh wi-fi systems,” she says.

Also bear in mind that running a smart home may attract subscription fees. “Most brands don’t require these, but some do!” Tegan warns.

Let’s take a tour of what a typical smart home could look like.

Always on guard

Entry-zone security camera

To browse the wide range of automation solutions, visit bunnings. com.au/smart-home

“A smart security system of cameras, sensors and remote monitoring provides enhanced safety and peace of mind“

Grid Connect

Photography Getty Images; (opposite) Natasha Dickins. Any hardwired electrical work must be done by a licensed tradie.

FRONT OF HOUSE

Wireless or hardwired, a video doorbell can record anything happening around your front door, and store the results for a period of time in case you need to revisit the footage. It lets you ‘answer’ the door whether you’re at home or away, giving you the chance to monitor visitors and parcel deliveries. You could pretend you’re somewhere in the house even if you’re not – handy if an opportunistic thief stops by. Add a smart lock and

LEFT Make access to your home more secure and convenient with a smart door lock. Check out the range at bunnings.com.au/ smart-door-locks

you can be alerted when the kids get home from school; greet friends and send them a virtual ‘key’ to let themselves in if you’re running late; or give your tradie an entry pin code, which can be changed when they’ve completed the job.

For many people, the starting point for a smart home is a security camera. “The most popular options offer solar panels for long battery life, as well as 4k resolution for clearer night vision,” say Tegan. Some models now come with facial recognition technology that helps the device ‘learn’ to distinguish between regular guests and strangers, helping to avoid unnecessary alerts. They might be hardwired or solarpowered, and some have two-way audio to let you speak to visitors. But be aware that technology is moving fast, warns Tegan. “Resolution and night vision continue to improve, so if you’re buying into wired cameras, they can be costly to replace,” she says.

FUTURE FADS

Better functionality, increased ‘learning’ and broader compatibility are improvements we can expect from smart gadget producers, according to networking specialists Grid Connect. The company advises consumers to be aware of emerging technologies and keep abreast of the latest home automation developments on the horizon. These include the following.

● Increased integration between different platforms.

● Artificial intelligence (AI) improvements that allow systems to learn from user behaviour and anticipate user needs.

● Energy management systems that will allow homes to optimise energy consumption based on usage patterns.

● Health and wellness integration such as monitoring devices.

While AI exists in some smart home products, the Grid Connect team says the ‘learning’ facility is set to grow exponentially. For example, reporting back larger than usual water usage at your home might suggest a leak or dripping tap and prompt speedy maintenance. Products are likely to become more compatible, letting you create routines in apps that currently don’t play well together.

DO I NEED A HOME HUB?

Yes, if you want to operate multiple smart devices that connect via different wireless technologies, like Bluetooth, wi-fi, Zigbee, Thread and more. To streamline operation, you can: choose models compatible with a software hub, such as the Grid Connect app; or use a hardware hub like Wink 2 to bring them under the same operational umbrella.

Smart speakers like Amazon Echo can also work as a hub. They’re operated by voice commands via Alexa to play music, set timers, make calls and much more. Smart displays like Amazon Echo Show also have a screen for video calls and watching TV.

If smart home devices are controlled by different apps, a smart speaker can still work but may not offer the device’s full range of functions.

Double act Display art on a smart TV

Remote control Swap over to smart downlights

At the source Connect to smart plugs

Photography Alex Reinders, styling Sharon Begg.

LIFE IN THE LOUNGE

A smartphone can operate lighting, entertainment, window coverings, heating and cooling. Tenille Riordan of Signify (producers of Philips Hue and Wiz brands) suggests starting with smart globes. “Replace your existing globes (or downlights) with smart, and you’ll be able to turn them on and off or adjust the brightness from anywhere.”

Another quick tech fix is a smart plug, adds Tenille. “You can use them to make your table lamps smart, or manage other plug-in appliances,” she says. Aside from the convenience – like using your phone app to switch on your electric blanket towards the end of a late-night movie – some smart plugs come with a built-in energy monitor so you can track your energy usage (see Good save!, below).

What could be nicer, on a cold, dark, rainy evening, than coming home to a warm home, courtesy of a few taps of your smartphone from the train? Add a smart reverse-cycle airconditioner to your shopping list and you could make it happen. While you’re doing that, you could also prompt your robotic vacuum to give the living room a once-over before guests arrive.

GOOD SAVE!

The right smart devices can help households reduce energy usage. Some lighting, heating and cooling products come with sensors and switch off automatically when the room is vacant for a while.

“If you often forget to switch lights on and off, you can simply upgrade to a smart bulb and add a motion sensor, then your lights can turn themselves on and off automatically,” explains Tenille.

Meanwhile, ‘set and forget’ scheduling allows you to cap the time a device is operating.

Light it up

Create ambience with smartcontrolled LED lighting

GARDEN GLORY

A smart garden is one that uses less water and energy. Georgia Liversage of Holman Industries says using tech outdoors offers convenience and helps your garden to thrive.

“It can monitor and track water usage, adjust accordingly, and be controlled from your smartphone,” she explains.

“A good starting point is a WX1 tap timer teamed with the proprietary wi-fi hub.” A smart weather station, accessed remotely, is another useful addition – it can prompt you to turn on your irrigation to water your precious vegie garden when you’re away.

Outdoor security is also important and can include motion-activated security

floodlights and cameras. And in addition to deterring burglars, smart outdoor lighting can turn your garden into an after-dark wonderland. Try colourchanging deck lights and bollards for ambience as well as safe passage at night; spotlights to accentuate beautiful foliage; and ropes of fairy lights to transform an alfresco dining pergola or draped over a fence to create a twinkly backdrop.

“A smart controller allows you to have complete control of your garden lights from anywhere in the world, as long as you have access to a wi-fi connection,” says Georgia. This includes changing the colours of your lights or adjusting

Hook up a sprinkler to a smart tap timer and let them look after your lawn

scenes, setting schedules for specific times, intensity and saturation and even setting smart automations through the app based on external sources. “For example, you could set the lights to turn on when the sun is setting, and turn off when the sun rises,” explains Georgia.

Watch it!

Discover options for automating your outdoor illumination: bunnings.com. au/smart-garden-lighting

GARAGE MAGIC

Chances are your garage holds a lot more than just your car, being a favoured repository for a range of possessions from toys to tools. There are a few smart upgrades worth doing here for security and convenience.

A smart garage door opener lets you operate the door remotely – for example to admit a delivery person dropping off your internet shopping. And it can also send you alerts if you’ve left the door open by mistake.

A smart batten light can be automated to switch on as the door opens, or timed to come on when you arrive

home. A smart padlock, teamed with a tough cabinet or tool chest, might be just what’s needed to provide extra security to protect your valuable belongings.

Inside the garage, a security camera can do the same job as those outdoors. ‘Plug and play’ models offer quick and easy set-up without needing the services of an electrician. ●

OPEN UP

For garage door openers, visit bunnings.com.au/ smart-garagedoor

PLAN FOR SUCCESS

If you’re starting your smart journey from scratch, consider the following planning steps from the team at Grid Connect.

1

Assess your lifestyle and your daily routines, habits and activities to determine where automation can enhance convenience or efficiency.

2 Take into account the needs and preferences of all family members, ensuring that the smart home features accommodate everyone.

3

Identify the areas or functions in your home that are most important to automate. For example, if you travel frequently, security features and remote monitoring might be a priority.

4 Establish a budget for your smart home project. This will help you prioritise and make informed decisions based on cost-effectiveness.

5 Plan for scalability so your smart home components can be easily expanded or upgraded to adapt to future needs and technological advancements.

6 Choose devices and systems that are compatible with each other to ensure seamless integration.

7 Consider incorporating smart devices that contribute to energy savings, such as smart thermostats and lighting controls.

A remotely operated and monitored garage door makes life easier – and your home more secure