Energy Management Meets Security: Smart Automation for Safer Homes

There was a time when energy management and home security were separate things. A homeowner might install a programmable thermostat to save money and heating costs while also relying on a monitored alarm system to protect his property against burglary. Today, however, the line between the two barely exists.

Thanks to the smart home concept, energy efficiency and security are being combined in whole-home systems that can do more than just automate temperature control and make noise when a burglar breaks in. Today’s home automation systems have capabilities homeowners were only dreaming of decades ago.

Energy Efficiency With Home Automation

Mention energy efficiency at home and most people will immediately think of the thermostat. That makes sense, given the amount of energy required to keep our homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. So it is no surprise that the thermostat was one of the first energy efficiency devices smart home manufacturers tackled.

Today’s smart thermostats are truly remarkable. As Vivint explains, a smart thermostat is more than just a programmable device. It is also a device that can be accessed and modified remotely. It is a device that can artificially learn a homeowner’s routine for the purpose of automatically modifying programming.

Home automation further achieves energy efficiency with:

• Smart light bulbs and switches
• Smart window blind controllers
• Smart appliances
• Smart irrigation systems

Even something as simple as a smart plug can make a home more energy efficient by allowing a homeowner to program lights. Combining a smart plug with a motion sensor can make the connected lights even more efficient.

Security With Home Automation

The foundational principles upon which electronic home security was built remain intact today. So what is different? The ability to integrate security devices with home automation platforms. The modern video camera illustrates this point perfectly.

Long before there were wireless video cameras that could be connected to a phone in mere minutes, homeowners achieved video surveillance by installing closed circuit TV (CCTV) systems complete with cameras connected to control panels via wires. The cameras were effective. Yet they were isolated in terms of their function.

Today’s wireless cameras can be fully integrated with a home automation system for better security and efficiency. Picture an exterior camera with onboard motion detection. It can alert a homeowner as a person approaches the house. Even if the homeowner isn’t home, he can pull up an app on his phone and watch the video in real time.

He can immediately contact the authorities if he suspects his visitor is up to no good. If his camera is equipped with onboard audio, he can also speak directly to the guest and warn him to go away. All of this is possible thanks to home automation integration.

Tying It All Together

The best part of all of this is that everything can be tied together for endless combinations and functionalities. Let’s go back to the video camera. I can tie my exterior video camera to my front door and lights. When I come home at the end of the day, the camera picks up my motion. Facial recognition allows it to identify me, then unlock the door and turn on the lights.

Smart home automation is literally changing the way people live in their homes. By combining efficiency and security in a unified ecosystem, smart home automation is making our lives easier, more convenient, more comfortable, and safer. What’s not to love about modern technology that can do so much? I am only surprised that so many people are not yet embracing at.