Smart homes aren’t just for the rich. They cut bills, not comfort – and Gen Z wants in. Tim Fant from Schneider Electric says even small upgrades make a big difference. Here’s how to start.
The joke that one day your fridge will be smarter than you doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore – but what about your blinds?
Once considered a luxury just for the rich, more and more homes are becoming smart homes as the price of home automation has fallen dramatically over the past decade.
According to research from PDL by Schneider Electric, the Kiwi smart homes market is expected to grow by 9% over the next four years.
Younger generations in particular now expect some level of smart tech, with more than a third of Gen Z in one Schneider Electric survey saying they wanted a smart home. But it’s not just about having fancy gadgets for the sake of it.
Homeowners generally want three things: lower power bills, a more comfortable, convenient home and peace of mind when they’re away. They’re increasingly looking for control over their power consumption, to save money.
If you’re looking to renovate or build a new home, an early conversation with a home automation expert could save you a lot.
Small changes, big difference
Simple things can make a real difference to energy bills, as well as helping the planet.
Some of the most popular are motion sensor lighting, bathroom heaters that automatically switch off when no one’s in the room (no more accidental overnight runs) and hot water cylinders that automatically go on during off-peak pricing periods.
In Australia, a healthy 40% of homes use solar panels. While solar power isn’t as big in New Zealand, switching between solar and grid power at the right times using smart hot water systems has been shown to save $600-$800 a year.
Smart sockets can run schedules or timers to switch off appliances or chargers when not in use, so you’re not wasting standby power.
Smarter than you think
The security and convenience factors shouldn’t be underrated either. An obvious one is a heat pump you can programme to warm up your lounge when you’re on your way home.
Some systems give you the ability to programme “moments” that control a group of smart home products at once, just by speaking a command out loud.
For example, telling your home to go into travel mode could switch off the hot water cylinder and organise lights to turn on and off on a schedule, to fool burglars into thinking there’s someone at home. Saying “It’s bedtime” could automatically switch off upstairs lights and close the curtains with motorised blinds. These features can not only save time, they’re also useful for homeowners with limited mobility or disabilities.
How to get started
If you can’t afford to transform your whole house into a smart home straight away, you can get the pre-wiring done for EV charging and start with just a few smart light switches. You can then add features such as hot water or blind control over time.
There are lots of smart products available off the shelf, which are often a good low-cost way to try smart tech. However, it pays to do your homework about their functionality.
If a smart bulb relies on the wall switch staying on, one flick of the switch and all the clever features disappear.
Battery devices need their batteries changed. Not all products integrate with a smart speaker like an Apple HomePod, Google Nest, Amazon Alexa or Echo, so it’s also important to check compatibility if you’re using one of these devices.
When it comes to adding maximum value to your home, a permanent wired system is the way to go. They are less likely to accidentally switch off, and are generally more reliable long-term.
Look for a trusted brand that’s been around for a while, which helps assure you of good post-sales support and the ability to receive updates.
If you’re not familiar with smart home features and don’t know where to start, have a conversation with a home automation expert or registered electrician.
