Two thirds of us will have smart home devices by 2025

Of the 1,000 UK homeowners surveyed the top smart technologies were: 

• heating and energy controls 

• security 

• gate and door entry systems. 

 

However, people aren’t confident that they have enough knowledge about the options available to them. So, although there’s increasing interest in making our homes smart and people value the benefits of smart home technology they might still be hesitating to make their first purchases. 

 

The survey also found that installation costs and ongoing subscriptions were off-putting, with more than eight out of 10 saying they would prefer simple purchases without add-on costs. 

 

Only one in 10 would currently ask for professional advice, so there are opportunities for electricians like us and house builders to provide helpful information about smart home options. 

 

1. Thermostats – to reduce your heating costs you can set temperature thresholds for each season and for when you’re at home or away with smart thermostats. Some even know where you are by connecting to your mobile devices. If you have a smart home assistant you can probably control the temperature with voice commands. With separate room sensors, you can also control the temperature in different parts of your home. 

 

2. Lights – energy-efficient LEDs will save you energy but you can also use smart controllers to set schedules or turn lights on or off during the day via your smartphone or home assistant. Many even allow you to change the tone of your light to suit your mood or the time of day. 

 

3. Plugs – like lights, smart plugs can automatically turn on and off on schedule. They can also monitor your energy consumption. You can use them for most small home appliances and ordinary electricity sockets. Most can be controlled with an easy app. There are also versions for use outside and many will work with your home assistant devices. 

 

4. Motion sensors – if you are considering smart lights then including compatible motion sensors is a good idea. These will automatically turn lights on when someone walks by and will turn off when no motion has been detected for a set time. Some also have daylight sensors so lights won’t come on when there’s enough natural light. 

 

5. Garden sprinklers – to keep your lawn in good condition some watering might be needed. Smart sprinklers will help you save water with a helpful management app which allows you to schedule watering, adjust the length of watering, or turn it off if rain is expected. Some are so smart they monitor the weather forecast for you and include a flow meter so you know how much water you’re using. They will even shut down if they detect a leak.