A Smart Investment

Smart home technology has become a norm for modern living.

Renters and homeowners have come to expect the comfort and convenience of automation and voice command. Apps and smart assistants like the Alexa and Google Home devices allow for total control over lights, temperature and electronics with a simple activating command.

“Whether it is lighting, HVAC control, audio and video or shade control, home systems are extremely flexible to combine your tech needs into one easy-to-use remote or system,” said Michael Lyons, industry expert and owner of Emerald Coast-based Action Audio Video.

As renters and homeowners explore new automation options, the convenience factor moves to the forefront of must-haves.

“The key to convenience is pulling your smart technology together on one app,” Lyons said. 

Brands like Philips Hue offer bulbs, track lighting and custom lamps that connect to a companion app on your smartphone. Philips Hue’s Bridge device acts as a router or hub for all of your smart lighting. Users can set up lighting automations for morning and evening or flip a room’s light on before arriving home.

The Philips Hue Signe lamp brings a modern style to the bedside table. The gradient lighting can be controled remotely via app or voice command. Photo courtesy of Philips Hue

Lyons said new geofencing technology further automates smart lighting and other features with minimal effort demanded of the consumer.

“When you pull into your driveway at night, your technology can work for you by lighting a path to your front door, into your hallway and so forth, so you aren’t walking into a pitch-black house,” he said.

Activated and controlled through a companion app, geofencing uses your phone’s Wi-Fi or data to register your location, recognizing when you are inside or outside of the geofence zone. When your location is registered within the zone, predetermined automations are activated, like front porch or garage lighting as you pull into your drive. When you leave the geofence zone, an away mode activates, turning off any lighting or devices as dictated through the companion app. 

All smart control systems provided and installed by Action Audio Video can be monitored and run from your couch or anywhere in the world with the use of an app.

“To operate all the subsystems in one’s home and control them from one app is the ultimate in convenience,” Lyons said.

While convenience is king, strong safety features are a must-have in today’s technology.

“Whether our clients request installations in their house, a rental home or a second living space, they can monitor their property from afar,” Lyons said. “This includes cameras, temperature control, arming and disarming security systems and even turning the hot water on and off.”

Action Audio Video uses Control4’s home automation services that include everything from touchscreen control panels and wireless keypads to video doorbells and camera surveillance. Homeowners can view live security camera footage from their television, control panels and mobile devices. The Control4 devices provide clear footage and reliable surveillance.

Other rewards reaped from smart technology include energy efficiency. Features like automated shades can save homeowners big bucks in the long run.

The Google Nest line of smart technology can sync your smart assistant to your thermostat and outdoor lighting for quick and easy adjustments. Photo courtesy of Google

“As the sun comes and goes, shades can open and close and even tilt automatically, which helps control the temperature throughout one’s home,” Lyons said. “This drops the HVAC a couple of degrees to save homeowners on their energy bill.”

And minor changes to interior lighting levels can make a difference, too.

“At Action Audio Video, we program lights so that they don’t have to shine at 100%,” Lyons explained. “People can’t really tell the difference at 80%, but over time, their electricity bill will reflect this decrease.”

Convenience, safety and cost-effective features have proved worthy investments among local homeowners.

“We’ve received incredible feedback from clients about how easy and convenient it is to listen to music at the pool or in the bathroom with just a click of a button or command,” Lyons said. “Installing keypads and touch panels throughout client homes has definitely added to their level of comfort.”

Homeowners take heed — smart-home technology appears to be the next smart investment.