When we think about home automation, most usually imagine a huge bill, long installation processes, and just a general headache. The reality is, there are many great deals on the market when it comes to home automation, especially since most security technology has been around for some years. On top of that, there are smaller, inexpensive smart technologies available for houses and small apartments, if you’re not ready for a full system yet.
Smart Outlets
Smart outlets provide complete control over your plugged-in appliances. It works by simply plugging in the smart outlet to a regular wall outlet. Any appliances plugged into this smart outlet are fully programmable. You have the control from your smartphone as well as from the outlet itself.
Smart Lighting
The LED bulb on the Philips Hue light bulb uses up to 80 percent less energy than traditional bulbs. It can also be controlled remotely through a simple app or programmed to switch at a given time. Each bulb is only 20 dollars, quite a steal for what it saves you on electricity costs.
Smart Sensors
There are many various types of sensors available on the market, ranging from temperature, humidity, and motion sensors. Aeon Labs mutli-sensor, which controls temperature, humidity, motion, and even lighting, uses Z-Wave protocol, all for a mere price of 49 dollars. You can also find flood sensors for basements and other vulnerable areas.
Smart Gardener
Most smart garden systems will cost at least 100 dollars. However, the Parrot Flower Power, costing only 60 dollars, will allow the ability to monitor plants, nutrient levels, water levels and other things right from your smart phone. This can help you see what kind of fertilizer is needed and find out what plants will thrive best in your area.
Home Alarm System
Helping with more than just security, ADT installed home alarm systems increase home values and gives one the ability to view their entire house from anywhere from a smartphone. Worth their investment cost, you can have complete surveillance of their house. There are many other inexpensive DIY systems as well.
Smart Egg Tray
For only 10 dollars, you can get the Egg Minder smart egg tray that not only counts how many eggs are in the tray but how long they’ve been in there and expiration dates as well. All of this information is sent to one’s smartphone. It’s a great way for serious home-chefs to keep ingredients fresh and update grocery lists on the go.
This list only scratches the surface of what’s out there when it comes to inexpensive smart home systems. The variety in design and niche is becoming virtually endless. Even the smallest, most inexpensive smart systems can add tons of convenience to one’s life. Eventually, they’ll have a smart system for just about everything!
Eileen O'Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check out her Twitter @eileenoshanassy.
