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From cinema images to architecture and decoration magazines, smart states are present in our minds and retina. Not only as a revolutionary concept, which makes our lives easier, but also safer, more efficient and more sustainable. Smart homes are here to stay and, follow our tips and your house can become one of them

Although it looked like science fiction a few years ago, smart homes are already a reality. Smart homes or automation states are becoming quite common in our day to day. Before, it was a concept quite associated with high-end homes, luxury and design. Nowadays any property can be autonomous and intelligent with small changes and, in most cases, with a simple Wi-Fi connection and an electronic device mobile.

Smart state is an extension of a broader concept known as “smart living”. This term, translated as “intelligent life”, is a worldwide trend. It has also been sponsored by political institutions, explaining how the incorporation of technologies can create a higher quality, efficient, sustainable and durable new environment. But what benefits can it bring to your home?

Advantages of a smart state

The first concept that comes into our minds is comfort. Although, a smart home provides an important plus of comfort by allowing automate tasks (turn lights on and off, put the washing machine, turn on the heating or air conditioning, etc.), this vision limits the advantages and possibilities of smart homes.

•     Security: One of the most important benefits of this type of housing, is the increase in security. Security systems in a smart home are, for example, much more efficient than a conventional system equipped with a few surveillance cameras. The current intelligent alternatives allow to block doors, and in addition to be able to activate a remote alarm at any time from a mobile device.
•     Economic saving: A smart home allows a considerable saving in supplies invoices, especially in electricity bills. By controlling the on and off switching of lights though sensor detection systems, remotely programmed conditioning systems, etc. The consequent savings allow to quickly amortize initial investments which can represent the implementation of an intelligent system.
•     Energy saving: Smart living concepts have allowed, for instance, appliance companies to focus their R & D work on designing devices which are increasingly efficient and respectful with the environment. The union of technological advances, and intelligent and personalized use of electrical appliances, enables the creation of a much more eco-friendly society.

How to handle a smart home

For a while until now, one of the great pitfalls of home automation was how a anybody could “connect” with their home. Lights that can be turned on and off alone, the vacuum cleaner starts up automatically, or the blinds go up and down, are examples which have already been functioning for some years now. But the question is, in what way could we communicate with them? The only option was to schedule them in person. Nowadays, with the emergence of smartphones and Tablets, the current home of the future revolves around these mobile electronic devices. Current domoic systems and equipment have been developed with applications so now they can be managed them from the screen of an electronic terminal connected to the Internet. At any time, from any point of the planet, anybody can program the washing machine, turn on the heating or even receive notifications from the refrigerator warning before running out of a certain foodstuff. And this is only the beginning.

Infinite possibilities

Currently, there are lots of different alternatives in the market to benefit from a smart home.

• Virtual assistant. From some time ago, virtual assistants are working with a control centre of the property, to operate with all the centralized devices and thus to be able to control them with the voice.
• Smart light bulbs. Smart lighting allows from the screen of a terminal, the creation of lighting conditions needed in every moment. Even turning them on and off or decrease / increase their intensity.
• Smart doorbell. There is no need to move to the entrance door intercom. This smart doorbell allows to see who is ringing at the doorbell, talk to who is at the door, and see it all from the screen of your device.
• Smart refrigerator. New generation refrigerators can send messages to your mobile notifying you of the amount of foodstuff, that is left, or before running out of a certain foodstuff.
• Smart cleaning. Are you out of the house and have forgotten to vacuum before your guests arrive? With a smart vacuum you can put it into operation from your mobile.
• Smart housing possibilities are, nowadays, constantly growing. Intelligent and interconnected housing transcends the frontier of fiction and begins to be available to everyone who wants a more practical, comfortable and above all more efficient and sustainable home.

In Hermes & Mathew we have a wide portfolio of apartments for sale, some of them with home automation systems, to make everyday life much easier.