2. What is a “smart home”? A smart home is “a residence that uses internetconnected devices to enable the remote monitoring and management of appliances and systems, such as lighting and heating.” In this type of home, all the “devices and appliances in your home […] can communicate with each other and with you. Any device in your home that uses electricity can be put on your home network and at your command. Whether you give that command by voice, remote control, tablet or smartphone, the home reacts. Most applications relate to lighting, home security, home theatre and entertainment, and thermostat regulation.” 3. What are the benefits of home automation? “There are four very practical reasons […] people invest in smart house technologies. In no particular order, these are: ■■ Convenience – Smart homes can help to simplify complex tasks, or to automate them completely. ■■ Security – Using sensors and communications technologies, homes can be […] constantly monitored from anywhere. ■■ Comfort – Climate and lighting systems can be automatically adjusted according to the time of day, the outside temperature or your mood. ■■ Efficiency – Smart homes can control when things turn on and off, and keep track of exactly where and how much energy is used in your home.” Besides, smart home technology “promises tremendous benefits for elderly people living alone. A smart home could notify the resident when it’s time to take medicine, alert the hospital if the resident falls and track how much the resident is eating. If an elderly person is a little forgetful, the smart home could perform tasks such as shutting off the water before a tub overflow or turning off the oven if the cook had wandered away. […] Easy-to-control automated systems would provide similar benefits to those with disabilities or a limited range of movement.” “Every smart home is different in terms of what it does and how it goes about it, but generally speaking, the measure of a ‘good’ smart home is the extent to which it improves your home, and how unobtrusively1 it achieves this. There’s no point in having technology for technology’s sake – if managing your smart home’s systems requires more time, cost and effort than would be required to do things manually, you may as well have hired a butler.” 4. Are smart homes affordable? Depending on the homeowner’s needs and wishes, converting an existing home into a smart home can be quite pricey. According to the website Gearbrain.com, a thorough makeover of an average-sized house that involves “replacing every regular bulb with a smart alternative, swapping out the locks for smart ones, fitting motorized window blinds, and even making the garden more intelligent” will cost about $15,000. A video doorbell, smart plugs, switches, and outlets, smart thermostats, robotic vacuum cleaners, security cameras, and an alarm system are included in this price. A “more modest home with only some smart upgrades has an average cost of $730.” 5. How can I save money, energy, and resources with home automation? Smart home systems “can do a lot to help you scale back on the amount of water or energy you use on a daily basis.” For example, smart thermostats “keep your heating and cooling costs at bearable levels. The devices monitor energy usage within the home, as well as outside temperatures, helping to heat or cool your home as efficiently as possible. […] Lighting controls can be set on timers, preventing lights from staying on all day or night. […] Energy management devices include smart power strips and switches. These gadgets can power off lights and appliances, thereby saving energy and reducing costs.” Also, “water leak sensors alert you to a chronic drip before your water bill does.” On the level of household appliances, smart dryers, showers, dishwashers, etc. “can monitor […] energy consumption and water use, then adjust their settings accordingly. You’ll conserve resources and benefit from lower utility bills. Though smart appliances won’t result in immense annual savings, […] it adds up over time and in conjunction with2 other smart home tech.” In short, while “they will cost you more than their ‘dumb’ (or not internet-connected) competition, smart home gadgets may make up for it with their savings in the long run.” 1 unobtrusive: unaufdringlich 2 in conjunction with: in Verbindung mit, zusammen mit Key aspects Strategies Sample task 2 Smart homes, smart lives 19 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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