Smart or smart households have been talked about for so long that you may go in one ear inside and the other out. But it would be a mistake to imagine the concept of futuristic dwellings like a sci-fi movie where robots will bring you everything and you don’t even have to move your finger, and which is absolutely unavailable to an ordinary mortal. It’s a little different. Today’s smart home is a system that makes life easier in more practical situations. And it can also save the cost of its own operation.
What is it?
A smart household, as it is perceived today by experts and manufacturers of individual systems, is actually a set of individual devices that are wirelessly interconnected and work according to certain schemes without your involvement. The imaginary wires of them converge in one central “driver” most often by a mobile phone or tablet, or a special device that brings them together. The devices and appliances that are involved in the system should then “cooperate” in the right case to help, for example, to save energy. “A smart household should adapt to you in such a way that you will not perceive it,” says Jaroslav Zeman, Managing Director of Somfy, who is dealing with smart home systems.
What does it work with?
In recent years, we have become accustomed to perceiving a smart household especially through smart appliances. Once you are buying a washing machine or oven, you will immediately learn how to control it “remotely”. Rather, the smart system is that the washing machine considers the inserted laundry and then uses only as much water and ideally the detergent, how much it really needs. “But you still need a mug in the coffee machine and put the meat in the oven. They will never be smart enough to work alone,” Jaroslav Zeman points out. “On the other hand, for example, radiators’ heating heads that can mute themselves when you leave for the weekend, because you turn on the cottage or holiday scenario in the system, this is a real part of a smart solution.” So you can control elements that do not actually need your contribution – lights, indoor and outdoor blinds, doors, door, security system or the head. But you do not control them individually, the system works with them automatically to support each other.
How much does it cost?
Of course, large complex systems that include the solution of the whole house at once are quite expensive. The advantage, however, is that you can install the individual parts gradually and gradually also involve them in the smart control system. For example, the smart thermostatic head costs around a thousand crowns – the ordinary about five hundred – and you don’t even have to buy them for all radiators at the same time (although it is of course the most practical).
How does it work?
You start by “connect” a specific device to a smart home system. There are several of them. There is no one that is compatible with absolutely all products, but most of them are compatible with most devices. So if you buy a smart entrance door lock, have it mounted, and then wirelessly, via wifi, connect with the application. In the application, you create so -called scenarios – a sequence of what to happen in a given situation. “For example, when I go home, I have a script that I turn on and he automatically opens the gate on the land, when my car arrives, opens a garage, unlocking my entrance door, lights up in the hallway and so on,” says Jaroslav Zeman. At the same time, there are scenarios that work completely automatically, for example according to outdoor or indoor temperatures and control, for example, outdoor blinds, heat pump, heating, air conditioning and the like. They just help with energy savings.
Is it difficult?
Ideally, it should not be difficult. Of course, it always depends on the specific product, so it is good to underestimate the selection and have everything to show in advance, or watch review and user videos on the Internet. This will avoid dissatisfaction from the whole purchase. Otherwise, the most complex is the first setting in each scenario. But even with that, high -quality smart home systems can work and intuitively offer you what could work and build. “The application should guide you through the system so that you can easily involve new light,” adds Jaroslav Zeman. “This will not be a slave to a smart home, but she will serve you.”
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With Jaroslav Zeman of Somfy, we talked not only about systems of smart homes and how to use it at home, for example, to help save household consumption.
How do smart home systems help improve the environment in the house or apartment?
So that you do not have to use another system that consumes energy to some extent. When the sun shines into the windows in the summer and outdoor blinds or blinds will automatically download, you do not have to let air conditioning. Conversely, in winter, if they stretch themselves, you will save thanks to the heat from the sun again for part of the heating.
Does it make sense to use them in older houses, or is it just a matter of new buildings?
Most of the elements used by the smart household are wireless – they often need electricity to operate, but not to control. To do this, the system on a mobile phone or tablet is used. Therefore, it is not necessary to make large construction work at home, of course, depending on the particular element we are talking about. Therefore, it fits well into any house, whether it is one hundred or five years old.
What can we expect from smart home systems in the coming years?
Probably simplification. Simplicity of installation and operator, openness to other systems so that I can decide as a user at will, what application I like and what I want to connect.
Source: Recipe magazine
