A smart home can offer countless benefits to homeowners some of which include convenience, security, energy efficiency and remote monitoring. A Smart home essentially requires the use of a home automation control panel (the hub) that connects to your home Wi-Fi and lets you control all key utilities using your Internet-enabled Smartphone, tablet, or PC. Whilst remote lighting, home security and heating control have been some of the more common applications of home automation systems, a smart home can also let you control your blinds, curtain tracks, sunscreens, garage shutters and awnings.
By connecting the hub to your home wireless network and installing the Smartphone app, you can do more than just remotely control blinds and curtains. You can set them on timers or program them to open/close in response to photo sensors and wind sensors. Adding your motorised curtains, blinds, awnings and garage shutters to your Smartphone-controlled home automation system can provide the following benefits to homeowners:
• Smartphone-controlled adjustment of blinds and shades
With the Smartphone app installed, you no longer have to manually reach for the blinds and curtains each time you want to close or open them. You can just pull out your Smartphone and with a single touch control all your window shades from the comfort of your chair.
• Control of multiple shades together using groups
A smart home allows you to add multiple motorised shading devices in a group for streamlined control. So, whenever you are leaving the house, simply use the group control option and close all the blinds, curtain tracks and awnings using your Smartphone. This means you no longer have to check and reach for each window manually.
• Set your blinds and curtains on timers
Home automation allows you to schedule your blinds and curtains to open and close on pre-set times during the day. This simulates occupancy at home even though you are away which is particularly useful when you are on holiday.
• Control garage door from inside your car
When your motorised garage doors are integrated into the home automation system, you can open your shutters without having to get out of your car at the end of an exhausting day. You can do so by using your Smartphone app without leaving the comfort of your car.
• Save energy and utility cost
Using the Smartphone app, the automated blinds and curtains can be set to work in tandem with the light sensors. This means the blinds and sun screens can automatically lower during extreme sunlight keeping the home interiors cool and protecting your furniture from sun damage during the summer. As a result, you can save on your utility costs whilst saving energy.
• Adjust blinds depending on the weather
If you have wind sensors installed, you can set your sun screens and blinds to close depending on the wind speed. So, when there are strong winds, you don’t have to manually reach for your blinds and curtains to close each one of them. The blinds automatically respond to such conditions.
A key element of a smart home, automated blinds and curtains create pleasant living environments, provide energy savings, reduce utility bills and offer the convenience of wireless control using your Smartphone.