Oftentimes, when people hear the words “latest and hi-tech” as a description for a product, they tend to think that it will come with a hefty price tag. Unfortunately, this is true for IoT home devices as they’re some of the most advanced home equipment available on the market. But what a lot of people fail to notice at first glance when purchasing these items is that the savings come later on.
Manufacturers of IoT home devices make it a purpose to consider efficiency, or in other words, they see to it that the machines produce the needed output in shorter amounts of time. When these rates are compounded over long periods of time, they result in lower bills, the practicality then becomes easier to see.
Today, let’s look at some of the latest smart home devices and solutions that make daily life more practical. We’ve mentioned in a previous post here on our IoT Section that smart homes have increased in popularity worldwide, so if you’re part of the ‘smart home boom’ or planning to try it out, the devices below are worth checking out.
EcoBee3 Lite
The EcoBee3 smart thermostat has been out on the market for months now, and reviews have been mostly positive. Its tests recorded an average of 23% increased savings in power consumption.
You can save even more money though, if you choose the recently released EcoBee3 Lite, which costs $80 less than its regular counterpart. An article by Engadget specified that the Lite has all the essential features barring the remote sensor support, but seeing as you have complete control of the EcoBee3 through your mobile device, this option is hardly a deal-breaker.
Honeywell Lyric T5
Another smart thermostat which is an alternative to the more popular and pricier Nest is the Honeywell Lyric T5. BGR stated in its blog post that it’s around half the price of the Nest and has similar features.
With Amazon Alexa and Apple’s Siri compatibility, you can enable voice control in the device to perform functions. Another nifty feature is GeoFencing which allows for zone temperature regulation.
Smart AC by Quirky and GE Aros
Quirky and GE Aros have teamed up to create a window type air conditioner that has the capability to assess your energy costs, location and even daily schedule to form specifically tailored plans for managing the temperature in your home. This leads to increased efficiency which then translates to savings. The smart AC works with the Wink app, basically making your smartphone its remote control.
Belkin WeMo Switch
Belkin’s WeMo Switch gives you the power to turn off any plugged gadget remotely. This little wonder can be plugged into an outlet and will then serve as the power socket for any gadget. Its dedicated mobile app communicates with the device through WiFi, allowing you to ‘close’ the outlet so you’re not using unnecessary electricity. It also has a scheduler option, which automatically turns off the outlet when the plugged appliance or gadget reaches a specified power consumption limit for the day.
At $50 apiece, the WeMo Switch may seem pricey at first, but the trade-off for electricity savings is worth it if you notice how plugged equipment consume power when they’re not in use or even if they’re turned off.
Philips E14 Hue Bulbs
A report from BetaNews revealed that Philips launched a new variant of its Hue smart bulbs – the E14, or candle type. With a power rating guaranteed at 40W, the E14 Hue bulbs consume less power than bigger bulbs but produce 470 lumens within a color temperature of 2200K to 6500K.
The Hue bulbs give homeowners complete control over their lighting and they’re compatible with several smart home platforms including Google Home, Apple HomeKit and Samsung SmartThings. The E14 is scheduled to hit shelves this April in Europe followed by a North American release sometime later this year.
The Internet of Things has certainly revolutionized how people run their homes. According to Telogis in its blog post ‘Unraveling the Web of the Internet of Things’, you are essentially “controlling it all from the palm of your hand.” As more devices become connected, home solutions are becoming better than ever. The great news is that efficiency and practicality gets better along with it.
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