What is home automation and how does it work?
With home automation you can increase the functionality of the systems already present in a home, optimize energy consumption and create synergies between different aspects of home management such as control, comfort, safety, energy saving and communication.
The applications of home automation involve a wide range of sectors and areas, first of all helping the disabled and the elderly. In fact,
home automation has become fundamental over the years.
Normally, if we talk about home automation, we refer to a house where
connected devices have been installed. The latter allow remote management (via smartphone app). Such IoT devices can be designed for specific functionalities and work cooperatively with each other by sharing data.
Traditional systems, where the functions are activated via normal commands unable to interact, cannot be governed by a single home automation box such as, for example, the
Somfy TaHoma Switch . Instead, a
home automation system allows coordinated management of the devices involved.
My name is
Elia Caneppele and I deal with smart homes and building technologies in general. We often talk about
home automation, but in this guide I will really explain what it is.
Today we will discover together the definition of the term home automation, what are the advantages, how a home automation system works and how much it can cost.
What does the term home automation mean?
Let's start by understanding what the term home automation indicates. The purpose of home automation is to increase the functionality in homes thanks to a home automation system that takes the name of
home automation systems .
The etymological origin of the word derives from the Latin "
domus ", house, with the Greek suffix "
ticos ", which indicates the disciplines. In fact, home automation concerns several aspects of domestic life and we can define it as interdisciplinary.
So home automation is a series of disciplines that consist in studying and concretely applying new technologies to optimize the well-being of those who use certain spaces. This goal is pursued through home automation systems.
Did you know that there are so many similar technologies for the smart home? However, the results can be very different depending on which system you use.
What does smart home or smart home mean
The term smart
home or
smart home refers to a high-tech environment, which helps the user thanks to
interconnected home automation devices .
Help in what sense? For example, with the automatic switching on of the lights, the automatic opening of
electric doors and shutters , air conditioning systems and
home burglar security and much more. A synergy capable of increasing comfort, energy saving, safety and connectivity with communication networks.
Furthermore, these solutions can be subsequently enhanced to meet new needs. If you do not want to do new masonry works, it is important to already prepare the system. In addition, it is possible to integrate new functions via wi-fi or
radio technologies .
What are the features of home automation?
A
home automation system has different characteristics, a large range of solutions to enhance the property in which they are inserted.
The most important features of home automation are:
- Integration between devices and interoperability of functions among thousands of products made by companies that adhere to this international standard;
- Management even remotely via smartphone, tablet or computer to control and manage multiple functions wherever you are;
- User-friendly user interface to allow simple, intuitive and efficient management of home systems within everyone's reach;
- Energy saving : climate management and home automation lighting give the opportunity to optimize energy consumption;
- Functional flexibility and scalability : it allows to modify the functionality of the system without intervening with further masonry works;
- Ease of installation why it is simpler than a traditional system.
How does a home automation system work?
The control of a home automation system takes place with the
BUS , the electrical system that controls an integrated set of functions. In a traditional system each component is independent. In a BUS system the systems are connected and integrated. This is why it is called a system, precisely to emphasize the interconnection.
In fact, the BUS is made up of elements that communicate with each other by transmitting data in digital form. This allows you to perform functions programmed by the user and even some tasks independently.
Integrated home automation system: how much does it cost and why is it convenient?
Over time, the costs of a home automation system are increasingly contained even if they greatly depend on where you buy and which installer you turn to. Buying online on Windowo is a good way to save on
electrical equipment .
I'll tell you something that no seller would dream of recommending: save on initial costs! Start small and add what you need little by little!
What kind of comfort are you looking for? Start with that: home automation does not aim to make us lazier, but only to improve our life.
If the main defect of the systems is the high price (always cheaper but not within anyone's reach), the
advantages of home automation are:
- Control remotely or remotely with a smartphone, tablet or PC connected to the network or thanks to the touch screen panel;
- Saving on energy consumption thanks to the control of thermal insulation and the use of smart thermostats ;
- Easy usability within reach even of the elderly, because there is no need to have special knowledge.
Cost and prices of a home automation system: we simulate a quote
A home automation system should not be seen as a cost as well but as an
investment : this is because it increases the real estate value.
The price of home automation changes mainly based on these 3 variables:
- Type of system and performance we want: do-it-yourself home automation, basic or advanced system;
- Extension in square meters, rooms involved and quantity of systems to be implemented;
- Cost of the consultant chosen for the construction and installation of the home automation system.
To give a small example, for approximately 70sqm the average cost will be € 7,000: cost of the electrical system (€ 5,000) plus devices and configuration (€ 2,000).
Smart devices are the cheapest solution
Remote control via smart devices can take place with smartphones via dedicated applications, or with voice commands to a smart speaker.
Unlike the classic traditional home automation, where the devices are connected to a wired network, in smart solutions the wiring interventions are not needed because there is already remote control. However, compared to a home automation system, not all functions and devices can be integrated with each other and management may require the use of several dedicated apps.
With smart products, an internet connection, a smartphone and a smart speaker for voice commands are enough. In addition to the connected devices, we need one or more
gateways , devices that act as a bridge between the connected devices and the smartphone.
Building automation: what is home automation in the tertiary sector?
The use of home automation can also be extended to the tertiary sector: it is called
building automation .
The traditional systems that we find in the residential area such as lighting, heating and security, are added to the computer and communication networks in a single system. Dedicated management software allows centralized control of commercial or healthcare facilities.
The integration of the systems is total and this allows to obtain concrete advantages, excluding waste and increasing comfort.
For example, as regards
access control , it is possible to use readers that allow access to certain areas only to those who are authorized. In addition, the
video surveillance system monitors the entire building.
The origins of home automation
Finally, let's talk a little about the history (among other things very recent) of home automation.
In 1975,
X10 was released, a communication protocol. The signal starts and gets to communicate with the physical switch, for example of our lamp in the room. However, because the wiring was not designed for other radio bands, the X10 was not reliable. Some signals were lost and it could happen that you were sending signals to the wrong devices.
In 2005, the
Insteon company released a technology that combined electronic wiring with wireless signals. The other protocols, such as the
Zigbee and the
Z-Wave were born precisely to avoid the problems of the X10.
Nest Labs, founded in 2010, launched the Nest Learning Thermostat. After being acquired by Google in 2015, it became an affiliate of Alphabet Inc.
In 2012 SmartThings Inc. launched a Kickstarter campaign to popularize their smart home system. The company expanded and was bought by Samsung in 2015.
Today Amazon, Apple and Google released their own devices:
Amazon Echo ,
Apple HomeKit and
Google Home .
My conclusions on home automation
As I told you, home automation has a cost that could discourage, but it must also be considered as an investment on the property.
We have already talked in this guide on home automation about how the
price of a home automation system is variable. However, it must be considered that making such an investment also means increasing the value of your home.
I hope this in-depth article on the term home automation was useful to you.
