Well, a lot, actually. Home automation lets you schedule and set scenes for a lot of the stuff you already do manually (like turn on lights, put on music, start your coffee maker), as well as some things you can’t do the old-fashioned way (like lock your door from your phone). Here are five cool things you can do with home automation that will make your life a little easier. Some smart lights, like the ever-popular Philips Hue bulbs, require an extra hub before you can control them from your phone. But plenty of other options, like the Yeelight Smart LED Bulb, come with built-in Wi-Fi functionality so you can hook it right up to your network. You can also integrate your lights with other devices, like security cameras, smart outlets, and smart speakers. Smart deadbolts and door locks usually work through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, or Zigbee. They can integrate in with other smart devices, including your entire home security system. Or you can use a smart lock as a standalone device. Keep in mind that a lot of these babies require a separate bridge to connect the lock to your Wi-Fi network. Options like the August Smart Lock Pro and the Yale Assure Lock SL need a bridge. But you can get models with built-in Wi-Fi, like the Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt. Of course, with a smart lock, you can check on your doors and lock (or unlock) them from anywhere using your smartphone. But you can also set rules. You can have your door automatically lock each night at a certain time or each morning when you leave the house. Some smart locks also have auto-lock and auto-unlock features, which can track your phone’s location. They use your whereabouts to lock your door when you leave the house and unlock it for you when you get back. Say goodbye to traditional metal keys. And you can usually schedule codes to only work during certain times or for a certain time period (like 24 hours). That’s great if you need to give the A/C maintenance person access but only between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. one day. Smart thermostats like the Nest can also learn when you leave the house every day and when you come home, so it can adjust the temperature before you get home but save energy during the day. Some smart thermostats, like the Ecobee, also offer temperature sensors you can put in individual rooms. That way, you’re not trying to heat the entire house when all you need is to make sure the nursery is at a certain temp. Whether you’re at work or on vacation, you can check on things in your house, like the temperature and whether or not your doors are locked. And if you don’t like the status, you can change things. Turn off your A/C, lock your door, and turn your porch lights on and off with just a few taps. Plus, these security systems let you control them from your phone and get alerts about the stuff that matters to you. See the feed from your doorbell camera when a package is delivered, or catch water leaks before they destroy an entire floor, and rest easy knowing every window and door in your house is closed and monitored at night. Do you use smart home devices in your house? How do you make them work together? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
