As the path to sustainable housing and technology widens, the housing market also is embracing automated technologies and wellness initiatives. From automation security to energy management, the home design of the future is both practical and efficient. Here, RISMedia takes a look at four trends dominating the market.
Geofencing
This is becoming a popular method to help protect and monitor your home. The technology creates a virtual perimeter around your home that connects to your smartphone. For example, if your children come home from school, their smartphones will set off a trigger and send an alert to your phone to let you know they made it safely. A geofence also can be used to monitor if they leave the house. If your children venture into a prohibited area or out of a safety zone, you could receive another alert on your smartphone. Keyless smart locks and wearable devices also can be used to monitor your home’s activity. Simply touch the lock with your device and your door will open. You also can set up your smart lock to alert you that people are coming and going from your home.
Healthy living environments
Healthy building materials and furnishings are increasing in demand due to more awareness on how your home can make you sick. A typical smart home model that focuses on healthy living and wellness might feature items such as cork floors, air-filtration and water-purification systems, a vitamin C shower, variable lighting to optimize your circadian rhythm and pedestal desks. Indoor gardening also has come into sharper focus in recent years, with all homes expected to be filled with vegetable planters and indoor gardens by 2025.
Energy efficiency and docking stations
Energy efficiency and electrical docking stations are some other recent trends. Think smart switches that connect all of your electronics and appliances to your Wi-Fi network. This allows you to plug your gadgets and appliances into the smart switch and connect it to your Wi-Fi network. Then you can monitor your usage from your smartphone, create schedules to turn appliances on and off, and adjust your lighting while you’re on vacation.
Connected smart homes
In the future, look for a connected and automated home that will allow all of your devices talk to each other and run themselves. New global standards-based wireless solutions will enable everyday objects to have network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data.