Elevated Lifestyle: Exploring the Newest Tech Trends in Luxury Smart Homes
Over the last decade, there have been tremendous advances in technology, in many fields and with many applications. This technological improvement has made a huge impact on our daily lives at home. We expect blistering fast internet speed, capable of handling huge amounts of data, and the convenience of controlling our home’s functions at the touch of a button or even a voice command. Then there are the improvements in sustainability, and the focus on making our homes as energy-efficient as possible. Also, there’s the growing influence of AI, which both promises so much and also raises so many fundamental questions.
Here we’ll explore the latest trends in technology for the home, including Smart technology, so you can see what features in smart homes are available now and what lies ahead.
Smart Security Solutions
One area where smart technology has revolutionized homes is in security and safety. Features of a smart home in regards to security are detectors, video cameras, electronic door locks, smart doorbells, proximity detectors, and other monitoring systems. So prevalent are these products in the market that they make up around 10% of the home technology currently being bought.
State-of-the-art surveillance systems
Smart security solutions include state-of-the-art surveillance such as closed-circuit TV systems which are already common in many luxury homes. They can detect when someone approaches the home and transmit a live video to your phone, wherever you are in the world.
Lighting can be turned on and off at set times or when the ambient lighting reaches a certain threshold. This will illuminate your outdoors, discouraging anyone potential lurkers but also ensure that video can be taken even in darkened areas of your property. A very nice side benefit is that the lighting can make your exteriors beautiful as well as safe.
Home security solutions can be linked to local police and security agencies meaning that even if you are not aware of an intrusion or potential threat, your property will be visited by personnel trained to ensure that your property is secure.
This is not only incredibly reassuring for homeowners but also for investors who may have prolonged periods when their property is vacant. This is even more useful if you are not a resident in the state and cannot or wouldn’t want to rely on just neighbors dropping in to check on your property from time to time.
Facial recognition technology and biometric access control
Facial recognition technology and biometric access control provide another level of security. You can now program locks for doors and wardrobes to open only for specific faces and fingerprints. This is the same technology that now unlocks most high-end phones. You no longer need to remember to bring your keys, you are the key.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Another area where improving technology has made an impact is in the sustainability and energy efficiency of our homes. Luxury homes are by their very nature lavish, but this does not mean that they cannot also be as efficient as possible when it comes to power and water usage.
Smart irrigation
Outdoor irrigation is responsible for a large percentage of the water usage in Atlanta, GA real estate, and other homes across the country. There are now smart water networks being developed that use wireless soil sensors and sprinkler controllers to water your plants and lawn only when it’s needed. Some homeowners have moved away from sprinkler systems and go with a much more efficient and effective drip irrigation system that delivers the right amount of water to precisely the right place and the right time.
Solar solutions
Georgia receives around 220 sunny days a year, making it a viable location to install solar panels. While there can be a considerable upfront cost for installing solar panels, luxury homeowners who own Atlanta, GA real estate should consider installing them. This is not just for sustainability but also as a way to save on energy expenses. It has been estimated that the average American homeowner can save as much as 90% of their monthly electric bill by using solar power, which can translate to roughly $10,000 to $30,000 over the lifespan of a solar panel system.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, homeowners who install energy-efficient home upgrades are eligible for investment tax credits and rebates. They can deduct up to 30% of the cost of home upgrades such as electric panel capacity, insulation, weatherizing, and heat pumps. Each household can receive a maximum tax credit of $600 per project or $1,200 per year.
Do note that solar power cannot be completely relied upon to provide a home’s entire energy usage throughout the year. There will be days when solar panels will not be able to generate enough energy such as when it rains or is particularly cloudy. As such, homes will need to be hooked up to the grid. That being said, you can expect a drastic reduction in your monthly bills.
Smart appliances
When it’s time to buy or replace appliances, look for Energy Star-certified appliances that use less water and energy for regular household chores like washing dishes or cleaning clothes. Newer models of appliances will likely be much more energy-efficient and likely have many more smart feature options. A good example is an air conditioner or heater that you can turn on from anywhere in the world. While you may just be coming home from work, the principle still applies; ten minutes before reaching home, turn on the system, and arrive to a home that’s in perfect condition.
Another great example of a smart appliance is a smart fridge which not only automatically regulates temperature and humidity but can also inform you via phone what’s inside. Wondering if you need more carrots while out shopping, check your phone. Some Smart fridges also have displays on their front door panels. This also comes in handy for getting recipes and being able to prepare meals with a video guiding you through.
Entertainment and Immersive Experiences
Home entertainment is where the features of a smart home can really shine. For a while now, we’ve had giant TV screens and even private theaters in luxury homes. These have often been complemented by the highest fidelity audio equipment reproducing crystal clear sounds. What’s different with Smart technology is the integration of all your home’s media entertainment.
Watching or listening to media is now predominantly done through streaming, as seen by the popularity of platforms such as Netflix and Spotify. Music and video can be played on any device and then outputted to any speaker or screen anywhere in the house (or outside) without missing a beat. Watching a film on the big screen but need to cook? No problem, just continue streaming to your tablet and head off into the kitchen, or watch it on that smart fridge with a screen.
A feature of many smart homes is that they now integrate lighting control so with voice commands or the touch of a button on your tablet, you can set up the perfect conditions to watch a movie. The shades or curtains will be drawn, the lights will dim, and your favorite streaming service will present a number of options.
Aside from smart TVs and speakers, there are smart mirrors that provide interactive displays. They can be programmed to display your personal stats and alter the images they show based on your mood and preference.
Finally, home robots aren’t just for yard work and cleaning. There are now friendly pet robots that you can interact with because they can understand a wide range of commands. These pets may have further-reaching applications shortly, especially for the aged and those who need more interaction beyond their sole company.
Wellness and Health Tech
Many phones already have apps that monitor and give guidance for better health. In some instances, these apps can monitor if you become critically ill and raise an alert for assistance. However, not all smart home applications concerning health are meant to assist in such dire circumstances, most are intended to incrementally increase the standard of living and encourage healthier behavior.
Personalized nutrition, fitness, and cleanliness
Many luxury homes for sale in Atlanta GA come with a gym. An intelligent workout machine can give you a one-of-a-kind personalized training experience. One of the benefits of smart homes is that it makes your workout more fun and coordinated. Of course, it can’t do the reps for you, that’s still up to you, but it will make it much more likely that you’ll routinely do them. Once you’re done working out, you can hop into a shower that has been preprogrammed to spray water at your desired strength, angle, temperature, and duration.
More homes could soon contain electronic toilets and bidet seat integrations. Smart toilets have features like warm water on command, hands-free operation, and warm-air drying. There are already several smart toilets on the market, so if you’re looking to buy one, take your time to see the multiple features they provide.
Connectivity and Integration
The growth of Smart technology for the home presented some problems at its inception. It used to be that technology companies would use proprietary technology, meaning that their hardware and software would only work exclusively with other products made by that same company. By doing so, companies could create ecosystems that consumers would stay within. Think Apple, Android, or Samsung. This created a defacto brand loyalty. But now, 450 companies, including Google, Amazon, and Apple, have formed a Connectivity Standards Alliance and consented to collaborate on “Matter,” a new communications protocol that covers smart digital devices.
The first rollout of the Matter 1.0 standard only covers smart-device categories that included switches, light bulbs, AC power relays, security sensors, locks, television systems, garage-door openers, motorized shades, temperature thermostats, and HVAC components. Expect more integration in the future that will enable you to purchase a wide array of appliances and systems from different brands that can be tailored to provide a custom home experience.
The Emergence of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is here and already beginning to play an important part in our day-to-day lives. AI has already been a part of the home setup with personal assistants such as Google Assistant and Siri featuring as a control device. However, as AI meteorically improves it has the potential to play a much bigger role in the home.
As already mentioned it may soon be able to provide company for those who need it. It may soon be able to schedule a family’s activities, including booking holidays and organizing family events. It may be better able to help change lifestyle habits in those looking to make personal improvements.
The likelihood is that these benefits and advantages will come sooner rather than later. What is almost certain is that AI will become increasingly more prominent in our homes be it in leisure, health, or security.
Find the Best Luxury Homes for Sale in Atlanta, GA
When it comes to buying a luxury property, look no further than HOME Real Estate. Established in 2021, HOME has brought together some of the highest-producing agents in the area to provide the best homebuying and selling experience for our clients.
However, we are not just about the bottom line. We are proud of our robust support of charitable organizations in Atlanta. Each agent on our team donates a percentage of their earnings from every real-estate deal to their chosen Atlanta charitable organization. In 2021, we donated over $750,000 to our nonprofit network.
We are abreast of the latest home luxury trends and are ready and willing to offer our expertise to help you find the best luxury homes for sale in Atlanta, GA. If you’d like to work with us, call us at 404.383.HOME (4663).
