3 Smart Home Technologies Everyone Should Have

Smart home technologies — devices and applications that let you control home electronics like lights, thermostats, and even the coffee pot from your smartphone or other smart device — offer a wide range of benefits.They can save time, enhance security, and even cut energy and maintenance costs. The real dilemma is figuring out which devices you should buy. Every brand from Best Buy to Home Depot has a line of them. It’s a large, complex market to look at, and it’s only getting bigger by the day. A recent Gartner report predicts that over 20 billion “things” will be connected to the Internet by 2020 — that’s a lot of smart gadgets! But how many of these devices really offer optimum functionality for minimal costs? Fortunately, we can help you narrow the field a little. Kanken Mini Check out these three smart home devices that are user-friendly, easy to install, and, most importantly, won’t break the bank.

1.  ecobee3

At $249, the ecobee3 smart thermostat is the most expensive smart home gadget on this list, but it’s worth the price. The thermostat makes sure all the rooms of your house are being heated or cooled properly through wireless sensors. As soon as a room reaches the set temperature, the heater or AC will shut off. You’ll no longer have to worry about high energy bills from a constantly running HVAC system, making this gadget both smart and cost-effective. Price: $249 Features:

• Compatible with Apple’s HomeKit platform
• Responsive to your home’s unique energy profile and weather conditions, keeping you comfortable at all times
• Aware of when people are home and which rooms are occupied, saving energy and money whether you’re at home or away

Why We Love It: The cost savings alone are a reason to love the ecobee3 (homeowners save an average of 23% on energy costs, annually), but we love this smart thermostat for two additional reasons: First, it ensures a comfortable temperature in every room in the house, and second, it’s easy to install — the average self-install time is under 45 minutes. Nike Air Max 2017

2. Belkin WeMo Insight Switch

Belkin offers a wide selection of smart home technologies, but the one we recommend is the. At $50, this smart gadget offers on-the-go access to your home’s lighting. With minimal effort, you can control your home’s electronic devices remotely or put them on a schedule to reduce their energy usage. The device is also helpful in preserving overall appliance lifespans — if you can set your devices to turn off when they’re not needed, they’ll last a lot longer. Price: $80 Features:

• Compatible with Android and iOS platforms
• Integrated with IFTTT (If This, Then That), so lights turn on or off in response to events or triggers that you set
• Completely modular, meaning you can add switches and other WeMo products for greater control and cost-savings

Why We Love It: The WeMo Insight Switch is especially great for the dark days of winter. You can set your entryway lights to turn on automatically just before you arrive home, without wasting the energy to keep them on all day. Or, if you’re going to be away from home on a holiday vacation, lighting automation can make it appear that your house is still occupied, deterring would-be burglars. Plus the power usage tracking capabilities provide all the data you need to make eco-friendly energy choices that will cut your overall electricity costs.

3. Roost Battery

The Roost Battery is the least expensive smart home gadget on our list ($35), but it’s easily one of the most useful. It plugs into any existing smoke or carbon monoxide detector and turns it into a smart device.When the alarm goes off, a notification is sent to your smartphone. You can call 911 in the event of a real emergency, or silence it in case frying bacon is to blame (again). Price: $35 Features:

• Powered by a replaceable lithium battery pack for long battery life
• Able to send push notifications for alarms and low batteries
• Compatible with both Android and iOS

Why We Love It: We love how simple this gadget is. Set up the mobile app, plug the Roost battery into your smoke or CO detector, and you’re all set. Your home has gotten smarter and safer in a span of seconds. And the best part is, you won’t have to deal with anymore low-battery chirping at 3 a.m. There are a lot of smart home technologies are out there, but we suggest starting with these three.