COWETA HOME

Written by NEIL MONROE  •  Photographed by SARA MOORE

Rayleen Monroe, of Sharpsburg, shows how she uses an app on her phone from anywhere to handle all of her Smart home security needs, including checking on her front door video doorbell or the home surveillance camera.

Trivia question: When was the first remote control invented?

Answer: 1898, by Nikola Tesla, and he was able to control a boat.

Tesla’s invention was the first step in the evolution of technology that today allows us to automatically control nearly every aspect of our lives.

From home security to entertainment, from cooking to cleaning, incredible home automation systems are available and are relatively low in cost while being highly effective in helping make our lives better.

I speak from experience.

Two years ago, I wrote an article for this magazine about the surging interest in home automation. Research on that story helped prompt my wife and me to begin a mission of upgrading technology in our 20-year-old home in Sharpsburg.

Our first goal was to enhance our security system, utilizing doorbell and exterior cameras and improved lighting controls to make our home more secure. After working out a few bugs, that system works well today and allows us to monitor our house from almost every angle, check on our dogs and monitor deliveries.

Then came appliance replacements. Stoves, dishwashers and refrigerators all offer incredible technologies that can link to a home smart hub and create incredible levels of control and information. For example, smart appliances can alert you to equipment malfunction, regulate energy usage, and allow you to control the appliance from anywhere.

Jimmy Adams, vice president of energy services for Coweta-Fayette EMC and Relyco, its subsidiary security company, says the financial impact of smart home technology can be substantial.

“We offer rates for electric service that can lower energy bills substantially, based on the time of usage,” he says, noting that smart home technologies can help improve a homeowner’s ability to take advantage of these rates. “Running a dishwasher during off-peak times, adjusting a thermostat automatically, or turning lights off can offer real savings. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it can offer substantial savings.”

Buy what you need, buy what you’ll use

The depth of home automation availability sounds futuristic, but these technologies are available, reliable and in high demand. However, they come with a caveat: Do not buy more than you need or will use.

For example, it’s possible to buy a refrigerator that allows you to watch TV on it. Do you need to watch TV on your refrigerator? If you do, or if you just want to be able to, great. But my wife and I quickly realized one key thing as we worked to upgrade our home: Automation can be costly.

Did we have the desire – or ability – to use items like the TV/refrigerator effectively? We decided we did not, and ultimately we replaced our refrigerator, stove and dishwasher with old-school appliances that cook, clean and wash very effectively in a low-tech sort of way.

Our dishwasher does have Bluetooth capability, but we’re still trying to figure out why.

While we felt our experience in upgrading our 20-year-old home was thorough, it does not reflect the trends in new home construction. Home automation remains a key selling point, and nearly all builders offer a system linked to either Google Voice or Amazon Alexa. These built-in systems provide an expandable technology base that is essential to many new homebuyers.

Keys to home automation success

Adams, whose companies are integrally involved in home automation, offers one important tip for successfully upgrading your systems.

 “The strength of your home Wi-Fi is critical,” he says. “If you have an outside camera that is connected to your system, it has to have a strong Wi-Fi signal to be effective. Going forward, the implementation of 5G cellular systems will be a significant key and will allow our appliances to more effectively talk to each other and provide us with information.”

From a homeowner’s perspective, here is a final key: Take the time to learn your system. We found out quickly on our journey that information and understanding of what we have and what is available is essential in making automation work.

If you install new equipment, or home hubs, expect that you will have problems and questions. And before you call the service tech out for a sometimes costly visit, give yourself time to try to resolve the problem. Maybe check for a YouTube tutorial.

That’s just a hint from a guy who’s called for service help a few times too often, only to learn the answer was a simple one.

NCM