You’ve probably seen the commercials… A couple is at a relaxing dinner out and able to unlock the door for their son who arrives home from college unexpectedly, via their smartphone. The next scene might show someone turning down a thermostat remotely from a tablet. Cool. Is it that simple, you wonder?
You might have thought about getting a home security system for the peace of mind it brings, but something keeps stopping you: the perceived expense.
But did you ever consider that by having a security system with a home automation system like My Home you might actually save money in other areas?
You can.
Money Savings
Because insurance companies want to reward you for keeping your home secure and free of burglaries, fire and carbon monoxide, the average savings in homeowners’ insurance can be up to 20 percent for homes equipped with a monitored alarm system, according to a 2011 study of the 10 largest insurance companies by Electric Security Association.
Add to that the potential savings in electricity costs because of ease of energy conservation with My Home. For example, home automation as a service can ensure that lights are not left on all day—you can turn them off and on via your smartphone, tablet or PC/Mac. A thermostat can be controlled the same way: Turn down the air conditioning when you’re at work but turn it back up a half-hour before you get home to cool down the house.
Even window coverings can be automated to let light in to help warm up a room in the winter or close them to help cool down a room in the summer. Motion detectors included in a home automation plan are another way that can help save you money and keep you safe. They are only activated (light up or sound an alarm depending on the purpose intended) when someone is detected in a hallway or a room, so a light doesn’t have to be lit constantly sapping energy.
To further illustrate, the average American electric bill is about $110 a month, with roughly 56 percent going to heating and cooling and another 15 percent to lighting, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
By using home automation and smart home devices to control energy consumption, your electric bill can be cut by as much as 15 percent. That combined with the homeowners’ insurance savings, can help defray the cost of an alarm system—and may save you up to $1,352 a year—and in the end, may even pay for itself.