{"id":1754,"date":"2020-04-09T23:02:34","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T23:02:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.regalgrid.com\/?post_type=magazine&#038;p=1754"},"modified":"2024-09-25T13:17:31","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T13:17:31","slug":"smart-home-how-to-get-your-home-connected","status":"publish","type":"magazine","link":"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/magazine\/smart-home-how-to-get-your-home-connected\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart home: how to get your home connected"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Today, the adjective\u00a0<strong>\u201cSmart\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0is associated with more and more concepts and devices: mobile phones, watches, TVs. Objects are now\u00a0<strong>capable of understanding<\/strong>, processing information and\u00a0<strong>adapting to new situations<\/strong>. But this also applies to whole ecosystems:\u00a0<strong>smart<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>homes<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>electricity grids<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>cities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>And we can also talk about smart people, consumers and citizens. Now is the time to join the smart revolution, a\u00a0<strong>virtuous circle<\/strong>\u00a0that combines\u00a0<strong>technological innovation<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>informed use of resources<\/strong>, starting with energy itself. A good place to begin applying this energy intelligence in our daily lives is without doubt the\u00a0<strong>home<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>What is a smart home?<\/h2>\n<p>A\u00a0<strong>smart home<\/strong>\u00a0is one in which we have active control over the various items and appliances via the\u00a0<strong>Internet of Things<\/strong>\u00a0(IoT). This technology means that any object can become smart, via the presence of a microchip enabling\u00a0<strong>connection to the Internet<\/strong>. This allows the user to\u00a0<strong>interact\u00a0<\/strong>remotely with his or her home and\u00a0<strong>personalise\u00a0<\/strong>it as desired, creating an environment that is\u00a0<strong>perfectly aligned<\/strong>\u00a0with the individual\u2019s habits.<\/p>\n<p>This smart approach is no longer simply a matter of convenience, but also an\u00a0<strong>opportunity<\/strong>: it is important to be\u00a0<strong>aware<\/strong>\u00a0of our\u00a0<strong>energy<\/strong>\u00a0consumption and the\u00a0<strong>type of source<\/strong>\u00a0from which it originates, and to understand our\u00a0<strong>carbon footprint<\/strong>. Transferring this awareness to your domestic life will allow you to play a role in the future, a future that has already arrived in the form of energy communities.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s start from the basics: how to create a smart home.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Fundamental elements<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>Internet<\/h3>\n<p>An\u00a0<strong>Internet<\/strong>\u00a0connection is the first fundamental element in the creation of a smart home. This is considered a feature of daily life and is taken for granted, but it represents a huge\u00a0<strong>modern technological revolution<\/strong>.<br \/>\nThis connection makes it possible to create a\u00a0<strong>virtual network<\/strong>\u00a0between smart objects, unlike the first examples of\u00a0<strong>domotics<\/strong>\u00a0which used a physical, structural network to connect them. The Internet has led to the advent of\u00a0<strong>non-invasive<\/strong>\u00a0automation systems with\u00a0<strong>lower costs<\/strong>\u00a0which are\u00a0<strong>constantly updated<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Gateway<\/h3>\n<p>The second fundamental step is selection of a\u00a0<strong>gateway<\/strong>, the beating heart of your smart system. The gateway is the router that allows\u00a0<strong>connection<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>communication<\/strong>\u00a0with multiple devices remotely.<br \/>\nThis is one of the key functions of the Regalgrid\u00ae gateway, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/landing\/\"><strong>SNOCU<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(<strong>Smart NOde Control Unit<\/strong>). One of its main features is the capability to connect devices that communicate via\u00a0<strong>different protocols<\/strong>\u00a0and link them up to the Regalgrid\u00ae cloud using a patented, proprietary architecture.<br \/>\nIn the past, it was essential to check that the accessories chosen were\u00a0<strong>compatible<\/strong>\u00a0with the gateway. Now, our SNOCU unit means that all you need to do is ensure that devices can connect to the Regalgrid\u00ae cloud, and therefore\u00a0<strong>communicate with one another<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Applications<\/h3>\n<p>What types of devices can be connected to your SNOCU? Firstly, your Regalgrid\u00ae\u00a0<strong>smart node<\/strong>\u00a0monitors, controls and optimises the performance of your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/magazine\/monitoraggio-energia-elettrica\/\">photovoltaic system<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/magazine\/impianto-fotovoltaico-con-accumulo\/\"><strong>storage units<\/strong><\/a>. But the SNOCU can also be employed to\u00a0<strong>coordinate and control<\/strong>\u00a0operation of devices in all\u00a0<strong>areas of your smart home<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Safety and security<\/h3>\n<p>One very important sphere is\u00a0<strong>domestic security<\/strong>. Traditionally we think of CCTV systems with movement sensors that transmit real-time images to your mobile phone, such as\u00a0<strong>Xiaomi Smart Home<\/strong>.<br \/>\nBut there are also systems that use\u00a0<strong>sensors<\/strong>\u00a0to control certain safety risks such as gas leaks, or\u00a0<strong>ensure continuity of energy supply<\/strong>. A smart system can\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/magazine\/monitoraggio-energia-elettrica\/\"><strong>monitor energy consumption<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0that is close to exceeding contractual limits and automatically switch off a device, sending a notification via the app and preventing disconnection of power.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Lighting<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Smart lighting<\/strong>\u00a0is currently a very popular sector due the accessible prices of basic smart-lighting kits.\u00a0<strong>Ikea Home Smart<\/strong>, for example, allows you to programme activation, intensity, and colour of lights remotely. Likewise,\u00a0<strong>Phillips Hue<\/strong>\u00a0is capable of creating an entire ecosystem with voice-control functionality. Whichever system you choose, your lighting may be monitored and controlled remotely, optimising usage.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Temperature<\/h3>\n<p>Next is\u00a0<strong>temperature regulation<\/strong>\u00a0in the different areas of the home. If you fit a\u00a0<strong>smart thermostat<\/strong>, you can use your smartphone to switch on the\u00a0<strong>heating<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>air-conditioning<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>boiler<\/strong>\u00a0and set the times when they should be on, allowing you to optimise consumption.<br \/>\nOne well-known example is the\u00a0<strong>Google Nest Thermostat<\/strong>, which gained attention as purchase of the patent back in 2014 marked Google&#8217;s entrance into the domotics sector. This thermostat is also capable of learning how best to adapt to your domestic habits using\u00a0<strong>machine learning<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Home appliances<\/h3>\n<p>Created smart or converted? This is the common dilemma for home appliances. Replacing an old appliance with a smart version is certainly one option, but we recommend you only do this if it has genuinely reached the end of its useful life. It is always important to consider the impact of disposal of electrical and electronic equipment in terms of our\u00a0<strong>carbon footprint<\/strong>\u00a0and weigh this against the\u00a0<strong>energy savings<\/strong>\u00a0of a new appliance.<br \/>\nIf you make an informed decision to purchase a\u00a0<strong>home appliance with IoT functionality<\/strong>, in addition to remote monitoring and control, you will also benefit from the advantages associated with machine learning. Consider the\u00a0<strong>LG<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>ThinQ washing machine<\/strong>, unveiled at the CES 2020 event in Las Vegas, which uses a system of weight and volume sensors to measure load, identify materials and select the correct washing cycle.<br \/>\nAlternatively, you can add smart functionality to appliances that you already own, connecting them to the power source via a\u00a0<strong><em>smart plug<\/em><\/strong>: these feature Wi-Fi connectivity and allow you to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/magazine\/monitoraggio-energia-elettrica\/\">monitor device consumption<\/a>\u00a0and control it remotely using your smartphone.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Voice control<\/h3>\n<p>Finally, we have to mention voice-control systems such as\u00a0<strong>Google Home<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Amazon Echo<\/strong>, the two most well-known virtual assistants, closely followed by\u00a0<strong>Xiaomi<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Apple<\/strong>. Voice control is quick and intuitive, and this is why it is increasingly used for the command-response side of smart-home systems.\u00a0<strong>Alexa<\/strong>, like all other virtual assistants that you can connect to your smart home, can give you information such as the weather forecast, set a timer or an alarm, play music, turn off the lights and much, much more.<br \/>\nSmart homes are thus becoming the smartphones of the near future: you won&#8217;t be able to imagine your life without them. However, making the most of domotics for the convenience it offers is only the start.<br \/>\nCreating a single\u00a0<strong>eco-system<\/strong>\u00a0including your photovoltaic system and storage unit allows you to finally get a picture of your\u00a0<strong>energy profile<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>actively managing<\/strong>\u00a0your consumption and\u00a0<strong>exploiting the full potential<\/strong>\u00a0of your generation plant. This is the only way to participate in the\u00a0<strong>smart energy\u00a0<\/strong>revolution and generate value for your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/magazine\/energy-community-cosa-sono-e-come-parteciparvi\/\"><strong>energy community<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"featured_media":4473,"parent":0,"template":"","category-magazine":[42],"class_list":["post-1754","magazine","type-magazine","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-magazine-smart-eco-and-sustainability"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazine\/1754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazine"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/magazine"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazine\/1754\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4475,"href":"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazine\/1754\/revisions\/4475"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category-magazine","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regalgrid.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category-magazine?post=1754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}