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What are the best home devices that will actually keep you cool this summer? Well, times have changed, it’s not like a few years ago when people mostly used air conditioners to cool down their home.
There are a lot of new options and I’m here to tell you all the best ways to stay cool this summer.
If you are trying to figure out what’s the best ways to keep your smart home cool, then that really depends upon your personal situation. Do you live in a dry, hot or warm region?
Hopefully, this article will help you make your decision. I will update this post regularly to ensure that you have the latest information.
Now, without any further delays here are the best home devices that will actually keep you cool this summer.
1. Reduce Sunlight with Smart Blinds
On the summer days, when smart blinds are completely closed, you can have the ability to reduce heat gain in rooms by 45 percent according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). They can also reflect direct sunlight onto your home.
Using smart blinds not only control the amount of heat entering your home, but it also helps lower your energy bill since your air conditioner will have to work less.
However, smart blinds are nothing new, as they were mostly seen in 5-star hotels or in the lifestyle of the rich and famous. That’s probably because most smart blinds can cost between $300-500.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be rich and famous. Instead of replacing your existing blinds, you can control it with a smart blind kit. It’s easy to install and works perfectly.
Smart Blind Kit
There are several different brands in the market, but currently here are my top picks, Blind Engine Kit and My SmartBlinds Automation Kit which are both well-respected brands within the smart home community.
Smart Blinds
If you prefer replacing your exciting old blinds to smart blinds it can be a better option for long-term investment.
There are several companies out there that makes smart blinds but the one that is most respected is Lutron. Works well with Alexa, Google Home, and HomeKit.
The biggest knock on Lutron smart shades is that they aren’t cheap by any stretch.
But if you’re seeking for some affordability, Ikea will be releasing its smart blinds later in 2019, so it might be best to wait until then.
Ikea Smart Blinds
Either option depends on your comfort level but if I had to choose, I would look more into Blind Engine. It works right out of the box without a lot of time wasted installing the product.
If you are interested check out the reviews and current pricing on Amazon.
2. Ditch the Dumb Incandescent Lights for Smart LED Bulbs
Light bulbs generate heat, especially the incandescent ones. While buying the latest technology can cost a penny, choosing the right bulbs can save you money and keep you cool at the same time.
Replacing your incandescent and fluorescent bulbs with smart LED lights can last considerably longer, which will make a difference in cooling your home while saving money on your electric bill.
The Philips Hue collection is the best smart bulb on the market today but for more affordability check out my review on LIFX smart bulbs.
3. Install Smart Ceiling Fans
Yes, even ceiling fans are becoming smart, and this can be a much cheaper price point instead of using an air conditioner. But it’s also recommended that you run your AC and ceiling fan at the same time and this actually works.
I remember my wife, who was my girlfriend at the time used to have both AC and ceiling fan on to cool down the room on those hot summer days. Once the room cools down, she would switch the AC off. But this only worked when she was home, as there was no way to program her ceiling fan to switch on depending on the temperature in the room.
Now, you can do this more efficiently, with the help of smart ceiling fans.
Smart Ceiling fans can be remotely controlled and can be programmed to switch on and off depending on the current temperature and schedules. Smart Ceiling fans can also be linked to your smart thermostats such as using an Ecobee or Nest.
You have two options to transition into a smart ceiling fan. Buy the best smart Wi-Fi ceiling fan on the market today or you can make your old dumb ceiling fan smart by using Bond, a smart ceiling fan controller.
Indoor smart ceiling fans are a great option for cooling down your home as it also creates a decrease in energy use, which will increase in energy savings.
4. Use Smart Plugs for Appliances or Electronics
Another low tech, low-cost solutions is to use a smart plug, and there are several options available that can cost as little as $9.99. Smart plugs are great as they connect to your Wi-Fi and smartphone app, which switches them on and off.
The best solution for a smart plug is to connect to a fan which now can be controlled remotely. You can also use voice commands by speaking to Alexa or the Google Assistant.
Once the smart plug is plugged in the wall outlet, then it controls any device plugged into it. If you are on a budget, this can be a great option for you. Click here for my best recommended smart plugs on the market.
5. Switch from Dumb to Smart AC
In the last couple of years, smart air conditioners have become more popular due to energy savings for most consumers. Smart air conditioners not only less expensive, but it also will make your life easier in general.
But before purchasing an AC you will want to take a few things into consideration. There are several types of air conditioning setups, such as central AC, window, and wall mounted units which you can buy in any major electronic store such as Best Buy.
Whatever smart air conditioner you choose will depend on your specific needs such as BTU (British thermal unit).
For example, my wife bakes for clients over the summer and due to the heat and having the oven on, can make it very hot in our home. To keep our home cool and prevent cakes from sweating we use an AC that can produce up to 18,000 BTU.
If you need help to understand exactly how many BTU’s you’ll need for your home, Energy Star has put out a guide to help you.
Another option is instead of purchasing a new AC, you can also make your existing AC smart with a smart air conditioner adapter through IR technology.
There are a few smart AC controllers on the market but Ambi Climate appears to be the best and most powerful smart air conditioner controller you can purchase today.
Ambi Climate has several modes, such as comfort, away, temperature and manual. It’s compatible with Alexa and IFTTT and it will auto-adjust your AC based on your personal preferences and what you command it within your smart app.
6. Install a Smart Thermostat
As we get closer to the summer people are starting to look for new ways to beat the heat. One great way to keep cool and save energy is by using a smart home thermostat to control your HVAC system.
There are several different options on the market but two most known is Ecobee and Nest Thermostats as they are highly recommended in reviews, forums and the smart home community.
Before you decide to purchase a Smart Home Thermostats make sure that they work well and get good reviews. Also, make sure that they will integrate with your smart home bridge.
Do you live in an apartment or do you have an entire house to cooldown? Are you planning to use Alexa, Google Home or Siri to control your smart Thermostats?
You want to take these things into consideration when shopping for a smart thermostat as this can be a big investment.
7. Smart Mattresses for Better Cool Sleep
Are you having trouble sleeping in the night because of discomfort due to the summer heat? As we all know getting enough sleep is crucial to our health and day-to-day function.
As we continue to head in the new tech age, we are getting introduced to more smart devices such as smart mattresses.
Smart mattress allows you to adjust your mattress for maximum comfort such as cooling the side of the mattress you sleep on. One of the many functions a smart mattress can do.
One smart mattress on the market that’s been getting a lot of good reviews is Eight Sleep’s The Pod. It can independently control the temperature of either side which will help your partner who has a different temperature preference than you.
Eight Sleep’s The Pod can connect to Amazon Echo, Google Home, Nest, and Philips Hue.
The only cons of the smart mattress, they can cost a few thousand dollars. YES! They’re very expensive. But in my opinion smart mattress can be a great investment that can change your life and you can’t put a price on that.
Conclusion
While smart home automation has changed the culture and the way we live, it also helps save time, lower our bills and can helps us keep us cool during summer with these smart home devices.
With the summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to pick up these devices that will actually keep you cool this summer.
Don’t forget to check out our recommended gadgets for the best smart tech for your buck.
For more useful tips and tricks with Home automation, please continue to check out AutomateYourCrib.com.
Please e-mail me (rodney@automateyourcrib.com) your opinion, comment or if you have any ideas for a future post you would like to read, drop me a line or two as I appreciate my audience. Thank you again for reading this post.
Until next time, Happy Reading!!
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It's great to see that you have come across my website. I hope you explore it thoroughly. The website caters to regular consumers who have an interest in home automation. I am based in the Tri-state area and enjoy the latest smart tech along with my wonderful wife and three energetic boys.
