Are you thinking about having your house converted into a smart home in Texas? If you are, you have a lot of company. The smart home industry is blowing up. Currently, 80% of all the homes listed in Texas are smart homes, and that number is growing. Recent studies show that the smart home industry is expected to reach 125.3 billion dollars by 2025, at a projected growth of 11.6% per year.
What is a smart home? What are the different types of automation? And finally, how much does it cost for smart home & commercial solar panels installation in Texas? Let’s break it down.
What’s a Smart Home?
A home becomes “smart” when you incorporate automation. Smart homes are typically residential properties that are completed set up and automated using smart technology. This includes smart lights, air conditioners, heaters, security cameras and more.
All this tech is linked to a device called a “hub” that a homeowner controls from anywhere in or out of the home. These hubs can be controlled using applications on your phone or tablet, remote controls, voice commands, timers, and more.
Essentially, almost any innovation you can imagine between technology and the home is probably possible. If it’s not possible now, someone’s probably working on it, so it will be soon.
Many people pursue smart home installation for convenience. It’s an easy way to bring the future right into your home. 57% of smart homeowners report that they save an average of thirty minutes per day by converting their normal home to a smart home.
Other people do it because they’re interested in becoming more energy-efficient and saving money on their electricity. Smart home technology is a super energy-efficient alternative that pairs well with renewable energy. A lot of the tech regulates how much electricity you’re using.
You can program lights to turn off as soon as you leave rooms. You can keep the air conditioner off until minutes before you get home. On average, smart homes use about 30% less energy than conventional homes. That’s a lot of savings.
Smart home technology also helps automate security. If you’re out and about and you realize you forgot to lock your doors – easy fix! You just log into your hub and program your smart locks to engage. If you’re on vacation and you’re worried that someone has broken into your house – easy fix! Just log into your hub and access your security cameras.
Smart home technology is a brilliant and innovative way to make your life easier. Of course, smart homes are also entirely customizable, so you get to choose what level of automation you want. How “smart” do you want your home to be?
Different Types of Smart Home Automation in Texas
There are many ways to approach automation. Like we said, smart homes are completely customizable, so you’re going to be hard-pressed to find two that are exactly the same. Smart home technology is growing insanely fast, so some of this stuff might feel impossible, but it’s not.
You can add a system to any part of your home, including bedrooms, the living room, an entertainment room, a shed, a garage, your backyard, front yard – anywhere. Here’s a list of some of the systems you can control using smart home technology in Texas:
- Thermostats
- Shades
- Security Systems
- Lights
- Locks
- Audio (speaker systems)
- Video (televisions)
- Air Conditioning and Heating
- Appliances (coffee pots, etc.)
- Alarms
- Pools
- Sprinklers
- And So Much More!
The list is almost endless, and new smart home technology is constantly emerging. All of this tech is created to make your life easier. So, how does it all work?
The Primary Components of a Smart Home
Every smart home requires different pieces of technology to tie it all together. Some systems work better than others. Some systems are more comprehensive. It all depends on what you want.
Controllers and Hubs
This is a central system (in the form of a remote, application, or device) where all of your smart home technology is linked. If you’re only using a few options, you might not even need a controller or hub. This is for smart homes that have a lot of different parts.
The more technology you integrate, the more complicated your system needs to be. Hubs range in price between $80 and $260. If you hire a company to install your smart home, be sure to ask them which device they recommend and whether it connects to all of the smart home technology you already own. Some devices aren’t compatible with everything, so you want to make sure that you purchase one capable of controlling all of your tech.
Singular Software
This software can be used to control all of the smart technology in your home from a single device or series of devices that can be accessed via remote, application, or voice command. There are many different types of singular software tech floating around out there, so be careful and do your research on the kind of software you purchase.
Control4 is one of the leaders in the market, and it’s known for its compatibility. Prices on these systems vary and are typically roped into the cost of installation.
IFTTT
If This Then That (IFTTT) is a type of software that allows you to connect all of your smart home devices to one location on the web. This is a cheaper alternative to others on the market and can be convenient because it’s accessible anywhere you have an internet connection.
Amazon Echo
This is the device owned by Amazon, commonly called “Alexa.” It’s a voice recognition device that can connect to many different types of smart home technology. Simply log into your Alexa app on your phone, and it’ll walk you through the connection of multiple devices.
Apple Homekit
Apple Homekit is Apple’s option for smart home automation. This software allows you to access all of your smart technology from any of your Apple devices. Keep in mind that this is a brand that is famous for exclusivity, so it may not be compatible with all smart home devices that you own.
How Much Does It Cost for Smart Home Installation in Texas?
Now that we’ve gone over the primary components of smart home installation and the various parts you need to make them work, we should talk about cost.
According to one source, the average cost of a smart home installation in Texas is between $181 and $1,347. While another source claims that the price is actually between $1,000 and $15,000. Why are those numbers so different?
Because no one knows the exact definition of a smart home. That’s why we’ve decided to break smart homes down into 3 different categories. While we’re at it, we’ll do the math and give you an average that accounts for each section, so you know what you’re getting into no matter which direction you decide to go.
Option 1 – The Basics
This is the most basic smart home style and includes just rudimentary smart home technology, like smart light bulbs, light switches, and voice automation like Google Home, Amazon’s Alexa, etc. The average cost of these devices is between $25 and $260.
Option 2 – Moderate Automation
This is the second option for anyone who isn’t wanting to spend thousands of dollars but is still interested in energy efficiency and convenience (without breaking the bank). This includes everything from Option 1, plus entire lighting systems, smart thermostats, locks, and a central hub. These additional features can add between $370 and $950, making the total price around $395 to $1,210.
Option 3 – A Comprehensive Smart House
The last option is the most comprehensive and fully automated. This complex option typically requires a professional installer. Features can include:
- Smart Locks
- Light Systems
- Automatic Blinds and Shades
- Voice Assistants
- Automated Appliances
- Garage Door Openers
- Smart Outlets
- Security Systems
- Audio/Video Systems
- Robot Vacuums
- Sprinklers
- And More!
The cost of these additions varies but typically ranges between $1,690 and $5,170. That’s still an extensive range, but it really gets down to what you want to buy, which brands you choose, and the size of your budget.
Installation Costs
The prices listed above (between $25 and $5,170) only consider the cost of devices. For Option 3 and possibly Option 2, you may also have to hire a company to install your smart home in Texas, which will cost a bit extra.
The average price for a smart home installation with a company in Texas is about $1,000 per room. So, if you have 5 different rooms that you’d like to set up, the cost of that installation would be around $5,000. That’s just an estimate, but it’s a good place to start. There are also additional maintenance fees, ranging between $9 and $50 per month.
Solar Energy and Smart Home Technology – A Perfect Fit
Have you thought about making the switch to solar? Like electric vehicles, there are incentives and rebate programs to help Texas homeowners switch to renewable energy.
Making the switch to solar makes a lot of sense because you get a lot of the same benefits you do with smart home technology. It’s energy-efficient, so you save a ton of money on your electric bill, and you’re doing your part to protect the environment. Our planet needs a lot of help, so instead of being a part of the problem, you can be a part of the solution.
Final Thoughts
The cost of smart home technology is between $25 for the most basic option (a set of smart light bulbs) to $5,170 for a fully automated and comprehensive smart home. For a smart home installation in Texas, it really depends on how many rooms you want to do and how much tech you want to be included in the installation. It’s best to expect to pay about $1,000 per room.
This may cost a lot of money upfront, but it will enable you to save money on your electricity, and the convenience you get in return is unbelievable. Smart home tech really does feel like taking tech from the future and putting it into your home today.
Plus, if you decide to pair it with a solar panel system and [solar battery], you can be entirely off the grid, generate your own electricity, and have a completely automated smart home. What’s better than that?
