A decade ago, smart-home features were considered a fringe benefit. The added costs were carefully considered by homebuyers. But the smart money currently is on building and renovating houses with intelligent features.
More homebuyers are interested in homes with built-in smart technology, and it’s expected to grow in popularity. Smart features can provide greater comfort, security, and resale value.
The features are broken down into basically three categories: practicality and function; lifestyle and entertainment; and safety and security. For many homeowners, the challenge is deciding which smart features match their lifestyle and are worth investing in.
By now, most Canadian kitchens have at least one kitchen appliance with a smart feature. They run the gamut from refrigerators, dishwashers, and microwaves, to cooktops, ranges, and ovens. Smart features include LED touchscreen displays and microwave sensor cooking.
But home automation has gone beyond the kitchen. Through the development of high-speed Internet technology, a homeowner can control their home from anywhere in the world simply by tapping a phone app. With smart technology, distance is meaningless as there is no longer a need to touch actual features.
Vincent Burry, a designer with Homes by Design Innovation, said automated lights are a big request.
“You program pot lights for different scenes. You can change the conditions and the ambiance, how cold or warm the pot lights are. You can change the colours. The program ability is endless,” said Burry, who typically designs luxury estate homes valued anywhere from $1 million to $2.5 million.
Power blinds are another smart feature for luxury homes with 14-foot windows.
“You program the shades to open or close. You don’t have to touch anything.”
Fitting in with the trendy minimalist look are drop-down television lifts designed to reveal or hide flat-panel screens. Burry noted the wireless motorized feature will fit a television into a tight space such as a ceiling or a cabinet when not in use.
“You can lower the TV to a better viewing height that suits you.”
A new feature in both mid-size homes and luxury homes is the water-vapour fireplace. A rectangular box is filled with fake logs. Using the latest technology, it imitates a realistic flame by combining electricity, LED lights, and water vapour.
“In the past year, we installed three vapour fireplaces instead of gas or wooden fireplaces. You can hang it in a custom granite box and have fire without the glass. It’s cleaner and you can touch it without burning your hands.”
Solar is also making headway in the home technology market. Last year, Homes by Design Innovation installed a Tesla car charger at a home in Pinnacle Ridge Estates. This year, the company is installing solar panels and a Powerwall battery at a Strathcona County estate.
Burry explained the Powerwall battery will store self-generated energy, detect outages, and automatically kick in when the grid goes down. It is a fully integrated energy system that stores solar power for backup protection.
As of January 2022, a Tesla Powerwall battery system was priced at more than $10,000. This does not include the cost for solar panels, an upgraded electrical panel, and installation. While Powerwall is a potential future-game changer, it currently remains out of reach for most homebuyers.
Whatever the price point, smart technology is here to stay. Just check out the smart residential gizmos from artificial-intelligence-powered voice assistants, keyless home security locks, and programmed vacuums, to smart trackers and alarm systems controlled exclusively by phone or iPad from across the world.
Eventually, smart home features will become as essential as plumbing.
