I am probably like you, just an average guy living in an average home with an average family of 4. A lot of people probably will laugh if they heard I was handy around a home. Like most, I do what I can do myself. Automating my home is one of my goals.
First, we need to identify what is Home Automation and what can actually be accomplished. You have electric power consumption that can be managed by time, by other factors. You have your air and heat consumption and timing. You have voice-based services like Echo, Siri, and Alexa. I am not up for those just yet, but my system connects to it. You have other items like video services like Ring, which I do have. The price on that came down under $100 and we now have it. And before I finished writing this article I came across a product I am going to try which supposedly reduces your energy consumption through a volt management device. Will get into that later on.
My problems with home automation started with getting my electric power consumption under control. I want a lower bill. These are probably the same problems you face if you have not taken the automation plunge. Remember automation is one way to reduce your monthly electric bill and other bills. But honestly, the biggest automation and bill reducer would be adding solar power. I have looked at the current offerings and it is not yet at the point where it’s…
