Once the realm of tech-heads and cyber-nerds, home-based smart technology is fast becoming mainstream – and, at the same time, is expected to help reduce household energy consumption.
One in six homes in the United States have voice activated speakers through which people can remotely control home appliances, turn lights on and off, and check what their pets are up to from cameras accessed through smart phones or tablets.
While New Zealand has been slower to embrace such technology (primarily due to its distance from the main markets) smart home-based technology is starting to make its mark here.
University of Otago research suggests the number of homes with smart devices is expected to increase in the next few years as 60 per cent of New Zealanders say they are interested in having a smart home.
Sam Law, technical marketing manager for energy retailer Meridian Energy, says smart products have the potential to save money by helping to make homes more energy efficient.
"There are devices that will make life easier and potentially save money for families," he says.
His comments come as Meridian has partnered with a leading American smart home company, Nest Labs, to bring a range of smart devices to the New Zealand market; Nest smart cameras and smoke and carbon monoxide monitors are the first products to be offered through the partnership with more likely to follow in the near future.
Law says the idea of smart home technology as the realm of tech wizards needs to change.
"We really want people to be aware that the technology can be easy to use. And once people have tried it out, they wonder how they lived without it," he says.
One of the key cost-cutting technologies to have hit our shores allows users to control all the lighting in their home through smartphone apps.
Law says LED smart lighting - that can be connected to such apps - allows lights to be turned on and off, dimmed, or even change colour at the touch of a screen.
Not only does this technology allow you to ensure the lights are on when you turn up at home after dark, it's also highly cost efficient as the bulbs last longer and use less power.
"LED lights are extremely energy efficient anyway, and paired with smart technology, means you can switch them off remotely, helping save money," says Law.
Some of the more high-end lighting technology also connects with weather forecasts on the internet and alerts people by use of different coloured lights.
"If it's likely to rain an outdoor light will turn blue (for example) when you walk out of the door," says Law.
"This means that you will know you have to take a jacket or umbrella when you go out and potentially turn on heaters or air conditioning before you get home."
The Nest products are available through an online shop set up by Meridian.
The indoor security cameras allow users to remotely view what is happening in the home. With night vision and 24-hour live video, the camera is accessed from a simple-to-install smart phone app. You can also zoom and enhance the camera, and speak to people through the inbuilt speaker.
The Nest Cam outdoor security camera offers the same technology, but is weather proof to withstand the rigours of heat, rain, wind and frost.
Fire safety is a key concern for many and the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide sends alerts to the Nest app if there is smoke or carbon monoxide present in the home. It also illuminates the area directly under it when the lights are out, which means it doubles as a night light.
New customers who sign up with Meridian between now and February 28th 2018 will receive a free Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm while existing Meridian customers will receive a 20 per cent discount when shopping at the online store (T&Cs apply)
For further information visit: www.meridianenergy.co.nz