Home Tech You’ll Thank Yourself for This Winter

Clipsal by Schneider Electric

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For most of us, the cool season is a time for cosying up indoors, and if you can part from the sofa, giving your home a decor spruce up. However, there a host of behind-the-scenes upgrades which could help make homes comfier, run more smoothly and perhaps even keep costs down. These cool, smart tech solutions will not only get you one step ahead in time for summer, but may potentially make you relish cosy winter evenings in.

Don’t believe us? Read on for smart home ideas from Clipsal that’ll make those icy mornings and evenings a breeze. And if you’re thinking you need a home tech overhaul to get them, think again.

Clipsal by Schneider Electric

1. An App That Will ‘Live Track’ Your Heating Bills

Are you the type of person who heats the whole house and worries about the dreaded bills later? (Editor’s note: guilty.) With new switches, plug adapters and timers, you could switch off the power without even being in the room. The latest apps can monitor your electricity and heating usage from anywhere, any time, and keep an eye on the costs, so no longer will bills be a surprise – nor will you worry about leaving your oven on by mistake. All you have to do is have an electrician connect the app and system to your electricity, gas and water meters.

Switch off. Leaving appliances running (or even on standby) when not being used is a big energy waster that’s easy to fix. Get into the habit of switching everything off at the plug at night – microwaves, stereos, laptops, TVs, the Wi-Fi – and you’ll notice a difference in your bills. Universal remote controls can also help you get a better grip on your energy usage, allowing you to switch your electrics off and on as you please.

Clipsal by Schneider Electric

2. A Heater That Doubles Up as a Fan

There’s no reason why you have to install two separate products for each season. A reversible ceiling fan will keep the air ventilated in summer and provide warmth in winter. Don’t forget that ventilation is crucial in your winter house, especially in the bathroom to avoid mould, so having both options will make life that little bit easier. This bathroom solution triples up as a fan, heater and light and can be set to turn off via an electronic timer.

Insulation. Insulation and gap sealing are key measures for keeping heat in when it’s cold and making sure it stays out when it’s hot. “Spring is a good time to insulate your home before the full blast of summer kicks in,” says Ben Clarke, home automation expert at Schneider Electric. “Insulation acts as a barrier to heat gain, particularly in walls, floors, roofs and ceilings. If the roof isn’t insulated you could lose up to 45 per cent of your cooling,” he says.

Clipsal by Schneider Electric

3. Tech That Lets You Stay in Bed Longer

It’s important to spend a good amount of time thinking about what you want to achieve with your ‘smart’ home. After all, a “smart home is much more than a Wi-Fi-enabled speaker system. Home automation technology aims to simplify your life,” says Clarke. For example, if there’s nothing you hate more than waking up on cold mornings, turn on the heat lamp in your bathroom.

Step by step. Want to know the best bit? You don’t have to give your home an entire tech overhaul to benefit from these cool features. Start with a wireless solution so that it won’t impact your home’s wiring. Next, build up systems one at a time and layer them on top of each other. For example, pre-set your home to heat up early first, then set your cheeriest playlist to turn on on cue.

Clipsal by Schneider Electric

4. The Cosiest of Cosy Lighting Scenes

It’s no secret that the right lighting can make a big difference to the ambience of a space. “There’s a huge difference between good lighting and great lighting,” says Clarke. “Over-lighting a space can make it feel sterile, like a hospital, while under-lit spaces can evoke a dark and dreary feel and are impractical when it comes to tasks like cooking and cleaning. It’s about getting the balance right”

The perfect night in. Today’s connected lighting systems can be adjusted by the homeowner to suit the event or atmosphere it’s required for. These are known as scenes. A ‘scene’ is a predetermined setting that controls various devices and can be activated with just one button or even your voice! For instance, if you’re settling in to watch a movie, you may set a scene that only turns your accent lights on and the main lights off or on a dim setting. The choice is yours!

This story was written by the Sponsored Content Team