Working From <Smart> Home
Are you working from home? That's great! But have you considered working from a smart home? A few years ago, I stumbled upon a new hobby and decided to invest in a few smart home devices. Little did I know that it would soon become a passion of mine. In this article, I want to share my journey of creating a smart home and how I integrated it into my remote office setup. I'll be covering everything from the basics of starting a smart home to combining multiple setups for maximum efficiency. By the end of this article, you'll be equipped with the knowledge to work from your very own smart home.
In my recent work-from-home article, we talked about smart AC units and coffee cup warmers, but let's take it many steps further. It's highly likely that you already have one of these common setups:
Any of these can be a great starting point for building your smart home setup. In this article, I'll mainly share details about the technologies that I use, but I'll also provide information about alternative options wherever possible. My goal is to help you create a customized and efficient smart home setup that will enhance your remote office experience.
The simplest way to start your smart home journey is with a light bulb or two in the same room where you spend most of your time, such as your office, bedroom, or living room. No judgment here! One great option to consider is Philips Hue. They offer starter kits that come with a hub and a couple of bulbs, sometimes even including a motion sensor or switch.
By default, Philips Hue is controlled by its app, but it can also be controlled by Google Assistant, Siri, and Apple Home, or Alexa. So, whatever your preference for your smart home hub, Hue is a great place to start. I personally use Apple Home since I have a lot of Apple products.
With this beginner setup, you can turn your lights on or off and adjust the brightness from your phone or computer while you work without ever leaving your chair. This is not just a lazy convenience; it's a great benefit during meetings when you need to adjust the lighting quickly.
Next, you may want to add a light switch so that anyone can control the lights, not just you, through the app. Philips Hue light switches are a great option and can be easily attached to a wall with adhesive or screws (just be careful not to screw into any wires). If you're renting, it's best to stick the Hue switch next to the actual light switch. If you own your home, it's more aesthetically pleasing to use a wire nut to connect the wires behind the switch so that the light is always on, and then place the Hue switch over the gap.
Please note that I am not an electrician, and you should always consult with a licensed professional before attempting any electrical work. I assume no liability for any damage or injury resulting from the implementation of the above recommendations.
Once you've started with one bulb and one switch, it's easy for your smart home journey to snowball until every single bulb in your house is a smart bulb. Soon, you'll be triggering little automations to turn off all the lights or adjust the temperature without even thinking about it. There's an old adage among platform or infrastructure teams about automating yourself out of a job. In my case, I've automated myself out of turning lights off, setting the heating, turning off sockets when we leave (so the straighteners don't burn the house down), and much more.
Congratulations on building a smart home! You have smart bulbs, switches, and an app to control them. Now, it's time to take it up a notch by adding motion sensors. These sensors can be placed in corridors or kitchens and can be programmed to activate only at night, turning on low lights to prevent accidents. They can also be used in closets, turning the lights on when the door is opened or when you walk in and turning them off after a certain period of time or when there is no motion.
The next step is to upgrade your thermostat. If you're still using a traditional thermostat, it's time to replace it with a smart one. As a renter, you can safely do this, but be sure to seek professional advice if you're not familiar with electrical work. With a smart thermostat, you can schedule your heating using an app. These devices often come with separate temperature sensors, allowing you to measure the temperature in different rooms and set the thermostat to one room's temperature versus another. For this purpose, the Nest thermostat is an excellent choice. Although it doesn't work with Apple, it was acquired by Google and works with Google Assistant and the Google Home app.
At this point, you may feel stuck as you have multiple apps controlling your devices. There's no point in having two setups, and each app can be considered the "master control" for the devices it controls. However, your main interface, and the only interface for your family, should be the physical switches and their phones. So, it's time to combine your non-Apple products with your Apple products. For this, you need a product like HomeBridge, which enables the communication between devices that don't usually work together. With HomeBridge, you can control all your smart devices using one app, making your smart home even more convenient.
Homebridge is open-source software that allows you to connect non-Apple devices to the Apple Home app. This means you can control all your smart devices, whether they're Alexa, Google Nest, or any other compatible device, through the Apple Home app. It's a fantastic solution for creating a unified smart home setup.
Setting up Homebridge can be a bit technical, but there are plenty of online tutorials and guides available to help you get started. Once it's set up, you'll have access to all your smart devices from the Apple Home app, including the ability to control them through Siri voice commands.
Homebridge can be run on a variety of platforms, including a Raspberry Pi or a computer running macOS, Windows, or Linux. This makes it a flexible and accessible solution for users looking to expand the capabilities of their smart home setup without the need for expensive proprietary hardware. By running Homebridge on a Raspberry Pi or computer, users can also enjoy the added benefits of lower power consumption, greater customization, and the ability to run other software alongside Homebridge.
For users who prefer Alexa or Google Assistant as their smart home platform, there are similar open-source projects available that provide similar functionality to Homebridge. One popular example is called "Home Assistant," which allows users to integrate a wide range of devices and services into a unified platform that can be controlled with Alexa or Google Assistant. Another option is "Hoob." Both of these solutions can run on a variety of platforms, including a Raspberry Pi or a computer, making them accessible and flexible options for users looking to expand their smart home setup.
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One of the first devices I integrated with Homebridge was my Nest thermostat, which I had replaced with a smart version. With a Nest plugin installed on Homebridge, I can now control my Nest thermostat through the Apple Home app. Additionally, I installed Nest temperature sensors in different rooms, allowing me to set different temperatures in different rooms at different times of day. With this setup, I can build intelligent automation to manage the heating in my home, using the absence of my and my wife's phones to determine when to turn the heating off.
If winter ever ends in California (It's starting to feel like Narnia here - always winter and never spring), then I have two window AC units. These are each controllable by Alexa. I hope to invest some time connecting these to Homebridge and then being able to control and automate those through my Apple Home. I'm currently in the process of connecting my two window AC units, which are currently controlled by Alexa, to Homebridge so that I can control and automate them through my Apple Home app as well.?
During the holidays, I love to decorate my home with outdoor Christmas lights, and I've found that connecting them to outdoor smart sockets is a game-changer. These smart sockets are weatherproof and can be easily added to my Apple Home app, allowing me to automate my Christmas lights. I no longer have to worry about turning them on and off each night or dealing with tangled cords and timers. With a simple voice command or tap on my phone, I can control the lights from anywhere in the house. It's a great way to make the holidays a little easier and more enjoyable!
Smart sockets are a great addition to any smart home. They allow you to take any non-smart device and make it smart. For example, I use a smart socket for my coffee warmer, which is cheaper than buying an Ember. I also use one in my bathroom to ease my wife's paranoia about leaving the straighteners on. When we leave the house, everything is turned off, including the socket. Additionally, I have a smart socket connected to an electric wall-mounted radiator. A smart button allows someone to turn the socket on, which turns on the attached radiator. It turns off a few hours later, making it a convenient way to control the temperature in the room.
Many companies sell smart sockets that are compatible with Apple Home or other preferred hub software, so you don't have to stick with the brand's own smart sockets, like Hue. In my future projects, I plan to plug my air purifier into a smart socket and connect it to a smart home air quality device. This will allow me to automate the air purifier's operation based on the air quality in the room. Smart sockets are a versatile and affordable way to add smart functionality to your home.
A smart home hobby can be an incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling experience for anyone who loves technology or home automation. One of the most significant benefits of this hobby is the ability to experiment with new gadgets and technologies that are constantly being introduced into the market. From smart light bulbs and thermostats to voice assistants and automated door locks, there is always something new and exciting to try out.
Beyond just the excitement of trying out new devices, a smart home hobby also provides numerous practical benefits. For instance, individuals can use smart home technology to improve their quality of life by making daily tasks easier and more efficient. This could include setting up routines that turn on the lights and start the coffee maker in the morning, or using a smart thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature to the desired setting.
Another significant advantage of a smart home hobby is the ability to customize and personalize one's setup. Whether it's choosing the color and brightness of the lights, selecting a preferred music streaming service for voice assistants, or designing an intuitive interface for controlling the smart home devices, a smart home hobby allows individuals to make their living space uniquely their own.
Finally, a smart home hobby is never stagnant, as technology continues to evolve and improve. As new devices and features are released, individuals can add them to their existing setup to improve their smart home experience even further. This provides an endless source of excitement and keeps the hobby fresh and exciting over the long term. Overall, a smart home hobby is a fun and rewarding way to explore the latest in technology, improve one's quality of life, and express one's creativity through personalization and customization.
A smart home can be a perfect fit for a remote worker, as it offers a range of benefits to support a productive and comfortable work environment. For example, with a smart thermostat, you can set your ideal temperature before you even start your workday, so you can avoid discomfort and focus on your tasks. A smart lighting system can be scheduled to create a productive and energizing environment, or a relaxing and calming atmosphere, depending on your needs throughout the day.
Furthermore, a smart home can provide you with additional security and peace of mind while you work. With smart locks, you can easily manage access to your home, and even receive alerts when someone enters or leaves. Smart cameras can be set up to monitor your property, giving you a sense of security and allowing you to keep an eye on things when you're away from home.
In addition, a smart home can offer more efficient use of time and energy. With smart appliances, you can easily manage your household chores, such as laundry and dishes, without needing to be physically present. This means that you can focus on work and other activities while your appliances take care of the rest.
Overall, a smart home can provide remote workers with a comfortable and secure environment and make their lives easier and more efficient. With the ability to manage and automate various aspects of their home, remote workers can enjoy a stress-free and productive workday.
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