Homes of the future where EV charging, keyless entry and app control come built-in

Imagine coming home after a long day out. Before you head home, you switch on your cooling from a smartphone app. When you arrive, you use your phone to switch on the lights and remotely unlock the front door so you can carry in your shopping.

Once inside, your home is cool, the lights are welcoming and the door has locked behind you, all while your electric car is charging in the garage. Home, sweet home.

Smart technology is now making modern life so much easier. By streamlining fiddly jobs that add up to hours spent performing manual functions, automation is saving our time and our bank accounts.

A smart home that is set up for internet connectivity is not only cheaper to run than a traditional home – with the potential to save up to 40 per cent on energy bills – but also more comfortable and convenient.

These features are ordinarily offered as luxury add-ons at off-the-plan developments, but a new Canberra apartment project is offering them as standard inclusions until the end of October 2023.

De Burgh is the new release of apartments at Northbourne Village by developer JWLand. The Lyneham complex will house 351 apartments in two eight-storey buildings.

Buyers who choose the Clever Home Package will enjoy the latest in smart technology – EV charging, keyless entry and appliance connectivity. This automation is geared for sustainability and to be well-equipped into the future, says JWLand project manager Matthew Hooper.

“We want our buildings to be a home for our purchasers, but with a readiness for future technology,” he says. “So, this is very important for us when we’re discussing materials and technology selection from the outset. It drives our design.”

Each feature has been selected to ensure it not only works reliably but also meets sustainability goals. The climate-control technology allows users to operate both heating and cooling remotely via an app.

Owners can also control all of the lights in their home from their phone, so that either one light, a select group or every light can be switched on.

Keyless entry is particularly convenient, says JWLand project marketing manager Nick Babic. “Say you go away on holidays – you don’t actually have to hand over keys to family or friends if they need to house-sit. You can just give them access phone-to-phone once they download the app.”

The same applies to investors, who can assign digital keys to property managers and not worry about the hassle of chasing up lost keys.

All of the smart technology apps can be integrated into a Google or Amazon network hub so they can be controlled at one source. The EV charging docks will also ensure apartment owners are well ahead of the Canberra government’s pledge to phase out petrol vehicles from 2035.

“That’s only 12 years away – when you think about it, it’s really not that far,” Babic says.“You’re going to have to go down this path sooner rather than later and if you take it up now, you’ve already set yourself up for the future.

“Whether you’re an investor or an owner-occupier, you’re actually future-proofing your investment.”

De Burgh offers one, two and three-bedroom apartments and studios. In keeping with the sustainability focus, each residence is well-insulated with double-glazed windows.

The project is just three kilometres from the city centre, with light rail accessible from the front of the property.

Sullivan’s Creek parkland is just a short walk away and you can cycle on a dedicated pathway to the Australian National University in just 10 minutes.

Construction of De Burgh is due to be completed in 2025.

This article has been created in partnership with JWLand.