How to turn an existing home into a smart home, even when you're renting

It’s not just new builds able to take advantage of smart home technology. Thanks to recent advancements in products and hardware, it’s now possible to retrofit an established dwelling or even a rental property with the latest technology.

Make everyday tasks more streamlined and energy efficient with the following products, all of which are available to purchase in Australia.

Remote appliance control

One of the most exciting and futuristic elements of smart home tech is the ability to automate and control appliances from any location.

The Belkin WeMo range includes smart plugs that monitor energy consumption and can be controlled from anywhere in the globe.

Try the WeMo Insight Switch which uses a home’s existing Wi-Fi network to provide wireless control of appliances such as lamps, heaters, fans, without a subscription or central hub. Simply plug into your electrical outlet with the appliance and you can control the device remotely using the free WeMo app.

While this may not seem overly life-changing when you’re sitting comfortably at home, it will save a lot of anxiety the next time you’re at work and think you left the iron, air-conditioner or hair straightener on.

For those seeking a more comprehensive product package, the Automation and Energy Starter Kit from Telstra Smart home includes two smart power plugs, a wide motion sensor, two door and windows sensors, plus a main hub for $25 a month for 24 months.

Light automation

Installing the perfect lighting at home is often an afterthought, despite having a significant impact on humans’ moods and productivity.

Today there are numerous lighting-focused smart home products on the market which easily enable consumers to change their lighting to suit their lifestyle and the time of day.

“I would recommend to those interested in smart lighting solutions to take a hard look at Phillips Hue range … it offers top quality and a vast portfolio of features,” says Sergio Flores, technical product manager for Samsung Electronics. 

Philips Hue allows lights to be remotely controlled by an app and a bridge (controller) scheduled to come on at pre-set time and gradually turn off at night. The collection contains a variety of colours and styles, from bulbs to light strips, to suit different desires.

“Some additional smart light options that have become popular lately include the light bulbs from LIFX, Elgato Avea, and Osram,” Flores says.

Energy monitoring

Some smart home products can track consumers’ energy usage as it happens, therefore avoiding a shock bill at the end of the month, and helping to curb excessive consumption.

Select energy providers provide this technology as part of their services, such as Powershop, which gives customers live energy-use readings via the company’s app. Other companies such as AGL and Origin provide smart meters at installation.

Some smart home products can track consumers’ energy usage as it happens, helping to curb excessive consumption. Photo: istock

“Smart meters can promote energy savings and reduce energy consumption. In-home displays show information on a dashboard which enables consumers to monitor their resource use more easily,” says Dr Sophia Maalsen, research fellow at the University of Sydney who focuses on the role of technology in smart homes.

For those seeking a product to track individual appliances, not just their overall home usage, try the STXtra Kit which offers the ability to set monthly targets, compare previous data, and track separate devices from your computer.

Moisture sensing

Products including Aquamonitor GreenStar and AquaTrip work to detect leaks in plumbing, thereby conserving water and avoiding costly repairs.

AquaTrip functions by monitoring all plumbing pipes, fittings and water-using appliances on a property. If it detects a leak, it will shut off the water automatically to minimise water damage. The system will also detect if a tap has been left running, which is very useful if you forget to turn off your bath, or accidentally leave the hose on in the pool.

If long showers are your vice, Showerguard helps by stopping the flow of hot water after a pre-set time between two and 20 minutes. In the last minute, the device sends a quick pulse of cool water to indicate time is almost up, before shutting off automatically when complete.

Security

The smart home industry has made security systems far more portable and affordable than in previous decades.

Products within this realm can automate lights to make it appear as though someone’s home when away (Telstra Smart Bulb), allow remote property entry (Telstra Lockwood Smart Lock), create shareable “eKeys” for guests (Kwikset Kevo), and enable live property streaming via cordless, high definition cameras (Netgear Arlo Pro).

The Watch and Monitor Starter Kit starts at $25 per month on a 24-month contract. Photo: Telstra

The Watch and Monitor Starter Kit from the Telstra Smart Home range makes live streaming of your home, family and pets simple with a camera plus sensors for doors or windows.

“Automation and ability to control certain technologies within the home remotely can potentially reduce labour and increase convenience and leisure time,” Dr Maalsen says.