Weekender Alicante North Issue 119

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23
Home&Garden
30 FRIDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 2019
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Home&Garden
4. How do
I know if a
particular smart
home product
is compatible
with Google or
Amazon Alexa?
SECURITY
This includes smart cameras,
doorbells, security
If you have made the decision or are
lights, CCTV and alarms,
thinking about making the decision to
and locks. With cameras and
go solar, then you may be wondering -
CCTV you can monitor your
how does sunlight actually gets turned
into electricity?
home while you’re away;
smart doorbells allow you
9. My home has
You may have other questions too,
to talk to and see who’s at
your door from your smart
a very weak
such as will your solar panels work on
cloudy days, and will your panels work
device.
internet service.
at night via moonlight, which, after all,
Smart lights enable you
is reflected sunlight? To find out the
to turn them on or off when
Could this be a
answer to these questions and Sometimes a few it’s on the box of you’re out to make your home
more, please read on.
problem?
the product you’re about to look occupied. With smart
buy; If it isn’t, you’ll need to locks you can open your door
This can be a problem for
Charge your
go to either a good retailer’s via your smartphone and let
some products that require
a good signal, but you
website or the website of in visitors without having to
7. How can my
the brand that created the give them a key.
can use signal boosters or
security benefit
product. Compatibility is
WiFi extenders.
key.
POWER
from a smart
Smart plugs and sockets
5. What are the
home
home
with
device? 10. Is it very
the
make up this area. You never
need to worry again about
You can monitor your home expensive to set
key areas that
when you're not there, answer
the door or set off a si-
leaving your straighteners
up?
the smart home or other appliances on as you
ren. In some systems, doorbells,
floodlights
It can seem expensive but
can control them via your
serves?
power
smart device. You can also
of the
and cameras
when heating systems can
sun
There are four main areas:
can work together to watch
reduce bills by switching off
schedule your appliances to
over and light up your house
when you don’t need them
turn on and off. You can even
to ensure intruders are kept
on, and smart plugs monitor
LIGHTING
lock your sockets for family
away. Alternatively, you can
your energy consumption to
With smart lighting you can safety.
use a smart CCTV, alarm or
help you save money, they can
turn your lights on and off
lock systems.
remotely, dim them and even
change the colour to create
atmosphere if you have a colour-changing
bulb. A range
of brands offer different
technologies and prices.
ENERGY
This area consists of thermostats
and plugs. With these
you can control the temperature
of your thermostat and
see how much energy a device
that’s connected to a smart
plug is using, and control
it accordingly.
6. How can I
save money
on my heating
bills?
You can turn the heating on
and off when you need to
from wherever you are, which
means you’re never heating
an empty home. You can also
reduce the temperature via
the app at any time.
8. Do you have to
be a geek to get
things to work?
Not at all, the best smart
products are the easiest
to use.
definitely be worth the initial
investment.
Other devices may not offer
the same long-term savings
but when you can better
protect your family and
enjoy greater convenience
and peace of mind, what you
spend upfront may save you
in multiple other ways.