Are you in the process of planning and designing your very own tiny home? While space may be slightly limited compared to a traditional dwelling, making your tiny home work for you is equally important. Making it safe in every aspect is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Safe and smart also go together. Here are just a few things to consider when it comes to a creating a smart home in a safe environment.
Being As Cost Effective As Possible
The tiny home movement boasts on one very important feature—energy conservation. Most tiny homes are heavily insulated and provide outstanding R-values when it comes to keeping the interior a comfortable and desirable temperature. The result is less energy to heat, power and cool your home. There are additional ways to be as energy savvy as possible, including:
- Programmable thermostats
- Monitoring, like what this home security Phoenix company offers, which includes checking for fire, flood and CO levels (too bad they aren’t in the LA area)
- HVAC systems with an electrostatic or HEPA air filter. Replace your furnace filters on a regular basis for the highest level of efficiency.
- Solar panels and correlating heating system
- Energy efficient doors and windows
- Light filtering curtains and blinds
- Heated flooring systems
As you design or add on to your tiny home, choose features that will make your home work smarter for you and your lifestyle.
Making Convenience A Priority
Part of having a smart, tiny home work for you is by making convenience a main priority. This means less time working on maintenance issues and repairs and more time enjoying your space. One thing to address is your heat source. Because your living area is likely under 1000 square feet, consider installing a solar heating system that works in unison with your existing heating source, such as hot water heat or propane. Choose an automated lighting system that turns lights on at certain times. This will help you conserve energy, save time and reduce waste at the same time.
Securing The Premises
Creating a safe haven at home starts with an optimal security system. Sit down with a home security specialist to go over what your personal security needs are. Some questions to ask may be:
- How can a security system protect my children from predators or intruders around my tiny home?
- I have a small family and live on a budget. How can I get the most value for my money?
- Will my new security system work remotely?
- Is there a way I can be alerted when someone is trying to enter my home?
Most systems start with a main hub in which you can control all of your home’s security programs from a central location. They can also be accessed on multiple programs including your remotely, from your smart phone. Motion detectors help to alert you of others prowling in and around your property. Closed-circuit TVs or wireless HD cameras can also monitor who is physically present, making them easy to identify no matter what time of the day it is. Door and window sensors can help alert you of a potential breach and keep you informed around the clock. Because every security system is different, ask about different packages. Most security companies will create a system that is tailored to your needs, so you won’t get unwanted items that you’ll never use.
Making Your Smart Home Work For You
The U.S. Department of Energy states that as smart technology advances, more consumers will move toward home energy generation systems. But for now, part of creating a safe and efficient home environment is to set up a simple home automation system that meets your needs. This starts with a central hub system, typically connected to your home security unit that helps control:
- Room by room lighting
- Temperature including operation of your HVAC system
- Appliances
- Electronics connected to the main hub or gateway
Just because your space is small, doesn’t mean that you can’t access certain areas remotely. Gain control over the electrical devices in your home by controlling them through a home automation system. The result is a safer environment for your entire family.
Safety and intelligence go hand in hand. Keep your tiny home secure and efficient so you can have a successful home life.
