Home Security Gets "Smarter" In 2016
Think the primary job of an electrician is installing light switches? Think again. In fact, electricians offer a wealth of expertise when it comes to designing, installing, maintaining and troubleshooting your home's electrical wiring. And as technology continues its meteoric march forward, so do innovations in the electrical field. One area growing by leaps and bounds for electricians today? Home security and the "smart" home phenomenon. Read on to learn more about the evolving landscape of home security, and how an expert electrician can help you safeguard your home.
An Industry On the Rise
According to independent market research and business intelligence company Memoori, the value of the physical security business in 2015 reached a staggering $27.25 billion, and is projected to climb to a whopping $42 billion by 2020.
Video surveillance equipment led the pack in 2015 with $14.68 billion in sales accounting for 54 percent of security product world sales. Intruder alarms and access control followed at $6.4 billion and 23.5 percent of the market and $6.13 billion and 22.5 percent of the market, respectively.
Industry watchers, meanwhile, predict that changes in everything from knowledge and encryption methods to data and connectivity mean these security methods will become more effective, efficient and user-friendly moving into the future.
But these figures pale in comparison to what's ahead for the smart home industry. Comprising security as well as energy management, convenience and comfort, the "smart" home market is predicted to reach $58.68 billion by 2020, according to market research report leader MarketsandMarkets.
Should You "Smarten" Up Your Home?
According to icontol's "2015 State of the Smart Home Report," security is a primary factor for 90 percent of consumers when upgrading to "smart" homes, and with good reason: The security benefits of smart homes are profound. After all, who wouldn't want the peace of mind of being able to remotely check in on what's happening at home from any location?
Other "smart" home systems let you activate and deactivate your system from afar -- making it easier than ever to let in your dog walker or visiting friends. Additionally, many "smart" home security systems will even notify you via the method of your choice upon identifying any unusual activity within your home.
Parents, in particular, are discovering unexpected advantages in switching to "smart" home security, such as granting (or limiting) access to certain areas of the home at specified times and/or monitoring the comings and goings of kids.
Programmable indoor and outdoor cameras, remote control interior and exterior lighting, and smart home integration, meanwhile, offer added security by allowing homeowners to link all systems -- from fire to personal emergency response -- into one central monitoring and management tool.
Beyond Security
But the benefits of "smart" homes aren't limited to security. In a world with more demands than ever before, the ability to turn lighting and appliances on and off via voice recognitions offers unparalleled convenience.
And then there's the matter of energy efficiency. "Smart" thermostats let you remotely control your home energy consumption offering the perfect mix of comfort and cost savings. Some even sync with appliances for real-time insights into the most cost-effective usage. This not only means more money in your pocket, but also a healthier, more sustainable planet.
While going "smart" with your home security system can seem like a significant investment, a broad range of products at increasingly affordable price points are opening the door to more homeowners than ever before. An experienced electrician can work with you to identify and install a smart home system designed to stay within your budget while meeting both your individual security concerns and overall home automation needs.