Living in a smart home is not just about security, customised entertainment or smart cooking appliances – a properly set up smart home can have a significant impact on your health.
Trevor Brewer, director of leading lifestyle technology company, Solenco, says the smart home market in South Africa is experiencing a steady growth trajectory driven by customers increasingly demanding convenience, energy efficiency and security in their homes.
South Africans have embraced the concept of smart homes, with statistics from Statista showing that almost 70% of homes in the country will have at least one form of smart home technology by the end of the year.
“Smart tech can transform our health and wellbeing, and with winter upon us, issues like cleaning, heating, clean air and the formation of mould need to be addressed,” Brewer says.
Brewer offers some ideas for homeowners to use smart technology in their homes for maximum health benefits:
Cleaning: Winter turns our homes into a cesspool of dust and pet dander, both of which play havoc with allergies. A robotic vacuum cleaner, already used for their convenience, are increasingly important to homeowners in protecting their health. “The act of vacuuming itself can be a trigger to those suffering with allergies. Quality robotic cleaners offer the convenience of remote control through an app, and by investing in one with smart mapping technology, allows for customisation and scheduling at your convenience,” Brewer says. “Look for one with thorough corner-cleaning capabilities, like the Hobot Legee Q10’s corner killer side brush, where dust and dander is particularly difficult to capture,” he says.
Breathing easy: Winter produces some of the worst indoor air quality because we close windows and rely on heating systems. Brewer says this is due to poor ventilation which traps pollutants (volatile organic compounds or VOCs, carbon dioxide and allergens) inside. These pollutants can become concentrated, increasing the risk of respiratory issues, headaches, and other health problems. Smart air purifiers can track and monitor the quality of your air, adjusting its settings to effectively capture pollutants, odours, VOC’s and airborne viruses, even when you’re not home. “Ensure the smart air purifier you invest in comes with advanced filtration systems, including an H13 HEPA filter and UV-C Light technology,” advises Brewer.
The right temperature: An overly hot room stresses your circulation system (children are especially vulnerable here), while air that is too dry promotes colds and inflammation, Brewer explains. “A smart heater with Wi-Fi integration not only allows you to track energy consumption, but allows for precise temperature scheduling and control, to ensure optimal heat at the right time,” he says. “Some smart heaters like those in the Mill range, have predictive heating, which learns your home’s heating patterns to achieve desired temperatures at scheduled times.”
Banish the mould: Brewer says more than half the respondents in a Solenco customer quiz said mould and damp air are issues most concerning to them. “There is a growing demand for smart dehumidifiers that act to both monitor humidity and automatically trigger dehumidification to prevent the growth of mould. These devices can even target areas very specifically, like focusing on moisture extraction from a particular side of a laundry drying rack. We know that mould can lead to some nasty health issues like persistent coughing, respiratory diseases and fungal infection,” he says.
“Having a smart home is being energy efficient, sustainable and healthy. Smart technology largely takes the guesswork out of our hands, allowing homeowners to get on with their lives,” he says.
