- Category:
Home Energy Savings - Published:
July 19, 2022 - Updated:
July 28, 2022
What Are Smart Blinds?
If you are asking yourself, what are smart blinds, we’ve got answers–and tips that can help you think about putting them in your house. Smart blinds cover your windows like regular blinds, but they can be opened and closed using an app on your smartphone or by giving a command to your smart home system. They are something to consider as you set up your smart home.
How do smart blinds work?
Wondering how smart blinds work? Smart blinds connect to your smart home or smartphone wirelessly. The controls communicate with a motor that opens and closes the blinds. The motor is driven by a power source, such as a solar panel, battery pack or a wall socket and your home electrical system. When you give a command or set a program, the motor goes to work to open, close or shift the angle of the blinds.
Do smart blinds help save energy?
One of the benefits of motorized blinds, especially smart blinds connected to a smart home system, is that they can save you serious money off your heating and cooling expenses. You want to close them in the summer to reduce the excess heat coming into your home from the sun, however, the reverse is true in the winter.
Automating smart blinds by using smart systems to sense sunlight and temperatures is superior to trying to remember when to open and close them yourself. In fact, the average energy usage for heating and cooling was much lower in homes using smart blinds; about 871 watts per day. The same study found that people using manual blinds used 2573 watts per day. If you’re wondering if smart blinds are worth it, these savings alone tell you all you need to know.
5 benefits of smart blinds
Now that you know what smart blinds are, let’s look at the key benefits of motorized blinds. Before you convert blinds to smart blinds or buy new smart blinds, consider what you can gain by adding them to your energy-saving strategies for smart homes.
1. Control your blinds easily and conveniently
Today’s smart blinds are easy to install and use. Your home will become more comfortable with very little effort.
2. Conserve energy
When you control the heat coming into your home from the sun and also control heat lost through poorly insulated glass windows, you put less strain on your HVAC system all year. When you incorporate them into your plan to follow these tips for saving energy in the summer, your systems don’t have to work so hard, reducing your energy consumption–and costs.
3. Improve safety
Many styles of smart blinds operate without cords, which can be hazardous to pets and children. They can be a big part of making your smart home kid friendly.
4. Increase home security
When you program your shades and blinds into your smart assistant routines for while you are gone, you can fool burglars watching your house into thinking you are at home. Closing ground floor blinds can hide valuables from sight, making your home less attractive as a break-in target. They are key to keeping your smart home secure.
5. Expand your smart home system
You can integrate smart blinds with your smart home system so that they work together with other smart devices. For example, you can increase energy efficiency by coordinating your smart blinds with your lights and thermostat. When your blinds and lights work together, you also enhance safety by giving your home a lived-in look.
How much do smart blinds cost?
The answer to the question of how much you will need to spend on smart blinds depends on what features you want, materials, the size of your windows, if you are buying new or want to convert blinds to smart blinds.
Factors to consider when shopping for smart blinds
With so many choices, here are the key considerations to keep in mind when choosing smart blinds for your home.
- Cost. You can buy budget models for around $150 and models with many features and choices for over $500.
- Light filtering capability. Some blinds filter a little light. Others black out light completely. You will find a range of options in between those extremes.
- Power source. You can hard-wire the blinds and plug them into your smart home wiring. You can also opt for solar-powered and battery-operated models.
- Style or design. Blinds come in many styles, colors and materials to fit your decor.
- Materials. Higher quality materials will add to the cost, but may increase durability.
- Warranty. It’s nice to have the company backing their product if something goes wrong.
Can you convert regular blinds to smart blinds?
If you’re concerned about how much smart blinds cost, one budget-friendly option is to convert blinds to smart blinds. Learning how to automate existing blinds is easy if you buy kits specially designed for this purpose. You can convert three or four regular blinds for the cost of buying one low-cost smart blind.
Options for automating your existing blinds
Most smart blind conversion kits have a motor that you attach to the opening and closing mechanism. Different kits work for on-chain and roll-up blinds, as well. Once you have installed the automation component, you will connect it to the smart component. Some come with a controller and others with an app you can put on your phone.
Are smart blinds worth it?
Because of the cost-saving, safety, comfort and convenience benefits of smart blinds, they deserve a top-ranking spot on your home automation list. They are definitely one of the smart home devices that are worth it and can be counted among smart home upgrades that increase property value. When you can reduce your consumption of electricity below the average home power usage, you can save money and help the environment.
