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I've looked at some home automation products and for the life of me I can't imagine the products being at all useful.

I have a security system, timer outside lights... I considered maybe putting something together so that when I walked around the house the music could follow me from room to room.  It didn't seem worth the trouble.

So what are some examples of home automation you find useful?

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My friend has a phone app that he can control his heating and air conditioning from. Saves him quite a bit in his big house on gas and electric.

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Home automation is actually home integration.



Security system, the contacts on doors and windowas are also used for automation tasks.

When you change modes on the security system, it changes lights and HVAC settings, locks doors, closes the garage door, warns you if exterior doors or windows are still open.

An alarm sends other signals

Burglar alarm: all lights come on except for the Master Bedroom which go off if on, all fans in the house turn off, the driveway light blinks to attract police.

Fire alarm: all lights come, all exhaust fans in the house turn on to remove smoke, HVAC goes off to prevent spread of smoke, the driveway light blinks to attract fire.

Flooding alarm:  secures master water valve and water heater power

Freeze alarm: Secures master water valve and water heater power, increases HVAC heat setpoints

IP cameras send e-mails with snaps when they detect motion in driveway, or in premises

Security system sends e-mail/text messages for a variety of events.

Open a closet door, the light goes on automatically, and off when the door closes.

Walk in the laundry room with your hands full, the lights go on and turn off when you leave.

The phone rings or someone rings the door bell and the volume on the sound system mutes.

It starts raining and the sprinklers go off, they stay off for a number of days relative to the amount of rain received.

Vehicle sensors give notice when a car enters driveway, brightens lights at night, send text message if you aren't home.

Press one light switch and a bank of lights go on at various levels.

Program reminders for filter replacements, HVAC, Water, refrigerator, and smoke detector battery.

Operate Christmas lights on a schedule.  The outlets are only hot during the period 1 Nov to 15 Jan, just hang the lights and plug them in.

Cell Phone backup for the security system also operates as backup house phone.



Lots of things can be integrated and interactive so one system affects another and the house oeprates holistically rather than a bunch of independent systems..