A smart housing system connects and coordinates home technologies such as lighting, WiFi, security, audio, video, climate control, shades, entertainment, and automation so they can be managed more conveniently as part of one connected home.
Smart Housing System: Quick Answer
A smart housing system is an integrated collection of connected devices, controls, networks, and automation technologies used to manage different functions throughout a home. Depending on the installation, the system may control lighting, automated shades, thermostats, cameras, security, music, televisions, home theater equipment, WiFi, and other connected technologies.
What Does a Smart Housing System Do?
The purpose of a smart housing system is to make home technology easier to control, automate, and coordinate.
Instead of treating lighting, entertainment, security, climate control, and networking as completely separate technologies, a properly designed system can connect compatible components into a more unified experience.
Homeowners may then interact with the system through smartphones, tablets, wall controls, touchscreens, remotes, voice assistants, smartwatches, automated scenes, or scheduled routines.
What Does a Smart Housing System Include?
Smart housing systems can be customized around the needs of the homeowner and property. Common components include:
Smart Lighting
Connected lighting systems can provide dimming, schedules, scenes, whole-room control, and automated lighting routines from wall controls or smart-home interfaces.
Automated Window Shades
Motorized shades can be opened or closed automatically, controlled remotely, or coordinated with lighting scenes and other home systems.
WiFi & Home Networking
A reliable network provides the connectivity foundation for smart televisions, speakers, security cameras, mobile devices, automation systems, streaming equipment, and other connected technology.
Security & Surveillance
Connected cameras, remote viewing, smart motion alerts, and other security technologies can help homeowners monitor their property from home or while away.
Whole-Home Audio
Audio systems can distribute music to multiple rooms and outdoor areas while allowing homeowners to control sources, volume, and zones from convenient interfaces.
Home Theater & Video
Televisions, projectors, surround sound, streaming equipment, speakers, and smart controls can be integrated into a more streamlined entertainment system.
Central Home Automation
Automation allows compatible systems to work together through scenes, schedules, routines, or centralized controls instead of requiring separate commands for every device.
How Does a Smart Housing System Work?
A smart housing system connects compatible technologies through wired networks, wireless networks, control processors, smart-home platforms, device integrations, and software.
The system receives commands from the homeowner or from predefined automation rules and then communicates those commands to the appropriate devices.
This allows several home technologies to respond together rather than forcing the homeowner to operate every system independently.
What Is an Example of a Smart Housing System?
Imagine a homeowner leaving the house for the day.
A single “Away” command could turn off selected lights, lower or adjust shades, change the thermostat, turn off televisions and audio equipment, activate exterior lighting, and adjust compatible security settings.
The homeowner can trigger the routine from a wall control, smartphone, touchscreen, or another compatible interface instead of manually adjusting every system.
What Is the Difference Between a Smart Housing System and a Smart Device?
A smart device is an individual connected product such as a thermostat, speaker, light switch, camera, or smart lock.
A smart housing system combines multiple devices, controls, networking components, and automation technologies into a larger connected environment.
The system is the complete connected-home experience, while individual smart devices are components within that system.
What Is the Difference Between a Smart Housing System and a Smart Housing Platform?
The terms are closely related but describe slightly different concepts.
A smart housing system refers to the complete collection of connected technology installed throughout the home.
A smart housing platform is typically the control or integration layer that helps compatible devices within that system communicate and work together.
In simple terms, the system includes the home’s connected technology, while the platform helps manage and coordinate that technology.
What Are the Benefits of a Smart Housing System?
- Convenience: Control several household technologies from fewer interfaces.
- Automation: Create scenes and schedules for recurring tasks.
- Remote access: Monitor or control supported systems while away from home.
- Comfort: Coordinate lighting, shades, climate, music, and entertainment.
- Security: Add cameras, remote monitoring, and connected security technology.
- Entertainment: Simplify whole-home music, televisions, streaming, and home theater.
- Connectivity: Build stronger infrastructure for connected devices throughout the home.
- Scalability: Expand compatible technology as the homeowner’s needs change.
Why Is WiFi Important to a Smart Housing System?
Modern smart homes can contain dozens of connected devices, including televisions, speakers, cameras, mobile phones, computers, streaming equipment, and automation technology.
All of these devices place demands on the home’s network.
Weak WiFi coverage or an unreliable network can result in buffering, slow response times, disconnected cameras, and smart-home devices that fail to respond consistently.
Professional networking can help provide the coverage, speed, and reliability needed to support a complete smart housing system.
How Does Lutron Fit Into a Smart Housing System?
Lighting and automated shades can be important components of a connected home.
Lutron systems can provide centralized lighting control, dimming, scenes, schedules, automated shades, and integration with compatible home technologies.
These controls can become part of broader routines that coordinate lighting with climate, entertainment, security, and other connected systems.
Learn more about ALS Smart Housing automation services →
Can Audio and Video Be Part of a Smart Housing System?
Yes. Audio and video are common components of professionally designed smart homes.
Whole-home music systems can distribute audio to individual rooms, groups of rooms, or outdoor spaces. Home theater systems can combine high-definition displays, surround sound, streaming equipment, and smart controls.
When entertainment systems are integrated with the rest of the smart home, homeowners can manage music, televisions, lighting, and other compatible functions more conveniently.
Can Security Be Integrated Into a Smart Housing System?
Yes. Security cameras, remote viewing, smart motion alerts, exterior lighting, and other compatible technologies can be included in a broader smart-home environment.
Connected security provides homeowners with greater visibility into their property and can make it easier to monitor supported systems while traveling or away from home.
When security is integrated with lighting, networking, and automation, several technologies can work together as part of a more complete connected-home system.
Professional Smart Housing Systems vs. DIY Smart Devices
DIY smart devices can be useful for simple projects, such as installing a smart speaker, camera, thermostat, or connected light.
Professional smart housing systems are typically more appropriate when homeowners want multiple technologies to work together throughout an entire property.
A complete system may involve enterprise-grade networking, structured wiring, lighting controls, automated shades, whole-home audio, home theater, security cameras, equipment racks, and centralized automation.
Professional integration focuses on creating a reliable system that is simple to use rather than a collection of unrelated smart devices.
Should a Smart Housing System Be Planned During New Construction?
New construction and major renovations provide an excellent opportunity to plan smart-home infrastructure before walls and ceilings are finished.
Early planning can help determine the ideal locations for network wiring, WiFi access points, speakers, televisions, cameras, lighting controls, shades, thermostats, equipment racks, and other connected technology.
Planning ahead can also make future expansion easier and reduce the need for modifications after construction is complete.
Can a Smart Housing System Be Installed in an Existing Home?
Yes. Many smart-home technologies can be added to existing homes without requiring a complete renovation.
The best installation approach depends on the home’s existing wiring, network infrastructure, electrical system, construction, and current technology.
A professional evaluation can help determine which systems can remain, what infrastructure should be upgraded, and how new technology can be integrated with the existing home.
How Do You Choose the Right Smart Housing System?
The right smart housing system should be designed around the property and how the homeowner wants to live.
Important considerations include:
- Home size and layout
- Existing network infrastructure
- WiFi coverage requirements
- Lighting and shade control
- Audio and video needs
- Home theater requirements
- Security and camera needs
- Remote access requirements
- Desired level of automation
- Future expansion plans
- Ease of use for residents and guests
Professional planning can help match the technology to the home rather than forcing the homeowner to manage a collection of incompatible devices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Smart Housing Systems
What is a smart housing system?
A smart housing system is an integrated collection of connected devices, controls, networking, and automation technologies used to manage different functions throughout a home.
What does a smart housing system include?
A system may include smart lighting, automated shades, WiFi, networking, security cameras, thermostats, whole-home audio, televisions, home theaters, and centralized automation.
Does a smart housing system require WiFi?
Many smart-home technologies rely on WiFi or network connectivity, although professionally installed systems can also use wired connections and dedicated control technologies.
Can a smart housing system be controlled from a phone?
Many systems provide smartphone control. Depending on the installation, homeowners may also use tablets, smartwatches, wall controls, touchscreens, remotes, or voice assistants.
Can a smart housing system control an entire home?
Yes. Properly designed whole-home systems can manage compatible technologies across multiple rooms, floors, and outdoor living areas.
Can smart housing systems be installed in older homes?
Yes. Many existing and older homes can be upgraded with smart-home systems, although the available options depend on wiring, network infrastructure, construction, and existing equipment.
Is professional smart-home installation worth it?
Professional installation can be especially valuable when a project includes networking, lighting automation, whole-home audio, home theater, security, cameras, shades, and multiple technologies that need to work together reliably.
Smart Housing Systems in Connecticut
ALS Smart Housing provides smart-home systems and connected-home technology for residential houses and apartment buildings in Fairfield County and New Haven County, Connecticut.
Available solutions include professional Internet and WiFi systems, home audio and video, home theater, security systems, Lutron automation, lighting and shade control, and related smart-home technology.
Whether you need a focused technology upgrade or a more complete whole-home automation system, ALS Smart Housing can help design a connected system around the property and the way you use your home.
Build a Smart Housing System Around Your Home
Talk with ALS Smart Housing about professional WiFi, lighting automation, security, home audio and video, home theater, and integrated smart-home technology.
