As a Florida resident and tech savvy smart home enthusiast, I have learned a lot about how smart devices can make living in the Sunshine State better. Granted, home automation is a good deal no matter where you live. Devices of all sorts can make homes safer, more comfortable, and more efficient. But in Florida, there are some key devices we really can’t live without.
If you live in Florida and are considering investing in home automation, I recommend you check out this post on the Vivint website. It was written a couple of years ago, but it is still very informative to anyone looking for the best home automation devices for Florida homes.
In the meantime, allow me the opportunity to explain my thoughts on the matter. Here are the smart home devices I feel are most important in the Sunshine State:
1. The Smart Thermostat
The device that takes the top spot in my book is the smart thermostat. Here in Florida, we experience temperature extremes quite frequently. It can be above 90°F in the middle of the day before dropping into the 50s during the overnight hours.
Constantly having to remember to manually adjust the thermostat is a drag. You can program your thermostat, but the programming doesn’t necessarily keep up with the temperature swings we experience. But a smart thermostat capable of adjusting to a changing routine and current weather does.
Another thing to consider are the winter temperatures. Yes, it can get comparatively cold here during January and February. Overnight temperatures in the 30s are not abnormal. But with a smart thermostat, I don’t have to remember to switch to heat and set a new temperature before I go to bed.
2. Automated Lighting
Second on my list for Florida residents his automated lighting. Why? Because our weather affords us plenty of opportunities to go out and do things. Many of us work all day and then head for the evening hours. And at weekends, we can be out quite late.
I didn’t go out much when I lived up in New York, especially during the late fall and winter. By contrast, my kids were shocked to find out how frequently I go out down here in Florida. Automated lighting has proved indispensable to my new night owl lifestyle.
I have programmed lights to go on and off at certain times. I also have motion sensitive lighting outside. And finally, I can control interior lighting remotely with my phone. So now I never return to a dark house.
3. Smart Irrigation
Lastly, irrigation is a big thing during Florida winters. We get very little rain, so we have to rely on sprinkler systems to keep the grass from dying. Smart irrigation lets us program our systems the same way we do lighting and thermostats. Then we can simply forget about them.
Smart irrigation accounts for how much rain we’ve had, so my controller can be left running even during the rainy season. That is a big plus. And if I ever want to completely shut it off, I can do so with a voice command. This is important because we face water restrictions from time to time. A quick word turns off my irrigation system without me having to go out to the shed to do it manually.
I am sure there are other smart home devices that are more important in other parts of the country. But for me, Florida living demands smart thermostats, automated lighting, and smart irrigation. They are the top three devices for smart homes in the Sunshine State.