There’s little escaping the fact that climate conditions are changing. The result is that many homeowners are experiencing more frequent and more extreme weather events than they may be used to. Unfortunately, this can lead to property damage and safety issues, among other issues.
The good news is that you can safeguard your home and your family with technology. Advances in electronic devices in recent years have produced a range of solutions. Some of these are tools you can install throughout your home, while others operate on an infrastructural level. We’re going to guide you through a few of the elements worth knowing about.
Keeping your property secure and everyone in it safe is a priority when looking at how weather-resilient your home can be. In recent years, there have been significant advances in technologies that support home storm security. Many of these are static items, such as stronger storm doors and shatter-resistant windows. But there are also electronic tools, many of which use devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) for automation and data collection.
Some of the options here include:
One of the hazards of strong storms and changing climate conditions is that air quality can be disrupted. Dust and debris get kicked up, allergens—like pollen—are prevalent, and wildfires produce smoke. When either of these enters your home, it may negatively impact your family’s health.
Smart air quality systems can use sensors to monitor the levels of particulate matter and other pollutants, while integrated apps provide you with up-to-date quality information so you can take action. When purifiers are connected to the system, the software can automatically adjust purification levels to fit the current conditions.
When it comes to protecting your home, knowledge is power. Rather than relying purely on regional weather reports, there are devices on the market that give you real-time insights into the changing weather conditions around your home.
These can be relatively simple and user-friendly tools, like wireless weather stations, that display wind speeds, temperature, and humidity data. There are also more complex smart weather tracking systems that use various sensors in the IoT throughout your property to collect precise data about your home’s microclimate. These tools then interact with connected apps to give you insights about condition trends in the past several hours. As a result, you generally have a better idea of how your local weather is likely to change that day.
In the near future, these tools are likely to be increasingly supported by artificial intelligence (AI). Using machine learning algorithms, AI software is already able to monitor conditions, analyze historical data, and make predictions on weather events. When these become integrated into smart home systems, such as smart thermostats, they’ll empower you to take more informed and timely precautions about how to best keep your home safe, efficient, and secure.
Electronic methods are not just involved in monitoring and reacting to extreme weather conditions. They’re also increasingly being used to make the building itself more resilient on an infrastructural level. Indeed, the advances in green construction materials are helping to ensure that the technology doesn’t just make your home more robust, but also mitigates unnecessary additional damage to the environment.
Sustainable and protective tools are emerging in various areas of home resilience, from supporting heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to AI-driven architecture planning methods. Let’s look at a couple of prominent examples.
One of the problems with traditional HVAC systems is that they can be vulnerable to strong storms and other weather events. Outdoor units can be damaged by wind and debris and vents can become blocked, among other issues. Radiant heating and cooling technology is built into the floor of your home, providing more protection from the elements. Radiant tech is also more energy-efficient than traditional HVAC systems.
The coming years are likely to see extremes of heat and cold. Electrochromic glass—also known as smart glass—automatically adjusts its transparency depending on climate conditions. In cooler and darker periods it becomes transparent to let in more heat and light. Conversely, if you’re experiencing extreme heat, the glass tints to keep the home cool. This boosts your family’s comfort as the weather changes, while also keeping your energy expenses lower.
One of the risks related to weather and climate is the potential for your utilities to be disrupted. Strong storms can take out above-ground power lines. Extremes of heat and cold can put more demand on grids or damage equipment. The onset of climate change is also expected to cause more blackouts in some locations. Given that so much of our day-to-day activities and comfort is dependent on electrical systems, one of the ways you can make your home more resilient is to invest in utility backup systems.
Traditional gas-powered generators are an option here. However, the more sustainable and technologically advanced approach is to use solar power backup systems. In essence, this involves installing solar panels either on the roof of your home or in an open area with good access to sunlight. The panels use the hours of sunlight to generate energy, storing electricity in one or more batteries. These batteries are connected to your home electricity system, allowing you to switch to the backup when grid blackouts occur.
If you can’t quite stretch your finances to solar power your entire home, there are also portable solar generators available. These are smaller units that you can charge using portable panels, either when you get an early warning of oncoming storms or other events. While these won’t power your entire home, you can plug devices into them. This means you can keep phones, computers, and even hotplates powered during unexpected blackout periods.
Technology can offer powerful support systems to keep your home and family safe from extreme weather conditions. This ranges from smart tools that keep you abreast of threats to green construction materials that make your property more resilient. Remember, too, that technology is constantly changing. By keeping up-to-date on new advances—alongside maintaining awareness of likely climate shifts in your area—you can take a more proactive approach to home resilience.
The post The Role of Electronics in Weather Resilient Homes: Integrating Technology for Enhanced Safety and Infrastructure appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
The good news is that you can safeguard your home and your family with technology. Advances in electronic devices in recent years have produced a range of solutions. Some of these are tools you can install throughout your home, while others operate on an infrastructural level. We’re going to guide you through a few of the elements worth knowing about.
Sensors and safety
Keeping your property secure and everyone in it safe is a priority when looking at how weather-resilient your home can be. In recent years, there have been significant advances in technologies that support home storm security. Many of these are static items, such as stronger storm doors and shatter-resistant windows. But there are also electronic tools, many of which use devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) for automation and data collection.
Some of the options here include:
Advanced air quality monitors and purifiers
One of the hazards of strong storms and changing climate conditions is that air quality can be disrupted. Dust and debris get kicked up, allergens—like pollen—are prevalent, and wildfires produce smoke. When either of these enters your home, it may negatively impact your family’s health.
Smart air quality systems can use sensors to monitor the levels of particulate matter and other pollutants, while integrated apps provide you with up-to-date quality information so you can take action. When purifiers are connected to the system, the software can automatically adjust purification levels to fit the current conditions.
Weather tracking devices
When it comes to protecting your home, knowledge is power. Rather than relying purely on regional weather reports, there are devices on the market that give you real-time insights into the changing weather conditions around your home.
These can be relatively simple and user-friendly tools, like wireless weather stations, that display wind speeds, temperature, and humidity data. There are also more complex smart weather tracking systems that use various sensors in the IoT throughout your property to collect precise data about your home’s microclimate. These tools then interact with connected apps to give you insights about condition trends in the past several hours. As a result, you generally have a better idea of how your local weather is likely to change that day.
In the near future, these tools are likely to be increasingly supported by artificial intelligence (AI). Using machine learning algorithms, AI software is already able to monitor conditions, analyze historical data, and make predictions on weather events. When these become integrated into smart home systems, such as smart thermostats, they’ll empower you to take more informed and timely precautions about how to best keep your home safe, efficient, and secure.
Smart Construction
Electronic methods are not just involved in monitoring and reacting to extreme weather conditions. They’re also increasingly being used to make the building itself more resilient on an infrastructural level. Indeed, the advances in green construction materials are helping to ensure that the technology doesn’t just make your home more robust, but also mitigates unnecessary additional damage to the environment.
Sustainable and protective tools are emerging in various areas of home resilience, from supporting heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to AI-driven architecture planning methods. Let’s look at a couple of prominent examples.
Radiant heating and cooling
One of the problems with traditional HVAC systems is that they can be vulnerable to strong storms and other weather events. Outdoor units can be damaged by wind and debris and vents can become blocked, among other issues. Radiant heating and cooling technology is built into the floor of your home, providing more protection from the elements. Radiant tech is also more energy-efficient than traditional HVAC systems.
Smart Glass
The coming years are likely to see extremes of heat and cold. Electrochromic glass—also known as smart glass—automatically adjusts its transparency depending on climate conditions. In cooler and darker periods it becomes transparent to let in more heat and light. Conversely, if you’re experiencing extreme heat, the glass tints to keep the home cool. This boosts your family’s comfort as the weather changes, while also keeping your energy expenses lower.
Utilities Backups
One of the risks related to weather and climate is the potential for your utilities to be disrupted. Strong storms can take out above-ground power lines. Extremes of heat and cold can put more demand on grids or damage equipment. The onset of climate change is also expected to cause more blackouts in some locations. Given that so much of our day-to-day activities and comfort is dependent on electrical systems, one of the ways you can make your home more resilient is to invest in utility backup systems.
Traditional gas-powered generators are an option here. However, the more sustainable and technologically advanced approach is to use solar power backup systems. In essence, this involves installing solar panels either on the roof of your home or in an open area with good access to sunlight. The panels use the hours of sunlight to generate energy, storing electricity in one or more batteries. These batteries are connected to your home electricity system, allowing you to switch to the backup when grid blackouts occur.
If you can’t quite stretch your finances to solar power your entire home, there are also portable solar generators available. These are smaller units that you can charge using portable panels, either when you get an early warning of oncoming storms or other events. While these won’t power your entire home, you can plug devices into them. This means you can keep phones, computers, and even hotplates powered during unexpected blackout periods.
Conclusion
Technology can offer powerful support systems to keep your home and family safe from extreme weather conditions. This ranges from smart tools that keep you abreast of threats to green construction materials that make your property more resilient. Remember, too, that technology is constantly changing. By keeping up-to-date on new advances—alongside maintaining awareness of likely climate shifts in your area—you can take a more proactive approach to home resilience.
The post The Role of Electronics in Weather Resilient Homes: Integrating Technology for Enhanced Safety and Infrastructure appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
