Abstract

Smart home technology (SHT) is the term that usually refers to digital or automated devices that provide services to household occupants to make their daily lives easy. Smart homes have recently become a hot topic in the technology world. They are under discussion regarding their impact on climate change and especially on the sustainability of buildings. Moreover, what cultural barriers may impede their adoption, or embed more carbon-intensive lifestyles? But most importantly does smart home technology fulfill the sustainability goals? Based on the different collected datasets this research article focuses on the different aspects of smart home technology along with its influence on sustainability. In this way, we focus on more advanced and innovative technology design so as to implement SHT completely within our homes by keeping in view the sustainable goals as well.

Introduction

In a world fully covered by Alexa, ChatGPT, and smartphones, smart technology has become a vital part of our lives and recently the use of smart home sustainable technology has been taken into account and is under different political discussions as well. In small ways, green technologies have already found their way into our homes and cities. Sustainable smart technology, then, refers to using these advanced technologies to reduce the harmful impact of modern life on our environment. From smart HVAC systems to motorized windows, these inventions cater to a fast-paced world as living conditions deteriorate.

Research significance

Due to climate and sustainability aspects, it has become necessary to cover homes with advanced technologies and for that reason, there is a desperate need to dive deep into this subject as these smart home initiatives can be vital in minimizing the carbon footprint.

What is SHaaS?

Smart Home as a Service (SHaaS) is a collection of services that collects data and analyzes the family lifestyle and how they use their home and by that data, it makes intelligent decisions to make homes safe, comfortable, and energy efficient.

SHaaS’s role towards an eco-friendly environment

SHaaS surely is bringing the transition in our homes by implementing the technology within our homes to make it look like a tech world but as we focus on the big picture, we can witness its role in reducing the use of our planet’s natural resources and our carbon footprint. SHaaS simply uses sensors and a cloud network which is beneficial for both the occupants and most importantly for our planet. Some areas where SHaas is providing its services in an efficient way are mentioned below.

Water

Take the example of a water heater because if the water heater starts to leak and it keeps leaking for long intervals then it can become the cause of wasting water, inefficient heating, and high-water bills.

By using the SHaaS sensor technology with actuators and controlling the source of water the smart home can alert the homeowner and control the power and water systems that feed it. The same method applies to the frozen water pipes. If the cloud network notices the flow of water inside the pipes without anyone present inside the home it can alert the homeowner and turn off the water flow at the main valve.

Electricity

It is another domain where SHaaS provides environmental benefits. A green home would easily detect how and when the power is used in the tech home and manage the power consumption based on the collected data. For example, the home would make sure A/C and heating systems are not in use until someone is home, and would automatically open and close window shades or curtains to adjust for the sun and the season. A smart home power system can easily analyze which devices are actually consuming the most electricity and simply disconnect them when no one is using them.

Occupants

A smart home can have environmental benefits in subtle ways, as well. Families with an older parent who lives alone can make use of smart technology to have a complete awareness of their daily being so they won’t find any need to travel across the city by means of any transport thus reducing carbon emissions.

How SHaaS supports sustainability

New technology, composed of sensors and analytics, is empowering smart-home solutions that learn from the people who live there. These systems can easily make predictions about our future behaviors and can implement the ways that can make our lives more comfortable and control environmental impacts. Smart homes allow their consumers to practice sustainability by following the SDGSs and so exerting greater control over the way resources are used in their homes.

Smart home automation: Embracing sustainable technology

Sustainable living is becoming very significant as we face climate change due to environmental problems like air pollution and emission of CO2. The aim is to minimize ecological risks and create products that contribute to a healthier planet.

Therefore, in order to cope with these environmental issues and in order to provide sustainability here are some key smart devices that support sustainable living.

Smart thermostats

Smart thermostats are very essential for maintaining a cozy indoor temperature. They analyze our current state and adjust the cooling and heating to improve air quality also reduce energy consumption.

Smart lighting systems

Smart lighting offers numerous benefits for sustainability. These energy-efficient systems have a better life as compared to conventional bulbs and are adjusted or customized for brightness intensity. They also comprise features that automatically turn off the lights where there is no need thus saving energy.

Smart plugs

Smart plugs are very vital in managing large appliances like geysers, microwaves, and televisions. You can turn these devices on and off remotely or adjust them to turn on only when needed, reducing energy waste.

Smart blinds

Automated window coverings can be adjusted based on the time of day and outside conditions. This helps optimize natural light in your home, reducing the reliance on artificial lighting and saving energy.

Challenges and considerations

Smart home technology has a vast number of benefits but on the other hand, it has some drawbacks as incorporating the sensors and other smart network can be costly as certain smart appliances can cost up to US$10,000, such as a smart fridge. Apart from that smart home devices tend to collect the user data such as patterns of living. The methods of use of this data and the way it is used the most importantly who can access it is alarming.

While the idea of adopting smart home technology is surrounded by some barriers in terms of cost and data privacy, the aim of creating a more sustainable planet with smart homes comes with many benefits, including energy efficiency, lower emissions, smaller carbon footprint, and better control over a home environment.

Future aspects

The world is advancing and so are our needs. Climate change nowadays is the most discussed problem globally and has drawn the attention of researchers to develop smart ways that can be valuable in making a difference in our daily lifestyle as we all believe modern problems require modern solutions.

With each passing day, green technology gains momentum. As our homes become more sustainable and energy efficient, it will become evident that sustainable smart home technology is the reliable solution say it of intelligent windows or cloud network within the premises of home to manage the use of home utilities.

Smart sustainable tech isn’t just a fleeting trend in fact it has popped up in recent years as a prominent way to make our environment clean and green plus it is a complete win for businesses, consumers, and the planet; the next ten years will welcome an acceleration of innovation.

Conclusion

Smart home technology is a game changer for a sustainable lifestyle. By incorporating smart devices like thermostats, lighting systems, sensors, and cloud networks one can create an eco-friendly environment inside the home. The benefits of smart homes are not limited only to the walls of homes but to the outside business world as well. Embracing these new trends can help make our lives more convenient, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to a healthier planet by accomplishing sustainability goals.

References

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266627872100012X  https://sustainly.com/sustainable-smart-technology/ https://www.mwrf.com/technologies/embedded/systems/article/21848145/how-smart-homes-can-deliver sustainability-as-a-service

https://www.rusehome.com/smart-home-automation-blogs-articles/sustainable-technology-eco-friendlysmart-homes

https://www.iot-now.com/2024/04/22/144080-smart-home-technology-saves-money-and-helps-protect the-planet/