"Smart Home" Devices and why electricians should become familiar with them
What are they?
Technology is constantly changing and developing, it's hard to keep track of the latest phone, the latest gadget and now we have a new emerging market..."Smart Home" devices. It started with smart meters that track your household usage of gas and electric and give the homeowner an estimated bill. These devices turned out to be very useful and successful, so much so that the government has issued that everyone in England, Scotland and Wales should be offered them at no upfront cost in the next few years!
It used to be that "Smart Home" technology was expensive and too technical; however, smart technology is becoming more affordable and obtainable for everybody. Currently, 41% of UK homes have at least one connected device installed and by 2020, that figure is estimated to rise to 10 connected devices per household...
"Smart Home" Technology, what does this mean for electricians?
With the rise of household devices such as Alexa by Amazon, it's not hard to see how this interconnectivity between devices and your home is possible. Currently, you can connect Alexa to; lighting, plugs, the 'Ring' doorbell and even heating!
The demand for these devices is only set to increase, this is because they offer such benefit to homeowners. Having the ability to completely control heating, track energy usage and so on means that consumers have more control over how they spend resources at home. This could potentially help people to save money, avoid inconsistent bills and feel more connected to their usage of things like gas and electric.
Why should electricians pay attention?
Well, firstly there will always be a need for skilled and knowledgeable installers. If the number of homeowners purchasing similar smart technology continues to grow, there will be a huge demand for installers! Not everyone is technically able and some of the devices such as the smart meters, for example, require a more technical understanding. That's where you come in! This could be a great way to earn some extra income.
Unsurprisingly, according to some recent statistics, 66% of homeowners would rather pay to have their smart devices connected and installed in their home, rather than tackle it themselves.
You could even take this further, there is an opportunity for electricians to spend time training and testing products regularly, you can become an expert in smart home technology and tailor smart solutions to meet your customer's needs. You could even start a company that is purely focused on smart device installations as there will be a huge market for it in the coming years!
The training we offer:
We do not currently offer electrical courses in smart device installations, however, at Able Skills, we have everything you could need to become a professional electrician. If you are already an electrician and you are looking for training in the 18th Edition wiring regulations or possibly an NVQ we have you covered!
We offer a huge range of electrical courses and packages that will keep you up to date, qualified and professional. It doesn't matter what skill level you are currently at, even if you have no experience whatsoever but you would like to start a career in the field, we even run an Introduction to Basic Domestic Electrics. This 10-day course is City & Guilds recognised, meaning that you will receive a certificate upon completion.
Want some more information?
If you need some more information on any of the electrical courses talked about in this article or for any enquiries about our training centre you have a few options. Firstly, you can call us and get in touch with a representative on 8081003245. We are open every single day between the hours of 8:30 - 4:30!
Secondly, if you would prefer to speak to a member of staff in person about any of our electrical courses, we would be more than happy to show you around our facilities and answer any questions you may have! We are based in Dartford a short walk from the train station:
K5, Riverside Industrial Estate, Riverside Way, Dartford DA1 5BS