Quoting Treccani, domotics consists of the study and application of a complex of technologies based on computer and electronic engineering, with the aim of creating a series of integrated devices to automate and facilitate the performance of various operations usually carried out in a building. These technologies use information obtained from a computer network to which the building must be connected.

Automation applied to the domestic context facilitates the inhabitant, allowing him to carry out an enormity of actions even remotely: thanks to domotics, it is possible to scan the perimeter of one's home, control one's household appliances or activate an irrigation system.  One of the functions that are most likely to have a positive impact on reducing energy consumption is the ability of some devices to control the temperature inside buildings or homes and to adopt intelligent heating or cooling methods: indeed, a second aspect that is more related to awareness of one's consumption behavior would seem to be relevant. As home automation devices can collect data and make it available to the user, some research has revealed that as soon as consumers have statistics on their domestic consumption and their consumption habits, the consumer seeks to intervene by modifying behavior that he or she deems unpleasant or to be improved3.

What are, then, these functions thanks to which home automation generally saves on electricity consumption?

First of all, for example, a home automation system allows the lighting system to be activated only when it detects the presence of someone in the room; it is also possible to set different temperature profiles for each season and activate them only when the rooms are actually lived in; again with regard to the domestic microclimate, it is significant in terms of reducing consumption that the temperature of each room can be set according to its function and use; adjusting the internal temperature according to the external temperature by means of sensors on the windows. One of the advantages of having a smart home lies in the fact that the system prioritises the various actions and devices connected, thus deactivating the less useful ones if there is a risk that an electrical overload could lead to a blackout.


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“Home automation offers users the opportunity to actively participate in accessing and controlling their environment. This is achieved by providing users with tangible means for energy saving, perimeter security, data access and control of household appliances. As an energy management tool, home automation synchronises the technology platform with practical benefits, such as the ability to reduce home electricity bills by controlling household electrical loads. The capability is further enhanced by the provision of remote access and resource management. This is possible if the user's desired features include access via a web application and mobile software application..”

 

Home automation systems have been improved in recent years, and progress in this area is mainly attributable to the explosion of interest in the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT - which literally translates as the Internet of Things - can be defined as the network of objects that physically exist within which there are devices capable of connecting and sharing data with other objects or systems on the Internet, such as sensors, software or other technologies. One of the main advantages of the IoT is that these smart objects do not require any expertise on the part of the consumer, in fact they are able to collect and exchange data autonomously and without the need for human intervention.

Despite the potential benefits of installing a home automation system, the costs that the consumer incurs are still quite exorbitant. However, new methods are being advanced that can reduce the price: this is the case, for example, of home automation systems for which no proprietary software is provided. 

Low-cost home automation can be achieved by programming an algorithm on an Arduino and basing the whole system on GSM, Ethernet, etc. networks. Although programming requires special skills, it does, in its own way, conceal an advantage: the user-programmer can modify the code of his own system and thus vary its behaviour and capabilities. As far as the graphical interface is concerned, these low-budget systems can be modelled graphically using HTML or by programming in Android.

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At this link (https://www.instructables.com/Smart-home-with-arduino/) you can read how you can make a small home automation system that can detect indoor and outdoor temperatures, whether windows are open or closed, and whether it is raining outside, producing the sound of an alarm.

Ultimately, smart homes and smart cities can be an additional resource in the fight against climate change, as they can be efficient in many functions, including smart energy saving: in this case, not only do they help reduce emissions harmful to the planet, but they also increase the quality of life of those living in automated homes.

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3 Mukendi H.K., Adonis M. (2018). Smart homes and sustainable cities: the design of a low-cost solution for comprehensive home automation, https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/61771