From HDB flats and landed properties to trendy smart homes, technology has weaved its way into our everyday lives, transforming our lifestyles and living spaces. Even though the idea of the smart home has been around for years, and many homeowners find the appeal in living in a connected home equipped with some of the coolest technology, a fully functional smart home in Singapore is still a rare sight. But why is this so? We explore the differences between a traditional home and a smart home, and which one triumphs over the other in certain aspects.

Back in the day, kampung houses were a common sight. Today, soaring skyscrapers and urban sprawls have taken over and finding a cluster of squat bungalows feels like something of a time capsule. And what seemed to only be a scene from a movie, is now a physical reality – we’re talking about smart homes. A traditionally built apartment or landed property might seem extremely similar to a smart home on the outside but it is safe to say that the difference between both is night and day. What are these differences, and if we were to battle certain aspects out, which would reign champion?

General Differences Between Traditional and Smart Homes

There is no denying that equipping a home with smart technology is a great way to distinguish a property from all homes in the neighbourhood. Ensuring security for homeowners, boosting the productivity of smart offices, and increasing comfort and convenience are just a few of the many benefits of leveraging smart home technology. In a traditionally built home, you’ll have to manually turn on the air conditioner, get yourself up from the bed to close the curtains, walk across the hall to switch the lights on or off – the list of things homeowners will have to do manually is endless. But these are all eradicated with ease when you live in a smart home. With a press of one button or a few taps on your mobile phone, you can have your home do it all for you. But is this one-step wonder offered by smart homes actually better for you in terms of practicality and function? Let’s battle it out!

1. Air Quality: Opened Windows vs Smart Sensors

Of course, with the pandemic, we are obligated to wear masks. But that does not mean that we should no longer pay attention to the air quality in a space. This is especially so in our homes, where we spend most of our time. When it comes to indoor air quality, most homeowners tend to keep potted plants or dehumidifiers. While indoor plants act as natural air filters that minimally improve the air quality of your home, nothing beats the effectiveness of smart devices that quite literally saves lives. Installing smart gadgets such as a gas detector and a smoke sensor keeps your home safe and alerts you of any gas leaks or smoke. Talk about doing more than merely improving air quality!

Winner: Smart homes

2. Security: Lock and Key vs Smart Locks

Ensuring that your home is safe and secure is a must even though Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. While metal gates and door locks commonly seen in HDB flats do deliver on their function of keeping everything locked, break-ins still do occur. And let’s not forget those moments where we forget or misplace our keys. A smart lock allows you to open and unlock doors without any keys. With fingerprint biometric locks, one-time passwords, and other features, not only will the issue of forgetting your keys be nipped in the bud but so will the possibility of forced entry. Smart locks are also capable of storing door opening records, which means that you can even keep your home secure while on vacation!

Winner: Smart homes

3. Comfort: Electric Fan vs Smart Air Conditioner

Individuals overseas and tourists might be in awe of Singapore’s tropical weather, but the heat and humidity can get the best of us. While electric fans and standard air conditioners are one way to beat the heat, nothing feels more uncomfortable than returning to a stuffy house. With smart home automation and smart technology like smart plugs and IR blasters, you will be able to control electronics like your air conditioner, standing fan and more via the HomeAuto app. Schedule your air conditioner and electrical plugs to perform a particular task at a specific time of the day to ensure your home is cool before your return!

Winner: Smart homes

Integrating your home with a smart home system has many benefits. As seen from the comparison made between traditional homes and smart homes, it is clear to see that smart home automation promises alternative options to our usual way of living, and offers great convenience at an affordable cost.

Have queries about HomeAuto and our smart home automation solutions? Contact us at [email protected], and our assistants will offer you more information on how to design a smart home system in Singapore that will take your traditional home to the next level.