Combine Home Security with Energy Savings, Using Alarm.com

During 20-plus years working in home security, I’ve been watching the slow evolution of alarm technology. But today I’m more excited than ever about the latest developments - alarm systems do more, and do it better. First came safer cellular monitoring, and then smarter interactive features, like apps, remote arming, and notifications. Then came video services that allow you to view your home remotely, and that can even send you motion-activated video clips. The latest additions to fully-featured home security include home automation and energy management – and are bringing real savings along with convenience. This recent press release from Alarm.com, FrontPoint’s technology partner, tells the story.

According to ENERGY STAR, the average annual energy bill for a typical single family home is approximately $2,200, – 58 percent of which is dedicated to heating, cooling and lighting. The good news for homeowners seeking to reduce this significant expense is that a home automation and energy management solution is easier and more convenient than ever to integrate with an interactive home security system. Not only can consumers control lights, locks and thermostats remotely from a computer or smartphone, they can also set up schedules to make their homes smarter and even conserve energy at the same time.

How it Works

With advanced triggers and rules features, consumers can define custom settings that connect their security system to their locks, lights, and other automation devices. Here are three key ways consumers can utilize their home energy controls and leave planning anxiety behind:

See the Light

By integrating home automation with a security system, it's simple to manage lights from afar or have a home control the lights itself. Set up custom rules and schedules based on other activity at home like alarms, arming events or sensor activity. For example, when a family member comes home and disarms the security system, the light in the front hallway can be set to turn on automatically adding a layer of security and comfort to the nightly routine of entering a home. Or if activity is detected by motion sensors upstairs, the upstairs lights can be set to turn on automatically as well. For additional protection on top of a security system, consumers can automate the lights to turn on and stay on for thirty minutes if a security alarm is triggered.

Lock it Up

Home automation solutions can also assist in locking and unlocking doors in a home. One useful application is setting a security system to disarm automatically if the front door is unlocked. For extra supervision, a user can customize these settings even further by specifying the applicable times of day and the days of the week. For example, a security system can disarm whenever the front door lock is unlocked between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on weekdays. If you know when a guest or the contractor will be stopping by, set up unique lock codes for them and have the security system disarm only if those specific codes are used to unlock a door. Plus, users can be notified via text message or email of this activity. Finally, for added peace of mind, lock one door lock and have that action trigger the rest of the door locks in a home to lock simultaneously.

Know What's Cool

You can integrate not just lights and locks into security system settings, but also thermostats. What's really cool is that with just one click to arm the security system from an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry device, all the lights in a home can turn off, the thermostat can cool the house down, and all the doors can lock. Just like that: 1, 2, 3, 4 steps in one click. Versatile home automation schedules and powerful security rules can do more than make life easy; they can help you stay secure and stay connected while running a home more efficiently and simplifying daily routines. While out and about on your day-to-day activities, your home will be busy making automated choices of its own. Smarter energy decisions and convenient, customizable control of lights, locks and thermostats are here – and affordable.

You can see why we continue to put Alarm.com’s brilliant technology at the core of every FrontPoint system. FrontPoint starts with Safer cellular monitoring and Smarter interactive features, and adds Simpler and More Affordable to the mix. And remember, only Alarm.com offers the patented Crash and Smash protection that is virtually impossible to defeat. FrontPoint and Alarm.com – the perfect combination for peace of mind and real energy savings. Just one more reason why FrontPoint is the #1 ranked alarm company in the US. And speaking of temperature, we think that’s very cool.