getty
Home-based smart technology, once considered a luxury or a “nice-to-have” feature, is becoming increasingly commonplace. Advances in technology, especially the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, have transformed the way people interact with their homes, whether they are on premises or not.
With more than 45% of all households in the U.S. using smart home devices in 2023, today’s innovative technologies could soon become standard fixtures in new home construction. Below, 15 members of Forbes Technology Council predict which smart-home technologies and tech services new homeowners will come to expect as basic features within the next decade.
1. Remote-Access Automated Systems
Automated systems that can be controlled from elsewhere are up-and-coming home features. It is likely that builders will start installing them in luxury homes, and then automated heating systems, washing machines and dishwashers, as well as audio and lighting systems, will become safety features for when people are away from home. Later, they will hopefully become the norm! – Reynier Matos Padilla, Aument.io
2. The Integration Of Alternative Energy Sources
The ability to remotely control temperature and lighting to optimize energy utilization is a key feature in smart home construction. The integration of solar-based energy and charging stations for electric vehicles is equally becoming a key feature in purchase attractiveness as standards increase. Intelligent construction that enables environmental sensitivity is central to tomorrow’s intelligent buildings. – Dax Grant, Global Transform
Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
3. AI-Powered Indoor Environmental Control
AI-powered intelligent home automation systems are likely to become standard. Our homes will sense how our living spaces should be adjusted based on our needs. These systems will control various aspects of the home, such as lighting, temperature, security and entertainment, without today’s apps or controls. – Alexey Dubov, Mighty Buildings
4. Intelligent Thermostats
Intelligent thermostats will be standard in all new home construction, as the cost savings will become increasingly important. Certain forms of automation will remain luxury items, but anything that dramatically impacts the cost of living will become the norm. As a result, there will be many other options that become available in the market in the coming years. – Lewis Wynne-Jones, ThinkData Works
5. Automated Equipment Monitoring
Automation for monitoring the operability of equipment based on its energy consumption will become standard in new home construction. For example, if your air conditioner suddenly starts consuming a lot more electricity in its usual preset mode, it’s probably time to call a professional. When this occurs, the AI can solve the issue and call a specialist on its own, only informing the residents when a technician is on the way. – Pavel Orlov, Innowise Group
6. Technology To Predict And Optimize Energy Usage
Given the rising concerns in environmental sustainability issues, using AI and machine learning models to predict and optimize energy usage within the home will become a standard fixture in new homes. Having such AI technology will help residents optimize their energy consumption to save money and also help build a more sustainable planet. – Somdip Dey, Nosh Technologies
7. Video Surveillance Systems
Video surveillance is so common these days, future homes will be built with whole-home systems designed into the plan. Doorbells and outdoor and indoor cameras will become more powerful with advanced features such as zooming, panning horizontally or tilting vertically. This does raise questions about privacy, and those issues will likely become headlines until a standard is adopted or legislated. – Lior Yaari, Grip Security
8. Green Technology
Taking into consideration the current reality, I am confident that more and more smart home solutions will focus on green technology and improving the environmental impact of each property until this becomes the norm in the real estate industry. The state of the environment is reaching a level that we can no longer ignore, intentionally or unintentionally. – Peter Abualzolof, Mashvisor
9. Habit-Learning AI-Powered Platforms
The next evolutionary step will be in home automation, with AI-powered platforms that serve as the “brain” of a home learning about residents and coordinating and automating all of their various smart gadgets. For example, new homes might have AI software that tracks a person’s habits, such as their music listening preferences over the course of the day, in order to automatically play just the right playlist at the right time. – Cristian Randieri, Intellisystem Technologies
10. Built-In Wireless Charging And USB Ports
Power distribution will start to account for the many USB devices we have, with more outlets installed that include USB ports, and more outlets in general in hubs such as kitchens and offices. Wireless charging will be built into countertops and desk nooks in strategic places, or the aforementioned USB ports will be utilized to leave regular outlets open for traditional appliances. – Luke Wallace, Bottle Rocket
11. Centralized Home Automation
I believe home automation will become a standard fixture in new homes. Home automation allows homeowners to control their entire home from a single device. This includes controlling lights, appliances, security systems and more. Home automation is becoming increasingly popular among homeowners and is slowly becoming a standard feature in new homes. – Fabio Moioli, Spencer Stuart
12. Off-Grid Power
If California is any indication—and to a more extreme extent, Ukraine—the need for homes to be off-grid will become a standard for new homes moving forward. Solar- or geothermal-powered homes with backup batteries, coupled with smart electric distribution management, would be great for the environment while also mitigating risk by reducing the abilities of countries to target power plants to sway military efforts. – Carl Hung, Season Group
13. Smart Meters
Smart meters boost efficiency, reduce costs and are environmentally friendly. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them integrated into heating, illumination, water and basically every service inside a home. – Jacob Mathison, Mathison Projects Inc.
14. Emergency Notification Systems
I believe emergency notification systems will become a standard fixture in new homes in several years. These systems use advanced technology, such as wireless sensors and real-time monitoring software, to provide homeowners with up-to-the-moment information about potential threats such as fires, floods or intruders. – Sandro Shubladze, Datamam
15. ‘Water Independence’ Solutions
Homes in the future will increasingly be built to be more “water independent.” This means that in the next five to ten years, new homes, especially those in suburban areas, will begin implementing solutions to allow for wastewater and rainwater storage and the reuse and recycling of all water consumed in a home. Smart home systems will manage water capture and treatment processes and meter water usage accordingly. – Malcolm Hawker, Profisee
