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• Weekly Lawn Maintenance
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Shrub Trimming, Planting, Pruning
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M
ixed materials, textures and technology are just a few
of the major home trends in 2018. Homeowners are
foregoing selling and updating their current homes with
fresh ideas and innovative technologies. Thinking of
upgrading a room or two? Check out 2018’s trends in home features
and furnishings.
SMART HOME
The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to a growing network of
devices that allows objects to connect and exchange data. These
devices are increasing at a rapid pace throughout many industries.
Wearables allow consumers to track their steps and keep a closer eye
on their fitness, and connected cars are equipped with internet access
to send information to manufacturers or, as seen on the streets of
Pittsburgh, to drive themselves. The smart home is one of the most
popular and accessible markets for IoT application.
• Everything is connected: This can include heating and cooling
your home, turning on a light with a simple command, locking
your front door from work, even checking to see if you have milk
in the refrigerator from the grocery store. These are all features
that make up a smart home. The list continues to grow, with
ways to track and monitor everything in your home. Devices are
learning how you live—when you get up and when you leave
for work—and can adjust room temperatures, turn off lights and
safeguard your home. All of which can be monitored from your
smart device.
• Energy tracking devices: These devices connect to your
electricity meter to monitor how much energy you’re using, from
tracking appliance usage to providing recommendations on how
to save on energy. If cutting down on bills is on your list for 2018,
a household monitor or individual appliance monitor may be just
what you need.
• Residential electric vehicle charging stations: Growing in
popularity, hybrid and electric vehicles need somewhere to
charge up before hitting the open road. These charging stations
are accessible at home, allowing you to charge from a typical
household socket. With advancing technologies, higher voltage
charging stations are available to charge a car as much as four
times faster than a typical charging station.