CLEVELAND — If you're looking for a warm getaway this weekend (and I mean local), the Great Big Home and Garden Show at the I-X Center isn't a bad option.
They have everything you need to improve your homes interior, exterior, and landscaping. But if you're like me, the focus is on the smart solutions.
Here are 3 products that stand out for me:
First up is home automation. Appliances, thermostats, lights, music, entertainment systems and even window shades in your home can be controlled from a single smartphone app. Companies like Xtend Technologies often custom solutions for homes large and small.
I really like the outdoor options (even though you can't enjoy them all year in Cleveland). There are outdoor TVs, sound systems, and custom lighting.
Next up, your smart home should make money for you. That's where solar panels come in. When you install solar panels, UV rays from the sun are captured and converted to electricity to be used in your home.
Better yet, if you're panels are able to generate more electricity than you use, the power companies may actually pay you. How's that for smarts?! Power Home offers product installations of all sizes and can calculate how many panels you need to get the job done, and how long it will take for the panels to pay for themselves.
Finally, there's my favorite tech item for the home -- the Husqvarna Auto mower. It's like a Roomba vacuum for your yard. And while the company doesn't call it a "smart" mower, it definitely is.
When you make the purchase, Husqvarna will install a wire in your yard to set a boundary (similar to an invisible fence for animals). Then they turn on the Auto Mower and let it do its thing.
The mower will learn your yard and constantly cut the grass (an 1/8 inch at a time) keeping it the same length all year. It even knows how to get back to it's charger before the batteries die. Any device keeps me from having to push a mower sounds smart to me.
But if these items don't fit your needs, there are plenty of other home improvement needs at the Great Big Home and Garden Show. The show is at the I-X Center until February 10, 2019. Don't miss the opportunity to see all the ways you can make your home smarter.