From Sustainable Materials to Smart Homes: The Future of Luxury Real Estate

Smart Home Advancements: What's Coming

The “Internet of Things” has evolved quickly over the last decade, connecting homeowners to their dwellings in ways that seemed impossibly futuristic only decades before. With the touch of a button or a simple voice prompt, a connected home will allow a homeowner to turn off and on lights, set thermostats, monitor camera systems, and so much more.

The same technology that we use daily to connect wirelessly to the internet has grown in scope to give control over a growing number of electronic devices, pairing well with the use of sustainable building materials that are also growing in popularity amongst luxury developers. With so much progress already underway, it’s exciting to know that there’s more to come. Here is what to expect in the coming years with smart-home technology.

When you’re in a home that has been outfitted with smart technology, the bandwidth remains consistent. This helps foster the seamless reaction your connected devices have to commands and the stable Internet connection you enjoy. But what about the devices you might want to have connected when they are removed from the home?

The New York Times reported in 2021 that Amazon’s “Sidewalk” concept will help to bridge that gap. For instance, suppose you have a Tile Tracker for monitoring a pet or child. While in range of your home’s wifi, these devices will enjoy a consistent connection. Once they are away, the connection will be disrupted. The Sidewalk that Amazon is developing will keep these, and other devices, constantly connected. This will be made possible by borrowing a small bit of bandwidth from every household that the devices come within range of.

For those who might be leery of sharing bandwidth with strangers, Amazon insists that you can opt out with every device. Furthermore, there will be a cap of 80 kbps and 500 MB each month. This should alleviate fears of this sharing slowing down any of the connected devices in your home. These connections will be anonymous as well. No one will be able to see your devices connect to their bandwidth, and you will not see anyone that connects to yours.

The current smart technology has made it possible to have less of a carbon footprint at home. Remotely controlling your lights and monitoring your thermostats paves the way to cut energy consumption, saving you money and keeping fewer carbon releases out of the environment. Experts forecast that this will only improve over time as this tech advances.

Newsweek reports that the future of the Internet of Things is to bring “bright and low power, long-range, and cost-effective” devices into homes, helping to reduce carbon emissions while, at the same time, improving service.

The seemingly constant evolution of these devices and smart technologies is only part of what the future of luxury smart homes holds, however. When it comes to environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness, sustainable materials for high-end real estate deserve more than just a passing mention.

Homes should be built to last. One look around an older city will show you just how many dwellings and commercial structures have stood the test of time. With wood, brick, or stone, these buildings are sometimes hundreds of years old, proving that the original owner really did get their money's worth.

However, not all materials are environmentally sustainable. The future of luxury homes might look a bit different as some builders are aiming to be more ecologically friendly, using some pretty innovative ways to source and use materials that leave less of a carbon imprint. Recycled and reclaimed materials seem to be trending now more than ever.

Precast concrete has been shown to be a less energy-consuming way to use this durable foundation material in construction. While used primarily in the construction of large commercial buildings and public infrastructure, these prefabricated slabs are slowly being popularized for large homes and apartment buildings.

Anyone who loves a wood finish will be happy to know that there are ways to get organic materials for their homes without harvesting trees en masse. Reclaimed wood for shelving, furniture, and even flooring is beginning to become more popular in the real estate scene. Additionally, alternative sources like bamboo are also seeing an uptick in prevalence.

One sustainable material for high-end real estate that has seen its demand soar over the last 20 years has been solar panels. These flat squares can be seen on many rooftops in luxury neighborhoods and throughout the open fields adjacent to many subdivisions. The technology has improved monumentally over the past several years, resulting in a demand that has seen record-breaking growth for the industry. The technological improvements have only been part of what has driven more and more homeowners and commercial developers to install methods of harnessing the sun’s energy. Tax credits have certainly helped, too.

Currently, it takes around three years of solar panel usage to offset the carbon emissions generated during their construction. Experts predict that this will continue to decrease, making these panels even more eco-friendly. Solar panels save energy by allowing sunlight to generate electricity; thus, a home with these panels does not have to use electricity from the power grid. Some homes even generate more energy than they are able to use, making them completely energy independent.

The purchase of a luxury home isn’t one that you should take lightly. So, team up with an expert who lists high-end homes as their specialty.

If you are seeking a luxury home, consult with trusted Realtor Amy Nease. Her years of expertise in the luxury real estate market will be put to great use in helping you find the home of your dreams. Recognized as one of the top 1.5% of Realtors in the United States, Amy is the professional you want by your side.