How Tech Can Help You Create A Smarter, More Sustainable Home

Here are my top tips for making your home a little smarter and saving yourself a lot of headache in the process.

A smart air filter, though on the pricier side, tops my list for smart home upgrades. Good air quality can revolutionize your health and cut your chances of seasonal illnesses significantly. Molekule is a sleek, modern, portable air purifier designed to filter dust, dander, and toxins. I think it's the best option on the market today—and you can connect it directly to your iPhone or Android to control it remotely.

According to a 2011 study in the Journal of Neuroscience1, competing stimuli in the brain, which can come from an overwhelming number of lingering tasks, can lead to burn-out. Installing a smart hub can help you stay on top of your to-do list and stay calm. Tell Alexa on an Amazon Echo to add things to your calendar (and pair it with smart plugs and the ecobee smart thermostat to maintain control over your surroundings with simple voice commands), or ask Google Home to read you a recipe as you're cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

And perhaps the most important tech addition to consider is a smart security device. These deliver peace of mind by providing a window into what's happening in and around your home. With security technology like Nest, Ring, or ADT’s smart security system, you can check the perimeter of your home, set or deactivate your alarms, and even speak to someone at your door from your desk or kitchen. These devices are also discreet enough to blend into the flow of the rest of the home, yet effective in the event of an emergency.

Smart technology offers us the ability to streamline our living and working environment, allowing us freedom from small, simple stressors that can easily be avoided. With the ability to use voice commands to set reminders to your to-do list, you can clear up more space in your head for the important stuff. Thanks to the ability to set timers on everything from your air purifier to your smart curtains, you'll no longer need to think about your surroundings since they'll modify themselves based on predetermined settings. As we continue to harness exciting, up-to-the-minute, energy-saving tech, we clear space in our minds that ultimately makes room for happiness to take root.