If you’re not already including numerous smart Wi-Fi features in even your most basic home models, you’re missing an opportunity to add value without adding big costs.
The rise of smartphone app interfacing has brought home technology on a budget into easier reach for homeowners.
I remember, 25 years ago, tagging along with a home automation installer on one of his custom jobs in southern Maine. Back then, making a home “smart” was a luxury reserved for the very high end of the market, and involved many hard-wired modules, touch screens and specialized expertise. Clients came to my installer looking for home theaters, not energy efficiency.
Those days are long past. Thousands of Wi-Fi-enabled home products are available, many of them simple to install. The problem of different platforms still exists but has been mitigated greatly by the smartphone. Phones have become the de facto remote control for almost every piece of smart-enabled equipment. That’s good news for builders and their trades.
Also, a lot of products, even those by different manufacturers, can be unified through platforms like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, or Samsung SmartThings. There’s still a place for super-turnkey smart systems such as Panasonic’s new OASYS platform, particularly in higher-end homes, but the little guys have a foot in the door, too.
In other words, if you’re squeezing your construction budget but want to offer a “smart” home, you can mix brands on smart-enabled products. For example, you may run the heat pumps with a Carrier thermostat, run a Rheem hybrid heat pump with its EcoNet app, and add a low-cost interconnected fire protection system from X-Sense. Buyers are familiar with apps (for the most part), so it’s not a hard sell to demo house controls on their own phones, making them feel like they’re in control when the house is complete.
Let’s take a hypothetical new house—“Efficient 2K”—and break down how you might employ smart systems at a modest cost.
The “Efficient 2K” Smart Home Plan
House Profile: • 2,000 square feet • 3 bedrooms / 2.5 baths • All-electric • Tight building envelope • Ducted mini-split HVAC with ERV • Central smart home hub and mobile app integration
Here’s how our affordable smart home might be actualized:
A. Smart Thermostat: The Brain of Climate Control
What it does: Adjusts heating and cooling based on occupancy, time of day, and even weather forecasts. Learns patterns over time.
Product examples: Nest thermostat or ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced—around $130-$190. Other products from Uponor can also control radiant heating and cooling.
Energy impact: Up to 10 percent savings on heating and 15 percent annually on cooling (EPA estimate).
Why it works for builders: Easy to install, integrates with most systems, and intuitive for homeowners.
Nest thermostats were one of the first on the scene to “learn” from behavior.
B. Room Sensors: Precision Without Wires
What they do: Track temperature, humidity, motion, and occupancy in each room.
Placement: Bedrooms, main living space, and home office (3-5 total).
Energy impact: Improves comfort without overheating or overcooling underused areas.
Bonus: Enables zoning-like behavior without expensive zoning systems.
Tech companies continue to expand low-cost sensor and hub options. These devices from Aqara work with the Zigbee 3.0 hub. CREDIT: Courtesy of Aqara<
C. Smart Door Keypads + Lock Integration
What they do: Keyless entry with user codes; can trigger “away” mode to reduce HVAC and turn off lights when no one is home.
Product examples: Schlage Encode or Yale Assure Lock 2—$150-$250.
Why it matters: Boosts security and helps automate energy savings when the house is unoccupied.
The Schlage Encode smart lock can be controlled remotely and with other gadgets such as smart watches and smartphones.
D. Whole-Home Smart Lighting (Zoned or Scene-Based)
What it does: Allows homeowners to create scenes like “Evening,” “Away,” or “All Off.” Controlled via app, voice, or wall switches.
Approach: Focus on living spaces, kitchen, and exterior lights—15-20 key fixtures.
Cost estimate: Using smart switches (such as Lutron Caséta): $60-$80 per switch.
Why it works: Simplifies control and saves power. Scene setting is more intuitive than individual bulb control.
Lighting controls are becoming more widely available and easy to install, including those from established brands such as Lutron. CREDIT: Courtesy of Lutron
E. Smart Plugs + Appliance Monitoring
What they do: Measure and control energy use of key appliances (e.g., coffee maker, media center, space heaters).
Where to use: TVs, home office equipment, and other always-on devices.
Product examples: TP-Link Kasa or Eve Energy smart plugs—$20-$30 each.
Builder benefit: Easy to install and show off during walkthroughs. Homeowners can see real-time energy use.
Smart plugs offer remote control over energy waste and low-budget security. CREDIT: Eve Energy
F. HVAC + Ventilation Dashboard
What it is: A simple, centralized dashboard (via app or touchscreen panel) that combines HVAC, ERV/HRV, and humidity controls.
Why it’s needed: Most homes have poor ventilation management. These systems link fresh air with comfort, tying air quality to ventilation activation and climate control.
Product examples: Panasonic OASYS (for larger budgets); Broan-Nutone Overture for mid-range installations (approximately $2,000 for a basic system).
User benefit: Enables homeowners to fine-tune air quality without becoming HVAC experts.
G. Leak + Freeze Sensors in Risk Zones
Placement: Under sinks, near water heater, basement sump pit.
Function: Alerts homeowners if water is detected—critical in cold climates or vacation homes.
Product example: Flo by Moen, approximately $700 installed.
Value add: Protects the home and helps insurance discounts in some states.
Leak detectors not only identify and in some cases shut off leaks, but they also lower insurance premiums by as much as $500 annually.
For about $4,265 (a very rough approximation for illustration purposes), builders can deliver a full-featured smart home energy system with tangible benefits to the homeowner—and a compelling selling point in competitive markets. Integration hubs such as Alexa, Samsung SmartThings or hard-wired control panels from Brilliant can unite many apps under one interface.
Veteran journalist Matt Power has reported on innovation and sustainability in housing for nearly three decades. An award-winning writer, editor, and filmmaker, he has a long history of asking hard questions and adding depth and context as he unfolds complex issues.
Smart Home Integration—A La Carte
If you’re not already including numerous smart Wi-Fi features in even your most basic home models, you’re missing an opportunity to add value without adding big costs.
The rise of smartphone app interfacing has brought home technology on a budget into easier reach for homeowners.
I remember, 25 years ago, tagging along with a home automation installer on one of his custom jobs in southern Maine. Back then, making a home “smart” was a luxury reserved for the very high end of the market, and involved many hard-wired modules, touch screens and specialized expertise. Clients came to my installer looking for home theaters, not energy efficiency.
Those days are long past. Thousands of Wi-Fi-enabled home products are available, many of them simple to install. The problem of different platforms still exists but has been mitigated greatly by the smartphone. Phones have become the de facto remote control for almost every piece of smart-enabled equipment. That’s good news for builders and their trades.
Also, a lot of products, even those by different manufacturers, can be unified through platforms like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, or Samsung SmartThings. There’s still a place for super-turnkey smart systems such as Panasonic’s new OASYS platform, particularly in higher-end homes, but the little guys have a foot in the door, too.
In other words, if you’re squeezing your construction budget but want to offer a “smart” home, you can mix brands on smart-enabled products. For example, you may run the heat pumps with a Carrier thermostat, run a Rheem hybrid heat pump with its EcoNet app, and add a low-cost interconnected fire protection system from X-Sense. Buyers are familiar with apps (for the most part), so it’s not a hard sell to demo house controls on their own phones, making them feel like they’re in control when the house is complete.
Let’s take a hypothetical new house—“Efficient 2K”—and break down how you might employ smart systems at a modest cost.
The “Efficient 2K” Smart Home Plan
House Profile:
• 2,000 square feet
• 3 bedrooms / 2.5 baths
• All-electric
• Tight building envelope
• Ducted mini-split HVAC with ERV
• Central smart home hub and mobile app integration
Here’s how our affordable smart home might be actualized:
A. Smart Thermostat: The Brain of Climate Control
What it does: Adjusts heating and cooling based on occupancy, time of day, and even weather forecasts. Learns patterns over time.
Product examples: Nest thermostat or ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced—around $130-$190. Other products from Uponor can also control radiant heating and cooling.
Energy impact: Up to 10 percent savings on heating and 15 percent annually on cooling (EPA estimate).
Why it works for builders: Easy to install, integrates with most systems, and intuitive for homeowners.
Nest thermostats were one of the first on the scene to “learn” from behavior.
B. Room Sensors: Precision Without Wires
What they do: Track temperature, humidity, motion, and occupancy in each room.
Placement: Bedrooms, main living space, and home office (3-5 total).
Product examples: ecobee room sensors or Aqara Zigbee sensors —$25-$40 each.
Energy impact: Improves comfort without overheating or overcooling underused areas.
Bonus: Enables zoning-like behavior without expensive zoning systems.
Tech companies continue to expand low-cost sensor and hub options. These devices from Aqara work with the Zigbee 3.0 hub. CREDIT: Courtesy of Aqara<
C. Smart Door Keypads + Lock Integration
What they do: Keyless entry with user codes; can trigger “away” mode to reduce HVAC and turn off lights when no one is home.
Product examples: Schlage Encode or Yale Assure Lock 2—$150-$250.
Why it matters: Boosts security and helps automate energy savings when the house is unoccupied.
The Schlage Encode smart lock can be controlled remotely and with other gadgets such as smart watches and smartphones.
D. Whole-Home Smart Lighting (Zoned or Scene-Based)
What it does: Allows homeowners to create scenes like “Evening,” “Away,” or “All Off.” Controlled via app, voice, or wall switches.
Approach: Focus on living spaces, kitchen, and exterior lights—15-20 key fixtures.
Cost estimate: Using smart switches (such as Lutron Caséta): $60-$80 per switch.
Why it works: Simplifies control and saves power. Scene setting is more intuitive than individual bulb control.
Lighting controls are becoming more widely available and easy to install, including those from established brands such as Lutron. CREDIT: Courtesy of Lutron
E. Smart Plugs + Appliance Monitoring
What they do: Measure and control energy use of key appliances (e.g., coffee maker, media center, space heaters).
Where to use: TVs, home office equipment, and other always-on devices.
Product examples: TP-Link Kasa or Eve Energy smart plugs—$20-$30 each.
Builder benefit: Easy to install and show off during walkthroughs. Homeowners can see real-time energy use.
Smart plugs offer remote control over energy waste and low-budget security. CREDIT: Eve Energy
F. HVAC + Ventilation Dashboard
What it is: A simple, centralized dashboard (via app or touchscreen panel) that combines HVAC, ERV/HRV, and humidity controls.
Why it’s needed: Most homes have poor ventilation management. These systems link fresh air with comfort, tying air quality to ventilation activation and climate control.
Product examples: Panasonic OASYS (for larger budgets); Broan-Nutone Overture for mid-range installations (approximately $2,000 for a basic system).
User benefit: Enables homeowners to fine-tune air quality without becoming HVAC experts.
G. Leak + Freeze Sensors in Risk Zones
Placement: Under sinks, near water heater, basement sump pit.
Function: Alerts homeowners if water is detected—critical in cold climates or vacation homes.
Product example: Flo by Moen, approximately $700 installed.
Value add: Protects the home and helps insurance discounts in some states.
Leak detectors not only identify and in some cases shut off leaks, but they also lower insurance premiums by as much as $500 annually.
For about $4,265 (a very rough approximation for illustration purposes), builders can deliver a full-featured smart home energy system with tangible benefits to the homeowner—and a compelling selling point in competitive markets. Integration hubs such as Alexa, Samsung SmartThings or hard-wired control panels from Brilliant can unite many apps under one interface.
By Matt Power, Editor-In-Chief
Veteran journalist Matt Power has reported on innovation and sustainability in housing for nearly three decades. An award-winning writer, editor, and filmmaker, he has a long history of asking hard questions and adding depth and context as he unfolds complex issues.Also Read