Amazon Echo is the hottest device of the season, giving New Hampshire residents a nifty new way to interact with technology. Amazon Alexa on its own has a lot of fun and useful applications, but when you pair it with a smart home automation system, the sky is the limit for what you can control with your voice. Below, we cover seven of our favorite things to control in your Bedford home via Alexa.

1. Lights

Adjusting the lights is arguably one of Alexa’s most useful skills. Using a smart home automation system, you could turn on a specific light, brighten a room, or illuminate your entire home—all with one spoken command. So the next time you’re juggling four bags of groceries while trying to find the light switch, you could simply ask Alexa to light up the space for you.

2. Whole Home Audio

While you could technically play music straight from the Echo speaker, there’s nothing that beats the crystal clear sound quality of a whole home audio system. Play your favorite music from a media server or streaming service on speakers designed to create the perfect sound for each room.

3. Television

Turn on the TV, select a channel, start a movie, adjust the volume, and more. You may not want to give up your handheld remote entirely, but for on-the-fly needs, Alexa has you covered. And if you ever lose track of your remote, you can always rely on Alexa as a backup.

4. Security System

While there are some aspects of security that, by necessity, you won’t be able to control with your voice, there are certainly enough features to make adding voice control worthwhile. For example, you could have Alexa confirm that a door is locked or alert you if a window is open. You could also arm the security system or manage your surveillance cameras with Alexa.  

SEE ALSO: A Smart Home is a Safe Home

5. Climate

By adding in a smart thermostat, Alexa can help you keep your home at just the right temperature. Request a specific temperature or simply ask for it to be cooler or warmer. Alexa will also be able to tell you what the current temperature is inside or outside your home.

6. Appliances

Through the use of smart plugs, you can control virtually any small appliance. Tell Alexa to start the coffee pot or turn on the space heater. And as Alexa’s popularity grows, some large appliance manufacturers are joining the voice control train. You can now control you’re a refrigerator, washer, dryer, or stove via Alexa!

7. Irrigation System

Make sure your lawn is pristine the easy way with a smart irrigation system. Tell Alexa to start or stop the sprinklers instead of struggling to reset a clunky system in the garage. You could also ask Alexa to schedule certain irrigation cycles for the future, so if the weather is predicted to be hot and dry, you can rest easy knowing your lawn won’t suffer for it.

The list above barely scratches the surface of what you can do with a voice-controlled smart home. Interested in learning more? Give us a call at 603.236.7771 or fill out this quick online form today.