The Automated Home Blog began life in 1996, so 2021 marks its 25th anniversary.
The top 20 most popular posts of the past 12 months included the new Airthings View Plus air quality monitor at #19 and the Faradite volt free switch at #18.
2021 was also our first full calendar year of living in the new Automated Home 2.0. You won’t be surprised to see that the top 20 is dominated by new house posts, as that has been the focus of the blog.
We have a few more rooms to finish and at #15 we were delighted to get fantastic VSSL A.1 sound systems in the upstairs bedrooms this year
At #14 we covered the rebranding of the Matter smart home standard, wondering if it will matter? (see what we did there). I actually think it might be important, more thoughts on this topic soon.
Although it was announced back in May, we’re still waiting to receive our new Loxone intercom (#13), the lack of chips has certainly become a real problem in 2021.
Congratulations to Mat Smith for his cool DIY multi sensor at #11 and our Siemens Smart Appliances at #9 that allowed us to increase our energy consumption into our nightly electricity rate. Very important in a year that has seen such large increases in energy prices.
At #10 is the launch of the new Boundary DIY Z-Wave Smart Home Security System, and at #7 is my 24-month report on the Tesla Model 3 (I miss you).
At #3 is a list of non-standard things to connect in a new build, while at #2. site our comprehensive resource of links for products and services we have used in self-build.
But number one for 2021 was our list of the best tips for DIYers. We hope you found something useful there if you are working on building your own smart home or planning a renovation.
Don’t forget to check out our Instagram to follow the progress and look out for a comprehensive update coming next week with full year running cost figures for an all-electric home with an air source heat pump.
Thank you as always for your support over the past 12 months and I wish you a great new year!
M.
20. Yale Linus Smart Lock in partnership with Philips Hue
19. Video: New Airthings View Plus monitors PM2.5, CO2 and radon
18. Video: Faradite launches new TAP Volt Free Smart Home Switch
17. Automated Home 2.0 – #42 Our kitchen with Parkes interiors
16. Crestron Announces DM NAX Matrix Amp & Streaming Music Player
15. Automated Home 2.0 – #40 VSSL A.1 Music Streaming Amplifier Part 1
14. Will it matter?
13. Video: Loxone unveils new intercom bell
12. Automated Home 2.0 – #43 Low Energy, Airtightness, Budgets and Compromises
11. Making the ultimate DIY ceiling multisensor for home automation
10. Boundary Launch DIY Z-Wave Smart Home Security System
09. Automated Home 2.0 – #35 Here are all our Siemens studioLine smart devices
08. Automated Home 2.0 – #34 Spore True Doorbell for Loxone Trigger
07. Tesla Model 3 – 24 month update
06. Automated Home 2.0 – #38 Where did everything go wrong with our Loxone installation?
05. Automated Home 2.0 – #39 The Pain of Fiber to Premises (FTTP)
04. Automated Home 2.0 – #33 Our air heat pump
03. Automated Home 2.0 – #36 What to wire in your new house
02. Automated Home: Product Sources for the Automated Home 2.0
01. Automated Home 2.0 – #37 Our best tips for DIYers