Your home just got smarter, and more efficient. With smart home technology, you can control cooling, heating, doorbells, locks, and lighting from the comfort of your smartphone. Smart technology isn’t just a way to make your life easier, but also a way to save energy, strengthen security, and differentiate your home on the market when you decide to sell. The convenience, luxury, and security smart technology creates can change your life forever, for the best. To help get you started, we’ve highlighted some essential smart upgrades for your home below. Thermostat A thermostat may seem like the most basic feature of the home, but it has a large impact on your energy bills and overall comfort. Half of your monthly energy costs are controlled by your thermostat, and a smart thermostat can reduce your energy expenditure greatly. What if you could use your phone to tell your thermostat you were on your way home? Or what if your thermostat could sense your proximity and calculate the exact time to make your home warm and cozy when you arrive? A smart thermostat can learn these household’s patterns and adjust heating and cooling according to when the home is occupied or not....