Imagine having the power to control everything in your home with the touch of a button. Turning your lights on and off, closing your blinds, or even letting your dog outside is all possible with a simple tap on your smart phone or tablet. It sounds pretty futuristic, but the Iris app by Lowe’s is making this a reality for homeowners everywhere.

Lowe’s describes the Iris app as a “remote control for your home.” Starter kits run as low as $179, so you don’t need to worry about breaking the bank to add helpful gadgets to your home, make your life easier, and keep your family safer. The kits are geared towards home security and energy conservation, but you can completely customize it to fit your home and your family’s needs.

Home Security
Contact sensors can be installed anywhere you want to monitor activity in your home. Placing one near a window is one of the most common uses, but you can also monitor your medicine or liquor cabinet. The sensor will alert you when someone opens the cabinet, which is a great way for parents to keep their children safe.

Motion sensors are a must for monitoring activity in your home, whether it’s from afar or when you  just want to keep an eye on something from another room. One of the demonstrations we saw at CES showed a sensor in a baby’s crib, so parents can be notified when their child is moving around during the night.

Energy Conservation
The smart thermostat allows you to control the temperature in your home remotely, which is a guaranteed way to conserve energy and lower your monthly utility bill. Installing smart plugs allows homeowners to turn the lights on remotely so they never have to come home to a dark house again.

We also checked out the smart valve, which is a device that connects the main water supply in your home to the Iris app. The app allows you to turn water on or off remotely, which gives homeowners peace of mind knowing they can protect their home from any leaks or flooding, no matter where they are.

It’s never been easier to have a smart home, and Lowe’s Iris kits are the perfect way to get started. Tweet us @coldwellbanker and let us know how you would customize your home, and make sure to visit our our CES blog page to check out all the latest trends in home technology. You can follow our CES adventure in real time by searching the hashtag #CBCES.