From the invention of the wheel, to the creation of the light bulb, to the advent of the cellphone—each leap in technology makes our lives easier. Smart home technology is the newest innovation to come along and improve our lives. Now you can check who’s at your door while you’re at work, schedule your lights to match your daily routine, and let friends into your home without having to make extra keys. Best Buy wants your home to be a well-oiled machine that offers convenience, security, and can even help you reduce the energy your home uses. That’s why we’re running this contest: We want to give Canadians a chance to win amazing smart home technology. Read on to find out how (and what!) you might win.
Smart home security
Making your home safer is easier than ever. Consider security cameras. There was a time when installing security cameras required professional help and a hefty fee. Now, however, most people can easily install their own smart home cameras. Options range from battery-powered, light-fixture powered, and AC-powered, so you can match your cameras to their location and desired use.
Smart cameras stream footage over your home’s existing Wi-Fi to the compatible app on your smart phone. Some models even offer the ability to engage in two-way conversation, and most offer real-time movement alerts. This means that no matter where you are, you can keep an eye on your home and be assured that all is well.
Also gone are the days of the unsightly, conspicuous, wired security camera; today’s smart home security cameras are sleek and unobtrusive. But don’t let their diminutive size fool you. Many models, like the Logitech Circle 2, the Nest Cam, and the Arlo Pro 2 can capture an up to 180-degree field of view in 1080p HD resolution and boast night-vision to boot.
And because the cameras are so small, they’re easily portable. You can place them wherever you need. For example, use one to keep a watchful eye on your children as they play outside, or on your new puppy while you are at work. You’ll be able to see when he starts to chew your leather shoes and tell him to stop.
Lighting is another way to improve home security and personal safety. Outdoor smart lighting has the advantage of adding ambiance to a garden, deck, or patio while simultaneously making it safer for you to walk around your home on dark winter nights. Of course, outside lights are a great crime deterrent too! Lights from the Philips Hue line offer you the chance to personalize your lighting indoors and out.
With these easily customizable lights, you can use the app on your phone to select from 16 million colours (yes, you read that right) to create just the vibe you want. Choose orange for an eerie Halloween glow, or go for red and green to add Christmas cheer. The rest of the year, they’re ideal for keeping walkways and paths brightly lit. Blog Editor Shelley recently discussed how big of a difference the Philips Hue outdoor product range can make to your home security and appearance, so head on over to read her article to find out more.
Smart Home Convenience
Have you ever locked yourself out of your house? Or received a sheepish call from your spouse as they shiver outside in the cold? With smart locks, like these ones from August, you can stop leaving a key in a flower pot or under the doormat. The August Smart Lock offers keyless entry through your Bluetooth enabled smart phone. The lock senses when you’re approaching the door, so you don’t need to worry about juggling bags of groceries as you search for your keys. You read that right, the door will unlock as you approach it, automatically! Plus, you can buzz people in from your phone and receive alerts when someone enters or when the door is left ajar. Blog reviewer Erin Lawrence tried out the August Smart Lock for herself, and she found it incredibly easy to install and even better to use. You can see for yourself by reading her review.
If you shop online, say from BestBuy.ca, you will love the security and convenience you get with smart cameras and locks at the entrance to your home. With smart cameras like the Logitech Circle, Arlo Pro 2, and Kuna Toucan, you’ll be alerted to movement and can keep an eye on your packages. The August Smart Lock lets you create a temporary key, so your ever-helpful neighbour can place the packages inside for you.
Smart home convenience isn’t just limited to outdoors either. The Lutron Caseta Dimmer Kit allows you to schedule, adjust, and turn-off your lights remotely from your smart phone. This means that you’re only using power when you really need it, which will reduce energy consumption and cut down on your electricity bill. So not only does smart lighting help you to save money, but it also helps you to do your part for the planet.
Kuna makes the Toucan Smart Sconce Lights that offer all the benefits of smart tech with the style of traditional decor. Smart home lighting is also effective as a security tool, as you can use a lighting schedule to give your home a lived-in look when you’re away for extended periods of time. And since smart lights can be controlled via your smart phone, you can dim the lights for movie night without even having to move the popcorn bowl off your lap.
Smart home compatibility
Most smart home brands, including Lutron, August, Philips Hue, and Nest, work with the Google Home Assistant, giving you hands-free control of your lights, locks, cameras, and more. The Google Home and Google Home Mini are handy helpers in their own right, that can play music, tell you the weather, and more. This article by Shelly gives you great ways for the whole family to enjoy using a Google Home or Alexa unit. Excited yet? The grand prize winner will receive a Google Home Mini of their own. But fear not; If you don’t have one already, you can get your own from Best Buy, or shop our selection of other voice assistants and accessories.
HOW TO ENTER
In a comment below, please tell us which of these three smart home benefits is the most important to you: convenience; security; or energy savings. Also tell us which product would most help you to achieve this benefit.
I personally enjoy the convenience aspect of smart home technology and would want the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect as I come from a long line of folks who forget their house keys, and it’s apparently an inheritable trait.
WHAT YOU CAN WIN
We will randomly draw four winners. One person will win the grand prize, one person will win the second prize, one person will win the third prize, and one person will win the fourth prize. The prizes are shown here (and also in the Rules and Regulations posted below).
| Grand Prize | 2nd Prize |
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| 3rd Prize | 4th Prize |
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This contest runs from October 19th until November 2nd.
Remember, you can only enter once. However, you probably know someone who would love to add some incredible smart products to their home, so please share this contest so that they too can have a chance to win one of these prizes.
Enter for a chance to win a Smart Home Prize Package Rules and Regulations
Good Luck.
| We frequently have many contests running at Best Buy, so check out the “contests in progress” page for more great contests to enter. |
security, with is unfortunate, but it’s what is the most important these days!
I really need the security cameras. Someone stole my car right out of my driveway. I told myself after that incident that I will buy security cameras, but I can not afford them.
security is foremost on my mind. A good lighting system will definitely deter any potential thieves.
Security is my main concern, the Logitech Circle 2 Wired IP Cameras would help immensely in this regard.
Our camera gives blurry pictures so the Logitech camera would be amazing!
Definitely value security the most, been a substantial increase in break ins around my place in the last few years
Convenience for sure. Anything that makes life a little easier is good in my books
Security is most important to me. I would like to win the Logitech Camera.
Security is most important to me. The Logitech Circle 2 Wired IP Cameras would help in this regard
I could really use the convenience aspect of smart home technology. I would want the August Smart Lock Pro because I have two children in school who are always forgetting or losing their keys. As they grow, having the extra security of cameras in the home would give us peace of mind.
Energy saving is important to our family
Definitely would like the camera . Have been looking for one for some time now. Security is important
Well I would have to say home security would be #1. Overall things are getting worse.
Security & Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera would help me achieve this
Security is most important to me. The Logitech Circle 2 Wired IP Cameras would help in this regard
Security is the most important consideration for me. Logitech Circle 2 cameras would be my first choice!
energy savings is most important – and the Lutron Caseta Wireless Dimmer Kit with Smart Bridge gives you the ability to control energy use easily!
Security is most important to me. Theft is becoming more common in our area, with several cars being broken into just a few weeks ago. The Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera would alert us to anyone that is on our property and have the ability to photograph the culprit, which can then be given to the police..
In my neighborhood security cameras would be great.
I would really like to have the cameras installed. There have been incidents in our neighbourhood which are very concerning, and having additional security would make us feel more secure.
Security. The cameras.
I’d definitely have to say it’s the convenience that matters the most.
The security is the most important and the Nest Cam helps me to achieve it.
To me, convenience is the most important. I could have a $50 000 security setup, but if it is not easy to use, I’m not going to use it, and it then the security aspect does not benefit me. Convenience trumps all.
the convenience
I am away from the house often during the day because I live on a farm and find locking and unlocking the house can get to you so I think a security camera would be very useful.
Security is most important
The cameras would be best for security.
We live in the country so the extra security would be fantastic.
Security is most important to us because we live in a rural area which is very dark at night (no street lamps here!). Security cameras placed around the exterior of our house would give us piece of mind; love the option of checking the cameras on my phone.
The August Smart Lock is what I would like as we already have security but unlocking the door when my hands are full of things is not fun.
Security is,ost important to me. A lot of my neighbours have installed cameras due to raising concerns in our neighbourhood. I would love to install some cameras also
I most need security for our home so I would choose the Logitech Circle 2 security system
I would love to have the cameras installed. Hopefully the Geek Squad could help!
Security would be my ultimate choice! My neighbourhood has seen in increase in theft this year, and it’s happening pretty close to my home. My family would benefit from the outdoor security cameras!
What a wonderful thing to have for security.
Security is always my #1 priority so I can keep my family safe!
energy savings
Convenience or security
What a wonderful thing to have for security.
This would be a great prize!
Absolutely love the idea of energy savings, and the fact that I could make adjustments remotely is an added benefit
My neighborhood is getting worse…I could use some extra security on the house
Being able to visually monitor our home from a distance would be the best feature of a smart home.
wow only one of the three, heck, Security, Energy conservation but most of all peace of mind. Good luck everyone
i would have to say security
Hello bestbuy.ca!!! I agree with smart home security and your products let us keep on eye on our own house by smartphone remotely!! And put under surveillance every belongings we have, for me it’s very important all devices which help me in a dim environment, every night we can feel that our house is in a sketchy area without the correct security system for our family so The cameras & lights devices with good sensors might be an amazing choice. Thanks!!
I like the convenience, but more importantly, security for my family!
Security is important for us!
Energy savings for sure! I think way higher of a product if it is energy efficient.
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