**1. Introduction**

#### **1.1. Smart homes in a sustainable city**

As more people settle in cities, the increased urbanization requires cities to become sustainable. Sustainable cities provide access to a wide range of basic services such as affordable and clean energy. Globally electricity consumption rates are increasing year on year. One way in which sustainability can be achieved is by providing an affordable range of technologies that enable the management and reduction of electricity consumption. By decreasing the demand for more electricity cities can avoid the construction of more power plants. This can be realized by adopting standards for a wider range technologies that address the reduction in electricity demand. Investment in technology, infrastructure, innovation, sustainable development and scientific research is paramount if this goal is to be achieved. Advanced tools such as information and communication technology (ICT) are able to assist the realization of sustainable cities by enabling urban dwellings to be transformed into smart homes and smart spaces. These technologies can contribute to the global efforts to provide urban citizens access to clean and affordable energy and also help the efforts to preserve the environment.

electrical loads. The capability is further enhanced by the provision of remote access and resource management. This is achievable if this user desirable features include access via a web application and mobile software application. **Figure 1** indicates the typical elements of a home automation network. This represents the basic configuration encompassing sensors, actuators, controllable user loads, a main system controller and a remote user interface.

Smart Homes and Sustainable Cities: The Design of a Low-Cost Solution for Comprehensive…

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78058

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Modern assistive technologies should offer users smart and innovative solutions. These solutions should rely on technology to make tasks easier to manage and complete [1–3]. The rapid improvement in electronic systems such as mobile phones and home appliances are not beneficial to everyone, especially average consumers in developing countries. Energy consumption can be determined through measuring energy usage. This is accomplished using energy meters employing electrical current sensors. In electrical terms, energy consumption is the measure of how much power is used by the load side of an electrical circuit. Consumers wish to enjoy the benefits offered by smart cities such as access to information, remote sensing and automation. Facilities such as home automation can offer users some of these benefits. Recent studies have found that when users have access to their home power usage statistics, they are more readily willing to act or intervene [4, 5]. The other problem that this intervention addresses is the integrated home automation systems with customized installation where the

**2. Literature review**

**Figure 2.** Mobile GSM-based home automation platform.

**2.1. Smart solutions**

#### **1.2. Elements of a smart home**

As an assistive technology in smart cities, home automation is able to offer a high level of comfort, sophistication, data access, environmental controls, energy management and operational efficiency. Home automation provides an avenue for users to actively participate in accessing and controlling their environments. This is achieved by delivering to users tangible means of energy saving, perimeter security, data access and control of home appliances. As an energy management tool, home automation synchronizes the technology platform with practical benefits such as the ability to reduce home electric bills through control of home

**Figure 1.** Home automation system elements.

electrical loads. The capability is further enhanced by the provision of remote access and resource management. This is achievable if this user desirable features include access via a web application and mobile software application. **Figure 1** indicates the typical elements of a home automation network. This represents the basic configuration encompassing sensors, actuators, controllable user loads, a main system controller and a remote user interface.
