When you hear the phrase “smart home system,” you likely have a pretty good idea of what that is. It’s a home that acts intelligently to make your life more luxurious, save on energy costs, increase security, and so on. But have you ever thought about what goes on in the background to make those benefits possible? If you have ever wondered how a few pieces of technology can have such a big impact on your Houston home, then read on.

If one thing was clear at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, it’s that 2016 will be the year of the smart home system. Whether you call it the Internet of Things, integrated electronics or simply smart technology, virtually every aspect of your Houston, Texas home can become part of a single, unified system. But before you invest in a wearable that can give you up-to-the-minute data on the temperature of your refrigerator, you’ll want to build a smart system that will work for your lifestyle today and tomorrow. Here are some great ways to get your system started.