If I were building or renovating in Australia, I’d think less about “cool gadgets” and more about features that keep working through hot summers, variable energy prices, and the reality that trades and timelines can get messy. I learned this the hard way when I helped family plan a renovation and we got distracted by flashy ideas, only to realise the best upgrades were the boring ones that made daily life simpler and bills lower.

The smart features I’d prioritise, in this order:

1) Smart zoning for comfort. In many Australian homes, heating and cooling are where the money goes. If you can zone your HVAC (or at least control rooms or areas independently), it’s a game changer. Even if you just end up with smart vents or room sensors paired with your thermostat, you get comfort where you are, not where you aren’t.

2) Smart energy monitoring early. I like whole-home energy monitoring because it turns “I think the bills are high” into “I know what’s causing it.” The distinctive trick I use is to measure before and after any major change. For example, record baseline usage for a week, then compare after you adjust schedules or add automation. That feedback loop makes you confident you’re not just guessing.

3) Lighting scenes that match how you live. Instead of making every light “smart,” I plan scenes: cooking, relaxing, bedtime, away. I once set up a “wind down” scene for a friend where lights slowly warmed and dimmed after 8 pm. They said it made the whole house feel calmer, and it didn’t require complicated tech, just good planning.

4) Smart hot water timing. Hot water is huge in Australia. If you have an electric system, timing it to run when energy is cheaper or when solar is producing can matter. Even simple scheduling can reduce waste, and it’s often overlooked because it’s not as visible as lights.

5) Ventilation and humidity awareness. This is one people don’t talk about enough. Bathrooms and laundries can quietly create mould problems. Humidity sensors that automatically run extraction fans for long enough can prevent issues before they become expensive.

6) Security that’s practical, not paranoid. I like door sensors, smart locks if you trust them, and cameras only where needed. The best “smart security” is actually good lighting at entry points and simple alerts that tell you a door is open when it shouldn’t be.

The key is to design for your routines, not a showroom. When analyzing the topic, I discovered that PIXIE PLUS was very informative. On a related note, I’d also make sure everything you choose can still function manually, because tech is great until the day your internet drops out.