With thousands of interoperable Z-Wave Certified devices working together across brands, homeowners can build connected routines that simplify the busy school season and everyday life.
San Ramon, CA – AUGUST 5, 2026 at 9 AM PST – Back-to-school season doesn’t just reset school schedules, it resets household routines. As families trade relaxed summer mornings for packed calendars and predictable schedules, they also return to the small, repetitive tasks that start and end each school day.
Beyond the visible checklist of backpacks, lunches and permission slips is another checklist that often goes unnoticed: locking the front door, closing the garage, turning off lights, adjusting the thermostat or making sure the coffee maker and other appliances weren’t left on in the rush to get everyone out the door. They’re the kinds of details that compete for attention during busy mornings.
As connected home technology has become more accessible, many of those repetitive tasks can become part of an automated routine instead of another item to remember. The Z-Wave ecosystem gives homeowners the flexibility to automate everyday moments across a variety of categories like lighting, locks, thermostats and home safety. Because these devices have been designed to work together, homeowners can easily add new devices over time as their needs evolve. Here are just a few ways interoperable Z-Wave Certified devices can help simplify the back-to-school routine:
Start the Day on Schedule
Smart lighting can gradually brighten bedrooms to help ease wake-up routines, illuminate key areas before breakfast, and automatically turn lights off once everyone heads out the door. Jasco’s Enbrighten Z-Wave Smart Switches and Dimmers make it easy to create personalized lighting schedules that help families start the day on time and leave home with confidence.
Peace of Mind After Breakfast
Busy mornings can be distracting. FireAvert’s Gas Shutoff and FireAvert 120V 6.0 can automatically shut off a gas or electric range if smoke is detected, adding an extra layer of kitchen safety after everyone heads out the door.
Know the Front Door Is Locked
Whether everyone is rushing to work, school or daycare, the last thing anyone wants is to wonder if the front door was locked. Alfred’s DB2S Z-Wave Smart Lock can automatically secure the home as part of a personalized routine while also providing remote lock status and customizable access codes for family members.
Don’t Heat or Cool an Empty House
Connected thermostats can automatically adjust temperatures after everyone leaves, helping improve comfort and energy efficiency without requiring a second thought. The Sensi Lite Z-Wave Smart Thermostat from Emerson automatically transitions with the family’s daily routine, helping keep the home comfortable when it matters most.
One Tap. Every Routine.
The best smart home experiences bring everything together. The 2GIG GC Touch from Nice lets homeowners trigger a customized routine with a single tap, coordinating lighting, climate control, locks and home safety devices before the last family member walks out the door.
Additional information about Z-Wave Certified devices is available in the Z-Wave Certified Product Catalog.
For more information on the Z-Wave Alliance, please visit http://z-wavealliance.org/.
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About the Z-Wave Alliance
The Z-Wave Alliance is an independent member-driven Standards Development Organization (SDO) dedicated to developing and advancing Z-Wave® technology as an open and internationally recognized ITU standard (G.9959) for smart home and IoT solutions. Alliance members continue to shape and drive the future of Z-Wave through open development in the Alliance Open-Source Work Group. With more than 300 million devices installed globally and over 4,500 certified devices in the Z-Wave ecosystem, Z-Wave Alliance member companies provide leading-edge products and systems that deliver increased comfort, convenience, energy conservation, safety, security, and more. The Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) specification uniquely enables IoT applications beyond the home. With a range of up to 1.5 miles, ZWLR delivers the performance and scalability required in multi dwelling unit (MDU), hospitality, commercial and industrial deployments, as well as other applications. Learn more at www.z-wavealliance.org.
The Z-Wave Alliance Board of Directors is comprised of executives from ADT, Alarm.com, Assa Abloy, BlueConnect Partners, Fortune Brands, Johnson Controls Inc., Nabu Casa, Semtech Corporation, Silicon Labs, Trident IoT, and Vivint.
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