From controlling lights at home via a mobile app to investing in smart appliances that cut down on energy use and costs, the options for decreasing energy use can be daunting. We’ve compiled a list of the hottest new technologies for your home that can help save big on energy costs.
1. High Tech Thermostats
Smart thermostats are nothing new when it comes to cutting down on home energy use and heating and cooling costs. The Nest Learning Thermostat adjusts your home’s temperature based on your own lifestyle and schedule. The Nest learns your habits so it can automatically adjust the temperature, it even integrates with the weather forecast and adjusts accordingly. According to Nest, the $249 price tag can pay for itself over time based on an average 30% reduction in energy bills with its use.
2. Smart Appliances
New smart appliances have the ability to communicate with the smart grid which uses information to communicate the personal habits of electricity consumers back to the energy companies. Smart appliances will be able to communicate with the smart grid and as a result automatically know optimal times to perform their functions. These times will be at the off-peak hours allowing you to save money by not incurring a peak time higher rate.
3. Smart Power Strips
Traditional power strips are an easy way to expand the number of electrical outlets in your home. But their convenience can encourage you to leave electronics plugged in all the time — and many devices keep drawing power even when you’re not using them. Printers, DVD players, computers and plasma TVs are all examples of products with standby modes that make them convenient to use but suck significant power on the sly. This so-called phantom power drain costs you money and wastes electricity. Smart power strips, on the other hand, work to reduce your power usage by shutting down power to products that go into standby mode. Doing so may save you some serious cash. Statistics vary, but experts say standby power consumption in an average home ranges from 5 percent to 10 percent of your household energy consumption.
4. Home-Automation Lighting
It’s been long-encouraged that switching to LED lighting is the way to go in order to cut back on energy usage and costs. Now you can take it a step further by controlling energy-efficient lighting with custom-made hardware that can adjust switches from anywhere.
Looking to save even more? ENERGY STAR estimates a homeowner can save up to 10% on their total annual energy bill by air sealing and insulating.
Contact us today to learn more and for a free estimate.
