Smart Home systems – the way of the future. We are swarmed with technology everyday, and developments and new products seem to be growing exponentially. Implementing Smart Home systems is not only beneficial for consumers’ convenience, but also for saving energy and money. All of these systems are easily controllable if you own a smartphone. These systems can detect potential damage to your home, and allow you to access your homes HVAC, water supply, lights, and much more. Let’s take a look at some Smart Home products that can save energy!
Smart Thermostats
The most common smart thermostat is the Nest series. They claim they can save 10-12 percent on heating costs and 15 percent on cooling by using a smart thermostat. By controlling the thermostat with your phone, you can set timers for heating and cooling. If you work all day and have no reason to heat/cool your house until you get home, you can turn off your heating/cooling while you’re away. You can set it to turn on an hour before you get home so it is all set to your preferred temperature when you walk in. This will save energy by only using your HVAC system when you need it.
Smart Lights
By using smart lights, you can turn your lights on and off with your phone. Not only are these convenient if you forget to leave your porch light on and come home after dark, but they can show you what lights are on or off in your home. If you accidentally leave a light on before you leave for a vacation, you can turn it off to save money on your electricity bill.
Smart Plugs
Smart plugs allow homeowners to reduce “phantom load,” otherwise known as the electricity consumed by a device while turned off or on standby, yet still plugged in. Smart plugs give the option to turn off the electricity source to things like TVs, straighteners or curling irons, toasters etc. Instead of going around unplugging everything before you leave the house, you can simply shut them off with the touch of a button and they will not be consuming any electricity while they are turned off or not in use.
Smart Appliances
Smart appliances like fridges can now tell you when you have accidentally left your door open. This will save you energy and money in less food waste. It can also update you if there are any problems with the fridge. You can get smart laundry machines that let you know when your laundry is finished and gives you reminders so that your clothes don’t sit soggy for a couple hours, and give you the shortest time needed to dry your clothes. There are now smart appliances from ovens and microwaves to stovetops and dishwashers, which are a futuristic addition to your home, but may not have any substantial additional efficiency.
Smart Home Water Monitors
These water monitors are designed to track water consumption and detect leaks in the home. Some of them can even shut off your home water with the touch of a button, which can be critical in some situations. If you go on vacation and you realize your toilet is running, you can shut off your water and save the massive water bill. The problem with these is that they can get a little bit expensive, but in the event of a leak, it may be worth it as damage and water bills may amount to more!
Smart Shower
A smart shower such as U by Moen, not only saves water, but is just plain cool. You can set your shower to an exact temperature, and start your shower using the app or Alexa/Google Assistant. The coolest part is – once your shower has achieved your preferred temperature, it will notify you that it is ready and will shut off until you’re ready to get in – no more wasting water in that aspect. You can also pause the water flow at any point whether that is to lather or to shave, it will turn off but still maintain temperature. There are a few other Smart Shower systems to choose from, all with similar capabilities.
Smart Faucet
Moen’s Smart faucet might be one of the more futuristic things released lately. It seems to pair to an Alexa or Google Assistant, but it can give you water at specific temperatures, specific measurements, and even fill up your sink for dishes. In the end, this will save water by giving you exact measurements so that there is no excess, and by pausing the water once it’s reached the desired temperature. There are other smart faucet brands as well such as Kohler and Delta.
Energy Monitors
Energy monitors are super easy to install and give you a report that allows you to compare and see your energy usage. They can show you how much energy and power major appliances in your home are consuming and can offer tips for saving energy.
Of course, all of these Smart Home Devices can be fairly costly, but it is important to remember that they will be saving you money for as long as you have them. They will start to pay for themselves in savings!