The ongoing climate change, polluted rivers, devastated forests, or the increasing number of endangered species are just a few examples of how our life habits have affected the Earth in the past half a century. Fortunately, it looks like we’ve finally woken up and realized that the planet would do just fine without us.
And among our shift towards a sustainable and low-carbon economy, the smart home trend has emerged. At first, we considered them as a technological feature to make our lives even more comfortable. But it’s quickly turned out that smart homes are a perfect solution in our battle for a better future.
Sure, it doesn’t come cheap, but you can always look for saving elsewhere. For example, you can consider EPDM rubber roofing kits rather than much more expensive clay tiles installation when picking your roof option.
With that in mind, your question shouldn’t be if, but how can a smart home save energy. And that’s what we’ll cover in the article below, so keep reading to find out more about how you can make your wallet happier and the Earth less polluted.
Heat Monitoring
One of the most significant advantages of smart home technologies is that they monitor and control the heat distribution inside much better than we do. The technology will determine where the residents are and whether the room needs heating.
It’s crucial, especially now, as we’re entering the colder seasons. And considering that we usually tend to warm our homes to the limit, smart technology will come in handy. It will ensure to minimize your home’s energy consumption on heating, and at the same, it will keep you warm and comfortable.
What does it mean to you? Well, for a start, you’ll be able to look at your energy bills without fear. Secondly, since the heating system is your most significant energy consumer, making it work more efficiently ensures your home finally becomes more eco-friendly.
If you want to make sure everything is under control, consider installing a smart thermostat. The device will take care of warming your home when it’s getting cold or completely turn it off when you’re away.
What’s more, since they usually come with a smartphone app, you can still supervise whether it works the way it should, and take matters into your own hands.
Sensor-Controlled Lighting
Another significant energy consumer in your home is lighting. Unfortunately, we tend to forget about turning our lights on and off when we should. Fortunately, smart home technology comes in handy when a house owner’s memory fails. With sensor-controlled lights, you won’t even have to remember about turning them on and off. Your home will do everything for you.
And if you want to maximize your energy-saving efforts, the fantastic idea is to install smart bulbs. They can automatically adjust and regulate light’s brightness depending on the amount of natural light. You can also schedule the time when they should turn on and off.
Water-Saving Devices
There’s nothing like a long, hot shower after an exhausting day. The only problem is that you can’t reduce energy consumption without sacrificing your relaxing showers.
Or can you? With some help from smart technology, you’ll be able to enjoy your warm showers and still maintain energy efficiency.
Moreover, according to some brands, smart shower time limiters might increase your water savings, even up to 50%. But this kind of device can also be used when washing dishes or brushing teeth.
Smart Plugs
Unplugging your devices is the easiest way to save some energy. Unfortunately, it’s something we all struggle with. We always forget to unplug our phone chargers, irons, toasters, and other plug-needed gear.
And let’s be honest, walking around the house and unplugging your devices is not very convenient. To prevent yourself from that much-hated activity and at the same time ensure you save some money and help reduce energy consumption, the best idea is to equip your home with smart plugs.
Improved Control
The most significant advantage of smart homes, though, is much better control over your home energy use. All your devices are connected to your smartphone app; you can take care of everything with your finger, lying on your couch.
What’s more, an efficient smart technology will allow you to turn everything on or off while away from home. Thanks to that, even if you forget to unplug your iron, leave the stove on, or didn’t turn down the heating, you’ll be able to check and control everything even on your vacations.
The Bottom Line
Answering the question given in the title – yes, a smart home will help you save energy. And yes, it’s a significant investment, but in the long run, your connected home will come with substantial savings, making your wallet and our planet much happier.
Fortunately, smart home devices, such as smart thermostats or intelligent light bulbs, are getting less expensive each year, allowing more people to implement them in their households. With that in mind, your question shouldn’t be if, but when should you turn your old house into a smart home.