Homeowners love home automation for the convenience and security it provides. However, there are additional advantages to this new system of household electrical management — namely, energy efficiency and financial savings.
The best smart home automation systems will get you the most out of your smart technology while saving on energy. Here are 6 valuable ways home automation saves energy:
Smart Thermostats
Energy Star reports that your heating and cooling system uses more energy than any other source in your home, so controlling it with a smart thermostat is a fantastic way to cut down on your energy consumption.
Smart thermostats work by fine-tuning your home heating and cooling temperature to suit your schedule. They save energy by turning down your HVAC system when you are sleeping or out of the house. According to a study done by Nest Labs, your smart thermostat can reduce the energy you use for heating and air conditioning by 10-15 percent. That means your monthly utility bill should be quite a bit lower.
The icing on the cake is that you won’t have the hassle of constantly adjusting your thermostat (or suffering in a home that is freezing in winter and boiling in summer) to reap this benefit.
Smart LED Lights
Smart LED lights eliminate a few common worries. No more fumbling for your keys when you come home to a dark, empty house; no more wondering whether someone left the lights on before going to bed; and no more worrying that your house will look like a burglar target while you’re out of town. Smart LED lights can be set to vacation mode to mimic the behaviour that someone is home.
They also add a lot of fun to your home lighting – think smart lightbulbs that change colour! Smart lights can even soothe you to sleep, as they slowly, gently fade off at bedtime and turn back on in the morning.
On top of all this, smart LED lights save you energy. Not only are they longer-lasting than traditional bulbs, smart LEDs function similarly to a smart thermostat, ensuring that your lights are on — and using power — only when you actually need them.
Smart Plugs
Smart plugs are a simple, inexpensive way to get started with smart home technology. Just plug them into your home’s electrical outlets. Every “mindless” appliance which you connect to the smart plug will get a quick boost to its IQ — in other words, it can be used as a smart appliance, without the inconvenience and expense of replacement.
A smart plug app lets you manage your appliances remotely. You can switch them on and off, program a schedule, and get a report of your home energy use — all from your smartphone!
Smart Home Security
Security is a serious concern to homeowners, but a smart home security monitoring system will go a long way to soothe your fears. Not only does the system report intruder alerts to your phone, but its live streaming feature also lets you see whether or not you’re getting a false alarm. Smart locks and smart doorbells will supply additional layers of protection.
Since would-be burglars are not the only threat, you can have special features besides a security camera added to your smart home system. Components such as smart smoke alarms and moisture sensors will help protect your home and family against disaster.
Smart Sprinklers
Water is a precious natural resource. In cities such as Calgary, where we are billed for our water use, it’s also a costly natural resource … and watering the grass can be responsible for a terribly expensive water bill.
Smart sprinklers cut back on wasted water when you irrigate your lawn. The smart sprinkler control system customizes the schedule and amount of water — taking into account the local weather, the amount of moisture in your soil, and the species of grass and garden plants you have in your yard. The system even reports on the amount of water you are using, so that you can make further adjustments if you wish.
Smart Appliances
It’s amazing all the ingenious ways smart appliances save energy and money for you. For example, a smart refrigerator “talks” to you and lets you know when the door has been left open, saving you electricity. Not only that, you can even check the contents of your smart fridge remotely: imagine finding out from your phone exactly what you need at the supermarket. You’ll cut down on shopping trips — saving you time and energy.
Lastly, smart appliances communicate important information to you, such as the cheapest time to run your washer or dryer or when they need repair.
Sun Electrical Is Smart Home Savvy
Do you want to install — or add to — a home automation system? Talk to Sun Electrical. Our licensed electricians are qualified smart home installers and will be happy to advise you on the best components for your needs.