How to Be Green and Save Energy With Home Automation
As fall has arrived and winter isn’t far behind, we wanted to share some energy saving tips through home automation from our guest blogger Kate Valerie.
Although there has been a big increase in the use of wind, solar and other types of renewable energy lately, much of our electricity is still produced in dirty plants that burn oil and coal. This is why conserving energy is such an important part of “green living.” Every kilowatt of electricity you save means less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (click here or here to learn more about saving energy). In the old days, people had to go to considerable effort to conserve energy, but today, there are any number of technological systems that can automatically save electricity without subjecting you to undue annoyance.
Smart Thermostat
You probably waste a lot of energy heating and cooling rooms that you’re not using – maybe even your whole house when you’re absent. With a smart thermostat, like the Nest Learning Thermostat or the Ecobee3 Smart WiFi Thermostat, you can set up a schedule so that your heating and cooling equipment won’t have to work hard to keep your temperatures cozy when nobody is around. In combination with the right types of sensors, a smart thermostat will detect which rooms are empty in real time and make adjustments immediately.
Smart Lights
Modern LED lighting systems cut energy consumption to but a fraction of what it would be with traditional, incandescent light bulbs. The Philips Hue smart bulbs are an example of this type of lighting solution, and they allow you to customize colors and intensity according to your personal whims. For even greater benefits, connect your smart lights to a motion sensor. This will allow them to turn themselves off automatically when nobody is inside a room. You can also add solar-powered lights to your landscaping for a cheap way to save electricity.
Smart HVACs
HVAC systems are joining the smarthome revolution by including features that aim to increase energy-efficiency without the user having to do anything special. The Aros Smart Window Air Conditioner interfaces with your phone’s GPS locator so it can determine when you’re not present and turn itself off. It will also learn your schedule over time and prepare the temperature of your residence for your arrival at the property. Many smart HVAC systems will present you with historical energy usage data so that you can alter your consumption habits if warranted.
Smart Plugs
Smart plugs sit between your electrical outlets and your appliances, giving you finer control over their operation. Even when they’re turned off, gadgets like your desktop computer and television typically draw electricity from your system, which increases your bills without your gaining any benefit whatsoever. Smart plugs, like the D-Link Wi-Fi Smart Plug, allow you to shut your devices completely off. You can even set all your appliances to turn off at a specific time each night and thereby avoid falling asleep with them still running.
Home Automation Hubs
In order to tie all your home automation products together, you need a hub. Different units work well or poorly with devices from certain manufacturers, so you’ll have to carefully match your hub with your other smarthome equipment. The SmartThings Hub and Revolv Hub are two popular choices. These hubs allow you to monitor and interact with components from a single interface using an app on your smartphone. Save energy by making your appliances work together rather than acting at cross purposes.
A home that basically runs itself has been a dream since the middle of the 20th century. Now that this vision is turning into reality, we’re finding out that not only does such a residence offer unparalleled convenience, but it’s also environmentally friendly as well. Worldwide renewable energy capacity has grown from just 85 GW in 2004 to 657 GW in 2014, an indication that people around the globe understand how important this area of endeavor is. Do your duty towards our planet by choosing home automation products that help you save energy.