5 Tips to Save Energy this Summer
Is your home wasting energy?
Did you leave the thermostat cooling when you left for work or the lights on in your living room when you went camping for the weekend? Did your sprinkler system run on schedule even though it just rained? There are plenty of ways your home may be wasting energy, water, and money.
A Smart Home Security system doesn’t just protect your home it can help improve your home’s energy efficiency and save you money. Here are 5 Smart Home Automation tips that can help save you energy.
Smart Thermostats
Your home’s heating and cooling system consumes more energy than any other appliance. Reducing unnecessary use can translate into savings each month. Smart Thermostats can help homeowners conserve between 16-23% energy, translating into savings on your monthly utility bill.
Smart thermostats and temperature sensors can adjust to energy needs. Turning off when no one is home and activating again when you return to eliminate waste. Coupled with additional sensors, your Smart Thermostat protects your home by detecting freezing temperatures or humidity in your home and adjusting accordingly.
A Smart Thermostat can also be remotely activated, so you can adjust it when you are not home.
Smart Sprinkler Systems
Lawn care requires a lot of energy, water, and time. Even if you have your sprinklers on a timer, they may still be wasting water. Smart Sprinklers can save your water bill by running your sprinklers only when you need to. The programmable sprinkler control system conserves water by adjusting for variables such as soil moisture and weather.
If you don’t have a plumbed water supply to your yard, you can opt for a smart faucet extension to give you more control if your sprinkler is attached to a garden hose.
Smart Lights
Smart lights allow you to take control of your home’s lighting from anywhere. You can turn off a light in the kitchen from bed with your phone or turn up your living room lights with voice control. You can create scenes, or preprogrammed lighting, triggering numerous devices with a single command. Turn down the lights for movie night, lights out at bedtime, or any number of combinations for your convenience.
Smart lighting fixtures and bulbs are not just more convenient, but they can help improve energy efficiency. Your Smart Home Security system can be programmed to turn off lights when you aren’t home and turn them on again when you return. No more fumbling in the dark and no more wasted energy because you left a light on.
Smart Power Outlets
Many home electronics are always drawing energy, even when they are not in use. The worst of these “energy vampires” are smartphone and laptop chargers and devices with active standby modes, like TVs. Unplugging these devices while they are no in use can eliminate this drain, but it is a hassle. A smart outlet or power strip automatically detects and cuts off power to devices in standby mode or not in use.
The total energy expenditure of miscellaneous non-essential appliances accounts for approximately 20% of the energy use in an average home. By switching to smart plugs and outlets, this plug load can be reduced by as much as 50%!
Water Leak Detection
Another smart device that can not only save you money on your water bill but could also save you from a big cost is a Water leak sensor. These can be installed under sinks, hot water tanks, and laundry rooms to detect the presence of a leak. They can text or email you about a water problem, so you are aware even if you are not at home. Early detection can help avoid wasting vast amounts of water or having to replace ruined carpets.
You can also invest in sump pump monitors for basements at risk of flooding protecting your home or cottage from serious damage.
Coupled with energy-efficient appliances and properly sealed windows and doors Smart Home Automation can make a big difference in your home’s energy consumption. This will help save you money on your energy bills and is good for the environment. Speak with one of our Security Consultants to learn how you can leverage Smart Home Automation in your home.
