Did you know that there are now approximately 175 million smart homes worldwide? Or that 41.3 million (almost one in four) of those houses are in the United States?
Smart home technologies, after all, provide more than just convenience. They also help improve energy efficiency, reducing energy bills and carbon emissions.
But with so many smart home product options to choose from, which ones should you invest in first?
That’s what you’ll learn in this guide, so read on.
Smart Solar Panels
According to Blue Raven Solar, over 70% of the electricity used in the U.S. comes from burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuel combustion, in turn, releases harmful chemicals and gasses into the environment. In addition, such energy sources are near depletion, so it’s no wonder their prices are also on the rise.
By contrast, solar energy is renewable, and with your system, you can turn your home into a mini power plant. That gives you the chance to reduce, offset, or even eliminate your electricity bills! It also has a low carbon footprint, so it’s greener and cleaner than fossil fuels.
Moreover, you can get smart solar panels that follow the sun as it moves from the east to the west throughout the day. They run on trackers, automatically tilting them to expose them to more sunlight. The more sunlight they absorb, the more energy they generate; thus, you get more savings.
Intelligent Lighting
LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs can be up to 90% more efficient than incandescent light. That alone allows them to help you cut your utility bill, as they use less energy to light up your home.
However, many of today’s LED products now also feature internet connectivity. You can connect them to your smartphone, tablet, or computer to control them remotely. In short, you can switch them on or off using your smart devices.
That’s an excellent way to stop wasting energy, which can happen if you often forget to turn the lights off.
Smart Thermostat
If you turn your thermostat back from its setting by 7° to 10° F for 8 hours a day, you can save 10% on cooling and heating costs. However, you need to do that every day, which can be tedious if you still have a manual thermostat.
So, why not invest in a smart thermostat that can do that on your behalf? Moreover, it gives you the convenience of having to pre-set the temperatures only once. It then “memorizes” your preferred settings and automatically follows them.
Some smart thermostats even allow you to control them and your HVAC system using a mobile app. That enables you to turn your furnace or AC on or off or tweak their settings while you’re away.
All those features can help you reduce costs relating to your heating and cooling energy use. That’s a lot of potential savings, as your HVAC system accounts for about half of your home’s energy usage.
Get Everything in This Smart Home Product Guide
And there you have it, your smart home product guide on the best technologies to save electricity. So, consider investing in intelligent LED lights and thermostats as early as now. However, if you have the budget, include solar panels, especially the smart ones that track the sun.
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