Smart home technology is booming.
Market research shows this is a huge growing market in real estate worth tens of billions of dollars and all predictions are that it’s only going to get bigger.So smart technology offers convenience but that’s just the start of it’s selling points. Younger buyers and renters appear willing to pay more for homes that have smart technology, so the investment could produce real results. Another huge factor is energy savings. Here’s some of the new smart technologies that can help you save money and the planet without breaking the bank.
Smart Thermostats
It’s the biggest contributor to your energy bill. Heating and cooling your home makes up around half of your bill. In Canada where the climate can be simply brutal, that percentage is more like 60%. So here’s how smart thermostats can help. They can either be programmed or some learn your lifestyle patterns so heat isn’t wasted. Some models now have geofencing which means they can respond to the location of your mobile phone. When you start to head home, the heating is automatically turned up. Many of the systems work with Amazon’s Alexa or Google assistant and as the thermostats have been around for a number of years, prices have fallen to as low as $50.
Smart Bulbs
So we all know about LED lights. They are better for the environment. They last longer, can produce the same amount of light while using less electricity and are cooler so they don’t emit as much heat as old style light bulbs. Most people have already made the move but newer options are far more sophisticated.
Smart bulbs today can allow you to voice activate your lighting. Not impressed, how about linking it to your TV for a more powerful experience or to Spotify so your lights dance to the tunes with you? Or to your touch? Some systems require a hub but many have built in wifi or bluetooth so you don’t have to invest in a whole system. Even better, with lots of choices on the market smart bulbs are even more affordable. You can buy a smart bulb for less than $10 on Amazon.
Go outside and we’re all used to the idea of solar powered outdoor lighting but how about solar powered Christmas lights? Now you can enjoy the Christmas spirit with a clear conscience and lighter energy bill, pun intended.
Smart Plugs
Home appliances make up nearly 14% of the average energy bill. While big appliances have become far more efficient our love of smaller appliances like TV’s, computers and mobiles have tripled in numbers in recent years. These smaller appliances are still drawing power even when in standby mode. So investing in a smart plug or power bar
can stop that. Like other smart devices there’s a huge amount of choice. The plugs or power bars can often be voice activated or connect to an app via bluetooth or wifi. You can set timers and monitor energy use on many of the plugs and power bars.
These are just the tip of the iceberg. Technological advances and the list of what is now available is huge, from robotic vacuums to smart doorbells. US research in 2020 says home buyers put energy saving smart devices at the top of what makes a home more desirable to buy. Investing in solar power and battery packs were clear leaders as was connected climate control in a home. While there may be many reasons to consider smart technology, it does come with the initial price tag to install it. That has fallen but it will still time for the energy savings to pay for themselves.
Leave A Comment