Smart Home Technologies That Save Money And The Environment


Photo by Reinaldo Kevin on Unsplash

About 20 percent of urban ambient air pollution in cities is contributed to by domestic fuel burning, according to a 2015 study by the European Commission. There are many sources of ambient air pollution coming from homes, especially the older ones. Most people don't care that their homes could be causing environmental degradation and those who do often imagine that doing something about it will cost them money. Luckily, smart home technology has created various smart home upgrades that you can incorporate in the design of your home and will not only save the environment but also help you save money in the process. 

Use a smart thermostat to reduce your heating and cooling costs 

Heating and cooling are responsible for nearly half of the energy costs in homes. A great way to cut back on that energy usage is by installing a smart thermostat. Unlike traditional thermostats, a smart thermostat monitors your family's habits and continually adjusts your home's temperature depending on those habits. For example, it can learn the times of day when you're away at work in order to know when to switch your HVAC system on and off. Although smart thermostats are more expensive than the traditional ones, they can help you save big on your utility bills, and in the process, reduce your carbon footprint at home. According to Google, US customers are saved roughly 12 percent on their heating costs and about 15 percent on their cooling costs with a Nest thermostat.

Switch to smart lighting 

Lighting accounts for about 15 percent of electricity consumption globally, and about 5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. A great way to save the environment is by installing smart lighting in your home. First of all, smart lighting uses LED bulbs, which are a lot more efficient than the traditional incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs save energy because unlike incandescent bulbs, they can convert 95 percent of energy to light with only 5 percent going to waste as heat. LED bulbs are not only energy saving, but also long-lasting, easy to install, low maintenance and UV ray free. Smart lighting also comes with various clever features designed to improve energy savings further. For example, the daylight sensing feature that automatically dims or switches off bulbs depending on how much natural light is available can help reduce energy consumption. The occupancy sensing feature can also ensure that the lights in certain rooms, such as bathrooms, only turn on when someone is inside. When properly installed, smart lighting can reduce your lighting costs by 35-45 percent. Smart lighting also plays a key role in the overall design of a house. Lighting is more than just a tool to enhance visibility; it also sets the mood in a home. The ability to switch lights on and off automatically, dim them, or change their colors when needed can all affect the overall design of a home. 

Saving the environment starts with you. By doing simple things like switching to smart lighting or using a smart thermostat to control your heating and cooling system, you can do your part to reduce environmental degradation and save a lot of money at the same time. 

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