The “SMART” Way To Conserve Energy

Nothing looks better on your bank account than saving money. By upgrading your home and adding automation and remote access to your heating, lighting, security, and appliances you can reduce you’re your consumption and lighten the load. With an average annual uptake of 20% over the past three years, smart technology is on the rise.

A smart home allows the homeowner to control how much electricity is being used throughout the day. Smart meter technology, where electric companies offer time-of-use pricing usually around peak hours of 10 am -7 pm, has boosted the popularity of smart homes. Homeowners now have the ability to control their use of electricity and save on their monthly bills.

The smarter your home is the bigger your savings. If there is room in your budget to install smart devices in your home, you will save in the long run. Below are the Top 4 Smart Home items that you can easily install and use immediately to get you started conserving energy and saving money as well!

Money-Saving Tip # 1: Use Smart Plugs

Without sounding like a star trek episode we must discuss the “Phantom Load”. This is the electricity being used that you may be overlooking like the clock on your microwave. Smart plugs allow you to cut off the energy supply to devices when they don’t need it. This is usually during the day when you are not home and in the “Peak” hours of electric company billing. How many times have circled back home to make sure you turned off the Iron or the coffee maker? With a smart plug, you can make sure they are off with an app.

Money-Saving Tip # 2: Smart Thermostat

Now that you have your smart plugs all set up and the savings has begun, let’s move on to heating and cooling. What makes it different from the regular thermostats we use now with settings? The controls are right at your fingertips, you can take advantage of running the heat and cooling (Central Air) during off-peak times which you save lots of money. Some of the newer thermostats are capable of learning your habits and knowing what temperatures you prefer throughout the day.

If you plan on getting home later than usual, you can change the settings easily, again saving you money. Sudden cold front! No worries, you can get that heat going so your home is nice and toasty when you and the kids get home. And great for pet lovers, this is also a great way to regulate the temperature in your home for your fur babies. A sudden change in the weather will not have you scrambling home.

Money-Saving Tip # 3: Smart Home Appliances

Modern kitchen appliances are revolutionizing how we interact with our kitchens. No, we are not quite in the age of the “Jetsons” but we are getting pretty close. You can communicate with your refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and range all from your smartphone. One of our favorite features is the ability to see into your fridge from your phone. When it comes to savings you can control your settings, like super frost, to run in the evenings during off-peak hours. This is also true for your dishwasher and washing machines.

Money-Saving Tip # 4: Smart Light Bulbs

Smart bulbs last longer, use less energy and you can control them remotely. They are usually LED lamps which means you will change them less often and you will have less waste in your home. Lighting uses more energy than any other electronic device in your home, so why not upgrade now and enjoy the benefits?

Security is another benefit of smart bulbs. You can set the lights to go on and off at various times of the day, giving the illusion that someone is home for any potential burglars.

We hope this article gave you some inspiring tips on how to conserve energy and save money for your next NYC renovation. From MyHome to yours, thanks for stopping by.

If you’re ready to renovate your NYC home, we’re happy to help you through the process! Contact us and get your home remodeled!