Who doesn’t like saving money? If you’re like many families in America, finding ways to make your home energy efficient to save money on your utility bills is a top priority. The New York Times recently reported that Americans spend approximately $130 billion annually on wasted energy. There are three stages to achieving energy efficiency in a home: build it with energy efficiency in mind, maintain the structure and systems well, and implement home automation. The last of those three–implementing home automation–is often overlooked. Yet, using a well-integrated home automation system for energy efficiency is one of the best ways to save money in your home.
How Home Automation Systems Make Your Home More Energy Efficient:
How Home Automation Systems Make Your Home More Energy Efficient:- Automated Window Shades. Window shades do more than provide your family with privacy. They are instrumental in keeping direct sunlight from penetrating through the windows and heating the house’s internal temperature. About 75% of the sunlight that comes through the window panes converts into heat. Automated window shades can be programmed to open and close to welcome the warmth when you want it or keep it outside your home when you don’t.
- Automated Lights. Having the ability to turn lights on or off remotely creates convenience for families, and programming them to turn on and off at pre-set times adds to it. A tremendous amount of energy is wasted by lights that are left on unnecessarily in rooms and hallways throughout a home. Home automation removes that waste with easy-to-program modules. Adding motion sensors to turn lights on and off based on activity is another great way to ensure lights are only on when needed.
- Automated Outlets. You may not think automatic outlets save energy, but electrical devices plugged into outlets can have an enormous impact on energy savings. For example, many lamps are controlled through simple outlets. Setting up a fan to increase air circulation during warm temperatures is not unusual. Home automation systems allow you to program when these outlets, and consequently, the devices connected to them, will turn on and off so they aren’t operating unnecessarily. Turning the outlets off will also eliminate the electrical drain that happens with many appliances like dryers, toasters, and microwaves, even when the equipment is turned off.
- Connected Thermostat. It is now easy to remotely control your home’s thermostat and change its settings using simple applications from a smart device. It’s now easier than ever to set your thermostat to heat or cool your home to different temperatures based on the time of day or external weather conditions.
- Control Water Usage. Many home automation systems allow you to control water outlets or detect leaks from the comfort of your control panel or smart device. With a few taps on a screen, you can coordinate when your lawns are watered and consider factors like air temperature, rainfall, and ground moisture.
Are you ready to learn how to implement a home automation system for energy efficiency?
So many “smart” tools are at our disposal now to add convenience, comfort, and motivation to our lives. The best place to start creating your perfect smart home is with a quality foundational system. Our team will ensure your system will serve you well for decades to come.
Stop by and talk with our professionals at Accurate Electronic Interiors about the latest in home automation technology. Visit our AEI Showroom to feel what living in a smart home is like. Our team can help you decide which systems you’d like to have in your home and build a plan based on your budget to make it a reality.