Saving Energy (and Cash) Through Home Automation

We’re all looking for ways to reduce our energy consumption and lower our utility bills. Using home automation technology, this is completely achievable. How often have you forgotten to turn off your television, lights, and electronic devices before going out or going to bed or even heading out the door? With the help of this new technology, you can regain control over your energy use so you can focus on the other things in life that matter most to you.

According to the Huffington Post, U.S. citizens spend $241 billion on energy annually, ($2,100 per household.) If your electric bill seems particularly high and you’re not sure of the cause, home automation might help.

Take a look at these home automation products that lower your bills as well as minimizing energy waste.

Smart Power Strips
Even when they’re switched off, DVD players, game consoles, cable boxes and more can sap energy. This can be stopped by using smart power strips around your home. These pieces of equipment come with motion detection systems that shut your electronics off when you’re not around. Thus, reducing the amount of energy consumed.

Lighting Controls
How often do you leave the room and forget to turn off the light? Installing special lighting controls with occupancy sensors ensures the lights are turned off automatically whenever you’re not using a room.

Smart Thermostats
By installing smart thermostats in your home, you can control your home’s temperature easily while keeping costs down. Some smart thermostats are Wi-Fi compatible, allowing you to control them with your smartphone. This means you can manage your home temperature while on-the-go. And, if you forget to turn off your AC after you leave home, it’s no longer a problem.

Other smart thermostats can be programmed to turn off and on using motion detectors. Whereas some can be programmed to fall into place with your schedule. Consider using a thermostat on your garage exhaust fan for example.

Home automation is a very good investment when it comes to saving energy and cash within your home. Even though you have to invest some money to kit out your home, over time you’ll begin to see the savings. You can then relax in the knowledge that you’re helping protect the environment as well as saving yourself some hard-earned cash.

Want to save even more money on your energy bills? Install a whole house fan to save up to 90 percent of your home’s air conditioning bill, while still cooling your home.