If you want to upgrade certain aspects of your home or go all out and do a complete overhaul and address all your electrical usage, there are many smart home options for you to take advantage of.
Before you jump in, you’ll want to determine which smart home technology or addition is the best for you. From solar panels to simple lightbulb changes, you can customize your home to make it as eco-friendly as you’d like! Let’s look at some of the best options on the market today.
Window Coverings
Low-E glass, or low-emissivity glass, is becoming more popular as trends turn towards more eco-friendly options.
Low-E glass works by using a microscopic layer or metallic particles that adhere to the glass that reflects infrared radiation so that solar energy is reflected back. This keeps your home cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter, and helps decrease your energy bill!
Another big plus of Low-E glass is that it helps prevent discoloration of furniture, curtains, rugs, and carpet over time, unlike traditional, non-Low-E glass.
In addition to Low-E glass, there is also the option of window tints. Window tints can be retrofitted to any window, making them a versatile option for those looking to add a more eco-friendly window covering to their home.
These window tints use a window film that is adjustable in opacity by transitioning from clear to completely opaque by applying a voltage to the film PDLC or particle displaced liquid crystals. This also removes any need for window treatments.
They can also be controlled by your favorite smart home platforms, like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, and they are a great choice if privacy is one of your concerns. However, the only downside of window tints is that they don’t fit the aesthetics of many homes, so you’ll want to make sure they fit yours before you invest in them.
Solar Panels
We’ve all heard about how solar power is the future of energy production and that fossil fuels are harmful to the environment. We can now contribute to the amount of solar energy production right in our homes!
With the addition of solar panels, you can receive amazing tax rebates and credits, up the resale value of your home, and help reduce our collective dependence on fossil fuels, but you can also reduce or even eliminate your energy bill!
Solar energy derives from exactly what it seems: pure energy from the sun. The amount of savings you’ll receive on your energy bills does depend on where you live and how much sun you tend to get, but even on cloudy days, you can still generate power.
Traditional energy is costly and also really does harm our environment. Our collective reliance on coal and natural gas does need to lessen, and solar panels are a great step in the right direction. Solar panels combat greenhouse emissions and are a clean, renewable energy source.
LED Light Bulbs
One of the best options for those looking to dip their toes in the water of smart home options is switching to LED light bulbs. It is a cheap and easy way to make your home more eco-friendly.
There are so many ways you can customize your smart home lighting to be completely automated. This is a fantastic way to save money over time because you won’t have to worry about kids leaving lights on overnight or leaving lights on when you’re away.
Most LED lights can connect to your entire house lighting setup, set to specific times, and even have an option for “vacation-mode” lighting. However, before investing in your LEDbulbs, make sure you buy the right ones that will pair correctly with your smart home platforms.
While you can hire a certified professional to help you install your new lighting or help you with the automation, you can do it yourself too.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are a very popular eco-friendly choice when it comes to smart homes. They can be completely customized to meet the needs of you and your family. They can adjust your home’s temperatures so that you’re not paying for more than you should when you’re not even home.
When you’re choosing your smart thermostat, make sure you get one that is Energy Star rated. This means they have been independently certified to actually deliver energy savings. They often come with various features such as automatic daily temperature schedules, the ability to change based on weather conditions in your area, programmable temperatures, and more.
Smart Plug Options
Smart sockets and plugs are a great way to turn your “dumb” home into a “smart” home. These plugs and sockets make it so that you can control what appliance is on or off, no matter where you are. Smart sockets are just a power adapter that fits between your power socket and whatever appliance you choose.
Forget to leave a lamp on while you’re at work? No problem, your smart plug makes it so that you can turn it off remotely. It’s effortless to install; simply plug the smart plug into an adapter, plug it into whatever appliance you want, and connect it to a smart home platform like Alexa.
Smart Water Options
There is nothing worse than having a leak in your home that causes damage without you even knowing it existed beforehand. There is a solution to this, though: smart water detectors. Water monitors can detect a leak in your home so that you can get it under control before it spreads or causes more damage.
These detectors can even shut off your home’s water valves before the water even has a chance to cause damage. A water monitor is a worthwhile investment if you want to make sure your home is safe from minor or major leaks.
