Smart home automation offers you convenience, cost-effectiveness, and security. But it can also enable you to lead an environmentally conscious lifestyle. Keep reading to learn about smart home automation and how it can help you lead an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Smart home automation: What is it?
Smart home automation is basically the use of technology to control various systems, electronics, and appliances at home by a time schedule and activate them using a smartphone or other Internet-enabled devices from the comfort of your home or even distant locations. Some of the home systems that you can control leveraging the smart home automation include temperature, lighting, and security systems. You can also remotely control a variety of electronics and appliances, including the television, hot tub, coffee maker, and stereo.
Leading an eco-friendly lifestyle with smart home automation
Smart home automation can make your home greener by significantly minimising its energy consumption. And the good news is that there are tons of budget-friendly smart home technologies that can help you make eco-friendly choices every day. “Investing in home-automation technology is definitely the technological innovation that will drive the sustainability of our planet in the present and future” – say experts from Cold Air Central. Let’s now look at how these technologies can help you lead an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Regulate your home’s temperature remotely
Connecting a smart thermostat to your smart hub can help cut your energy bills by 15–30% per year. Smart thermostats enable you to set your thermostat according to your everyday routine to help you save more energy when you’re at work or on a vacation. Another advantage of having a smart thermostat installed is that it allows you to control your home’s temperature from distant locations. Some smart thermostats can even master your preferred temperature, which goes a long way in maximizing energy efficiency.
Energy management software
With this software, you can monitor water and energy consumption by area, specific device, or even time. This information can help you make some energy-saving adjustments in your home. For instance, you can program your home automation system to completely shut off idle devices. You can also inspect your appliances for leaks and have the leaky ones fixed or replaced.
Window treatments
Smart window treatment systems can help cut your HVAC energy usage by cooling your house during the hot summer months and warming it during the chilly winter months. For instance, you can set your window shades or blinds to automatically close when the temperature gets extremely high during the day. That way, your home will stay cool and you’ll reduce air conditioning usage. During the chilly month, you can minimize your heating unit usage by programming blinds to open during the coolest part of the day.
Lighting
Smart lights allow you to control indoor and outdoor lighting within your home and from distant locations using a control panel and a smartphone app respectively. You can even schedule the lights to automatically turn on and off at specific times, like turning indoor lights off during bedtimes.
Water effectively
Did you know that you can waste over 6,000 gallons of water every month through unnecessary watering? So by watering your lawn only when it’s necessary, you can significantly reduce your water usage and bills. And a good way to do that is by investing in a smart irrigation system. This system eliminates unnecessary watering by checking the latest weather forecast and changing the irrigation schedule when it detects rain.
If you have an indoor garden or a few potted plants in your house, a LED grow light will be a valuable investment. This light will supplement natural sunlight, activating photosynthesis, and offering the best color spectrum that allows your indoor plants to grow and flourish. To get the right bulb or fixture for your unique needs, be sure to buy from a reputable company.
Smart home sensors
There are different kinds of smart sensors designed to make your home comfortable and secure. For instance, light sensors will turn off lights in case you leave them on. Temperature sensors will adjust the smart thermostats if they detect an unusual change in temperature. Leak sensors, on the other hand, will detect leaks in unfrequented locations so that you can fix them before they turn into costly repairs.
Takeaway
These smart home technologies can help you save money and lead an environmentally conscious lifestyle. Relook them and identify those that will work for your smart home.
Tommy Williamson did his degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. He has an ongoing interest in mental health and well-being.
