With 68% of the world’s population expected to live in urban cities by 2050, smart home technology is becoming more critical than ever in protecting our environment.  Energy consumption is pivotal to minimizing our carbon footprint both individually and globally. So how does smart home technology impact the usage of our resources positively?

Integrating smart home solutions is cost effective for you and cuts down on the use of our natural resources. Here are four easy ways to make your home more energy efficient.

 

#1 Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats are low-cost solutions to reduce your energy bill and decrease your carbon footprint. Maintaining the proper climate for your home accounts for almost half of your energy consumption. Installing a smart thermostat can save you between 10 – 15% per year on heating and cooling costs. Lowered energy consumptions mean decreased carbon emissions that come from the use of inefficient thermostats. Did you know many utility companies are beginning to offer discounts for homes with smart thermostats installed?

 

# 2 Smart Lighting

35% of carbon dioxide emissions in America comes from power plants which impact global warming. By simply installing smart lighting and smart bulbs you can decrease your power usage by 85% and your bulbs last ten times longer.

Control your lights with personalized programming and the use of sensors within your smart lighting system. Sensors detect when you enter or leave a room decreasing wasted electricity and makes flipping switches a thing of the past. Geofences trigger your lighting as you leave or approach your home.

By effectively managing home lighting, you can make an impact on natural resources.

 

#3 Smart Switches, Outlets, Plugs, and Power Strips

Each U.S. home consumed about 11,000 (kWh) roughly 900 (kWh) monthly in 2017.

Smart switches connected to WiFi allow you to operate them from anywhere by using a mobile app. Smart speakers paired with your switches will enable you to control them with voice commands.

Smart outlets and plugs are controlled similarly to switches. These outlets and plugs can set your devices on a timer or turn them off remotely using a mobile app. Plug any device into a smart outlet or plug and control your energy consumption.

Replacing your power strip with a smart power strip can reduce electricity by managing the energy consumption of unused or devices in “sleep mode.”

Smart power strips manage power consumption by detecting WiFi connectivity and with the use of sensors and timers. Because unused devices consume energy just by the mere fact they’re plugged in. Smart power strips allow you to program your devices to cut off when they’re not in use, saving energy and money.

 

#4 Smart Sprinklers

The average American household consumes approximately 320 gallons of water per day. And about 100 gallons per day is to maintain lawns. Seems like a lot, right? However, there’s a solution to this.

Smart irrigation, connected to WiFi, will decide the best time to water your lawn. By just checking the weather forecast, the smart irrigation system will determine the best time of day water or if your lawn needs watering. According to this article installing a smart sprinkler system can save over 8,000 gallons of water per year per household. That’s over two days a month per household of water consumption.

Smart homes impact our sustainability efforts in a significant way. Consumer Reports say installing smart home technology can increase your chances of selling your home. Most homebuyers are energy savvy and not only want smart thermostats, smart lighting, smoke detectors, security systems, and locks, they also want to know they’re doing their part in protecting our environment.

Are you ready to take your home to the next level of green living?