Many smart home devices have been designed to reduce waste and spending, and therefore make aspects of your home more efficient. A smart home can do more than make your daily routine more convenient. From better heating and cooling to more efficient sprinkler systems, many smart home products can help you cut down on your utility bills. Investing in a more connected home could repay you in the long run.
Before you purchase smart home appliances, be sure to research your options to determine which devices are best for your home. Savings and use will vary depending on the age of your home, the type of windows you have (single vs. double pane), etc. Let’s explore some smart home options that could potentially provide you with meaningful cost savings over time.
Smart Thermostats
The most obvious money-saving gadget for your smart home is the connected thermostat. Smart thermostats claim to save you between 10% and 20% on your heating and cooling bill. They typically work with Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Assistant and can often be controlled directly from a corresponding app.
Many thermostats learn and adapt to your preferences over time, so they make it easier to efficiently maintain your home at a comfortable temperature, which means you should be saving money on your heating and air conditioning bills for many years to come.
Smart Lights
LED bulbs are far more efficient than incandescent bulbs – whether they’re smart or not. If you want to save big on your electric bill, LED bulbs are a great place to start. As they become more common, prices for individual bulbs are going down.
Smart bulbs, timers, motion detectors and geofencing features mean you can lower your electricity bill by automatically switching lights off when you or your family forget. Some bulbs are controlled with an app or voice commands through popular digital assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google and Siri.
Smart Sprinklers
Not everyone has an inground sprinkler system, but if you do, investing in a smart sprinkler control system is a no brainer. The best ones monitor the weather automatically and adapt your watering schedule accordingly. Automatic monitoring can save you money as you won’t accidentally water when it rains.
Additionally, these systems only use the amount of water your lawn needs and when it is needed. They do this by knowing the soil type in each area of your plots, and which plants are growing in each area. Many smart sprinkler systems utilize an app that is easy to use and provides voice control options. The app will help you set schedules based on your specific yard conditions.
Leak Detector
A smart water leak detector will not only alert you to a potentially damaging flood, but it can also let you know if the pressure in your system suggests there is a leak somewhere – which is costing you money. You might purchase a leak detector, and it may never save you a dollar. However, if you end up in a situation where the leak detector finds a problem, it could end up saving time, money and a big headache.
Most leak detectors are placed on the floor near an area where a leak could occur, such as a water heater. You should also put one near a sump pump and plumbing junction. You will receive a notification if water is detected, and then you’ll be able to act quickly and prevent whatever is leaking from causing further damage.
There are also leak detection systems that constantly monitor the flow of your water system. You will be alerted to changes in pressure so that you can shut off the supply if a leak is detected.
Home Security System
There are many options when it comes to home security systems. Much like a leak detector, you hope you never have to see a return on the investment. A security system an investment where you must ask yourself what it would cost you if your home is broken into, and, most people would agree that a small monthly investment is worth protecting their home and the people in it.
As the first line of defense, providers of professional home security systems will provide you with stickers and signs that can be placed around your home to indicate that your house is not a good option for a would-be thief. They can also strategically place video cameras inside and outside of your home. These cameras have proven to be very useful in deterring criminals, including package thieves.
Also, with a professionally monitored home security system, you and the authorities will be notified immediately in the event of an attempted break-in. Preventing a breach in your home could save you hundreds or thousands in damages to your home – both interior and exterior – not to mention stolen valuables — and, most importantly, the safety of you and your family.
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