The average household in the US spends $2,000 on utility bills every year, driving up the cost of homeownership. The skyrocketing cost of power is driving many homeowners to seek cheaper power sources. And many of them are gravitating towards harvesting the sun’s energy.
Buoyed by the evolution of ultra-lightweight solar panels is driving the spiking solar installation services. The modern solar panels are powerful, durable, and easy to install, making them a hit in a market motivated by cost savings.
Here are additional ways to lower your utility bills while giving your home and stylish upgrade:
Smart Thermostats
A typical homestead in the US spends about $111 on electricity every month. More than half this amount goes to heating and cooling the home during the months of adverse weather. Installing a smart thermostat lets you lower your power bill by up to 20%. These programmable units allow you to program your home’s heating and cooling schedule.
You can set the unit to turn off the air con when there’s no one home. Or have it start running a few minutes before you get home. You get to come home to a warm and toasty house throughout the winter without running up your power bills.
A digital thermostat lets you track your home’s energy usage. A home energy profile shows you how your energy usage changes with time. The data help forecast your future energy costs. You can also use it to lower your energy costs even further. A Wi-Fi thermostat lets you program your home’s cooling unit from your mobile phone.
Smart Lighting
Lighting is the second-biggest consumer of power in your home. That’s why it’s advisable to switch to an intelligent lighting system. Smart bulbs are superior to traditional energy-saving bulbs. They work harder, use less energy, and have more controls.
Smart lighting systems let you create a custom ambiance for your home while maximizing energy savings. You can rig the smart exterior bulbs with a motion detector to beef up home security. The light turns on automatically whenever you pull up into your driveway. You get to secure your home without keeps the lights on throughout the night.
Additionally, such as system gives you greater control. Some smart bulbs integrate with your home automation system. And you can control them with an app on your smart device. That allows you to check and turn off any light that’s left on accidentally when you’re away. Best of all, there are smart bulbs on the market to suit every budget range.
Smart Switches and Plugs
Smart switches let you rid your home of ‘energy vampires.’ These are standby electronics such as TV and game consoles that slowly drain your power. Leaving such items on standby mode increases your home’s energy consumption by 16%.
Smart strips, switches, and plugs let you monitor and eliminate this energy drain. Strips are far superior because they ship with motion sensors. They will shut down your electric system once they detect you’ve left the house. Some plugs and switches are paired with an app so you can turn off the electronics remotely through your phone.
Smart switches are ideal if you’re prone to leaving your lights, speakers, humidifiers, and lights running. They’ll help you minimize your power consumption and boost your home safety and security.
Smart Water System
The EPA estimates that a typical family of four uses up to 88 gallons of water daily. That means the average water bill in the US is about $70 a month. Switching to water-efficient appliances and low-flow fixtures can lower your water consumption by 30%.
Low-flow cisterns use 1.28 gallons (4.85 l) of water per flush, down from 6 gallons. A household of four can save up to 16,000 gallons (60,566.59 l) a year. Installing low-flow faucets can lower your water consumption by 20% and save nearly 3,500 gallons (13,248.94 l) of water. Better yet, decreasing water consumption corresponds to lower electricity bills.
WaterSense labeled products — faucets, showerheads, washers, and dishwashers — consume up to 30% less water. That lowers the amount of water to heat with each usage. Typically, water-efficient appliances have excellent cost savings. They’ll pay for themselves many times over their lifetime.
Thanks to evolving technology, intelligent devices are readily available at all pricing points. Anyone can use these innovative solutions to lower their power and water bills without breaking the bank. Intelligent solutions are convenient and improve your home’s safety and security. To crown it all, smart devices let you recoup your costs over their lifetime.
