Smart Homes for Energy Efficiency – How Technology Saves Power

How Smart Homes Save Electricity – Key Technologies

Smart homes use the latest technology and multiple electronic devices. With so much focus on tech, how can smart homes save electricity? Well, lots of smart devices help people reduce their energy use.

We’ll go into more detail about the smart home devices that encourage energy efficiency. 

Smart Thermostats for Optimised Heating and Cooling

One of the main ways smart homes can preserve energy is through their efficient heating systems.

Smart thermostats learn user habits and adjust temperatures to keep rooms at the right temperature, without wasting unnecessary energy. Once a room reaches the perfect temperature, a smart system will stop heating it further.

Automated heating schedules also mean a more efficient use of energy. For example, you can program smart heating systems to turn off when you sleep and turn on towards your usual home time. It’s a huge energy saving, and a big money-saver too. While you’ll have to pay upfront for installation, you’ll reduce your heating bills. For more information on the finances, read our guide on how much smart temperature control costs.

You can also integrate some smart heating systems with weather forecasts. Plus, some can detect occupancy. So, if it’s hot and sunny outside, your smart heating system will know you’ll welcome a cooler home than usual. And if nobody’s around, it won’t waste energy heating an empty home.

Smart Lighting – Energy Savings with Automation

Similarly to smart temperature control, you can set up automated schedules for smart lighting which can lead to more efficient energy consumption. For instance, you can program your lights to switch off when you’re not home. Do you have a bad habit of leaving your living room lights on when you go to sleep? Time schedules will stop this. 

While you can program some lights to remain on for security reasons, you’ll still use less energy with automation. For example, you don’t have to leave your lights on for your entire holiday. Instead, automation can mimic expected patterns of lights going on and off – offering more protection from intruders and reducing your energy usage.

You can also choose smart lighting that adapts to natural daylight. Once there’s enough sun shining outside, your lights will turn off as they’re no longer needed. Equally, you can program lights to dim as the night draws in – helping you get to sleep while conserving energy.

Once again, you’ll experience long-term cost savings after installing smart lighting. To learn more, read about smart lighting costs.

Smart Power Strips and Plugs – Eliminating Standby Power Waste

Smart power strips and plugs are another way to save energy. These designs cut off power to unused appliances.

With a smart plug, you can remotely turn off devices connected to a power outlet. If you accidentally leave your TV on standby when you go out, simply use your phone to turn off the smart power strip or plug.

You can also use automation to control the hours that electricity powers your devices. For example, you can automate any plugs connected to non-essential devices (i.e. your TV, home printer, kettle, etc.) to turn off in the early hours – reducing energy wastage if you forget to flip switches before you head to bed.

Energy Monitoring Systems – Tracking and Reducing Consumption

There are more energy-saving smart home features than home automation. It’s not just about turning things off when not needed. It’s also about gaining a better understanding of when you do need something.

Smart energy monitors provide real-time insights into power usage, which allow homeowners to see which areas consume the most energy. With easy access to this valuable data, homeowners are empowered to make energy-efficient decisions. Once you see how much energy you waste by leaving music playing while you wander into another room, you’ll become more mindful of wasted energy and adjust your habits.

Smart Home Appliances – Efficiency with AI and Connectivity

Smart homes usually feature smart home devices, and these appliances are more likely to have built-in energy-saving features than their ‘traditional’ counterparts.

Appliances like energy-efficient smart refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers can cut down costs and reduce energy waste. By using the latest technology, like artificial intelligence (AI), they adapt their operations based on energy demand and usage patterns. For example, smart washing machines can automatically detect how much water you’ll need based on the weight of your clothes. Say goodbye to manually fiddling with endless settings!

The Role of Solar and Battery Storage in Smart Energy-Efficient Homes

You can also integrate smart home systems with renewable energy solutions to maximise energy efficiency.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) help homeowners store energy for later use. Usually, you’ll connect battery storage to renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines. The technology optimises consumption and reduces your reliance on the grid. Once again, although there’s an initial financial outlay, you’ll recoup your costs by using this (greener) energy instead of paying a utility company.

Another battery-based solution is the electric vehicle (EV). Instead of using fuel, EVs are powered by rechargeable batteries, saving you money on tank top-ups and keeping the air cleaner. Installing an EV charger on your driveway makes it easy to charge your car or van while you’re at home. However, it’s important that you set up your charging station properly. An EV charger must connect to the grid, so you can’t use a BESS as your energy source.

The Financial and Environmental Benefits of Smart Home Energy Efficiency

There are numerous benefits to smart energy-efficient homes – some financial, others environmental.

Some of the financial benefits of embracing smart home energy efficiency include:

• Lowering electricity bills with automated energy-saving solutions.
• Making long-term savings by investing in systems that let you generate (and store) energy.
• Increasing your property value by making your home more appealing to buyers, particularly if you improve your property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.
• Maximising government schemes: rebates and other financial incentives are available for homeowners who make energy-efficient choices.

Some of the environmental benefits of smart energy-efficient homes are:

• Lowering your energy consumption by cutting waste, thanks to smart energy management.
• Reducing your reliance on non-renewable resources by integrating with solar and wind energy.
• Shrinking your carbon footprint by using less greenhouse gases to heat your home.