Best Energy Saving Checklist for Your Home

The average home spends 45% of its energy on heating and cooling, 25% on lighting and 17% on appliances. The remaining 13% is used on water and heating. Electricity prices continue to rise across the nation, leaving many homeowners concerned about how they’re going to pay for their energy bills each month. Some homeowners have decided to invest in solar panels to help reduce energy costs, but that’s a big decision and a big initial investment.

A more practical and affordable solution for the average homeowner is home automation. Home automation makes the most efficient use out of your energy consumption by automatically and electronically controlling household fixtures, appliances and activity.

Let’s explore how you can use home automation to save energy in your home. We’ve included a handy checklist below.

• Smart Thermostats. With nearly half of your home’s energy going to heating and cooling, it makes sense to start here. A smart thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature in your home from anywhere. Over time, it learns your habits and will automatically adjust on its own.

• Automated Shades. For added savings, install automated shades or blinds that can be set to open and close at certain times of the day. They can also be adjusted to keep out the sun or bring it in, depending on the season.

• Automated Lighting. Another large chunk of your energy bill goes to lighting. Automated lighting systems adjust the lighting in the home whether you’re there or not.

• Motion Sensors. If everyone is asleep or not home but you still want a “lived in” look, install motion sensors that automatically turn on the lights at certain times of the day, or when triggered by movement.

• Smart Appliances. With nearly two dozen appliances in the average American home, it makes sense to reduce their energy whenever possible. Smart appliances can be controlled from your smartphone and put in energy-saving mode when you’re not home.

• Smart Outlets. Devices can drain energy even when they’re not being used. To prevent this from happening, use smart outlets. This saves you from having to unplug all of your devices at night, and you can use them to track energy use.

• Programmable Water Heater. Insulating your water heater can help, but a better option is to invest in a programmable water heater. This way, you may schedule when your water heater heats water, such as when you shower or do laundry.

To learn more about reducing your home’s energy use with home automation in Austin TX, call Texas Security & Surveillance.