Home Automation System: Making Your Home Environmentally Friendly
In today’s day and age, people have grown interested in two large topics – how to be more environmentally friendly, and how to make things easier for themselves through technology.
Many of us are constantly on the lookout for ways that we can help the environment, either by causing less harm or improving the areas around us.
We are also looking for ways that technology can make our lives easier – think smartphones, tablets and almost anything on the Internet.
If you’re interested in these two topics, you’re also likely interested in anything that combines them.
While there are several places where these two things intersect, one place to start is through home automation.
Home automation systems perform simple tasks around your home, without you having to do anything. When set up properly, they not only make your life easier, but can help you save energy as well.
Here are a few examples.
Automatic Lights
One of the easiest home automation tasks to set up is automatic lights. Many homes have a version of this already, with an outside light turning on whenever it detects motion. This keeps it from being on constantly, and only turns on when you need it.
If you want to take things a step further, you can install motion lights in other parts of your home, or put them on a timer.
For instance, if you have an outside light, you could have it turn off on it’s own every night around the time you go to bed. Or you could install motion lights in your hallways, so that they are only on when someone is walking.
Your last option is to set up your lights to connect to your smartphone. Many home automation systems come with this feature, so that you can turn your lights on and off from anywhere. This is particularly useful if you are on vacation, but want to leave your lights on for a time to make it look like you are home.
Smart Thermostat
Your next option is to install a smart thermostat.
A smart thermostat can regulate the temperature of your home throughout the day, adjusting it based on what time it is. Or, for example, you could set it to turn the heat on during the Winter right before you get home. This allows you to not use the heat throughout the day when the house is empty, but still walk into a warm home.
By running your heating and air conditioning systems in a smarter way, you not only save energy, but you make things easier on yourself.
Your Sprinkler System
If your garden has a sprinkler system, or you have a lot of things that you need to water, setting up an automated sprinkler is a great way to save energy and time.
Rather than standing outside with a hose, your automated sprinkler system will give your lawn or garden the right amount of water each day, at the same time.
This means you don’t have to worry about wasting water, you can save time in your day, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting to water your garden.
Smart Power Strips
Finally, you can also install smart power strips throughout your home.
Not many people are aware, but devices that plug into the wall continue to drain energy, even when they are not in use.
In most homes, a small percentage of your energy bill is going towards these devices and appliances, even though they are not being used at the time.
To fix this, you plug your devices and appliances into a smart power strip, and it will shut off when they are not in use.
Smart power strips block your appliances and devices from using phantom energy, saving you money, and saving you the trouble of having to unplug everything you are not using.
Getting Started With Home Automation
If the above ideas sound good to you, then it’s time to get started with home automation.
First you’ll need to find a company that provides home automation, like these home automation services from Alder.
After that, it’s just a matter of installing the devices in your home, and setting them up for optimal efficiency.
After a little tweaking, you should find that tasks around your home have become a little easier, and you may even notice a drop in your energy bills.
Start looking into home automation today, and not only will your life become a little easier, but you’ll be helping the planet out in the process.
About the Author Staff Writer
Our writers come from all over the world, but one thing unites them - their passion for sustainability.