Smart home tech on a budget
Let’s start with smart thermostats, which save energy by automatically adjusting your heating or cooling system. You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling costs by adjusting your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for eight hours a day, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Remember, though, if you have a heat pump, do not change the settings more than one degree in heat mode to avoid kicking on expensive auxiliary heat.
You can program a smart thermostat to change the temperature when you are asleep or away, or use a smartphone app to adjust your thermostat settings. Prices range from $80 to $250, depending on features. Check to be sure a smart thermostat is compatible with your system.
Other appliances
Your water heater can also be controlled for energy savings. Installing a timer on it can save the energy it uses by turning it off at night. A smart heat pump water heater may be equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities for controlling it remotely, viewing the amount of hot water available and tracking energy use.
Smart lighting lets you control lights in your home remotely or set a lighting schedule that fits your lifestyle—beneficial for energy savings and home security.
Smart light switches, ranging from $10 to $50, are another budget-friendly way to control lighting. Smart plugs can be set to automatically turn off and on, or control them using a smartphone app. Prices range from $8 to $25.
For all these upgrades, consider the price tag as well as long-term savings.
Smart decor
A wide variety of styles of smart shades, curtains and blinds have integrated smart controls. You also can add smart controls to your existing blinds or curtains to reduce summer cooling needs and winter heating needs. Both options allow you to adjust the tilt of blinds and open or close curtains. Set a schedule, control them remotely or use a voice command paired with a voice assistant, such as Alexa or Google Home.
MIRANDA BOUTELLE writes on energy efficiency for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
