As fellow Texans, we understand the need to ensure your home is ready to power through the heat long before the heat comes. Is your home equipped to keep your family cool in the coming months? Fortunately, several automated solutions can help your home’s systems reduce energy bills through careful management. All you need is Wi-Fi, a mobile device, an app to control these solutions, and assistance from our team. At Origin HiFi, we will ensure your home’s functionality is at your fingertips. Maybe you’re looking for a range of options to gain control of your energy efficiency. Here are our recommendations for inexpensive options you can get started with, plus some high-performance options we recommend to make your environment as comfortable as possible.
Beginner Energy-Efficient Options
You might think that switching your home to be more energy-efficient will break the bank, but take it from the professionals, there are cheaper alternatives. Just because these options are low-cost doesn’t mean they are less effective. Let’s take a look at the low-cost, high-efficiency options we recommend.
Smart LED Light Bulbs
Did you know that, at best, only 10% of the energy used by a traditional incandescent bulb is converted to light? Most of the rest is turned into heat and released into your home. A simple way to reduce the heat from your lighting is to swap those old lightbulbs for LEDs. LED lightbulbs not only use less energy for the same brightness, but they're more efficient as well which means big savings on energy and money. Leave the heating of your home to your heater.
Smart Power Strip
Maybe you’ve noticed certain rooms with entertainment or computer systems feel warmer than other rooms in your home. Your devices are the culprit. Although more warmth is welcome in cooler weather, it’s no secret that extra heat is undesirable in the summer months. Besides, these running devices are eating into your wallet as well. Unfortunately, unplugging these devices is the only way to completely cut their energy emissions unless you have a Smart Power Strip in your home. Once registered on your Wi-Fi network, your power strip can be controlled via a mobile app to “unplug” particular components. You can also set up times for specific strips or outlets to turn on and off, which can help enforce boundaries with entertainment and work devices while lowering indoor temperatures.
Smart Ceiling Fans
On days with lingering heat, your ceiling fan is the easiest way to dissipate the stifling warmth! Smart ceiling fans allow your thermostat to be set higher than your ideal temperature without sacrificing comfort. Some fans come with motion sensors and will automatically run whenever anyone enters the room, while others can adjust their speed based on their humidity and temperature sensors. Because they integrate with your thermostat, you can alter these settings to ensure your house is comfortable, even on the hottest days.
High-Performance Options
The following options come with a higher price tag and are more effective. When using all of these in conjunction, you will see a significant decrease in energy bills and an increase in energy efficiency.
Smart Thermostat
Our most recommended upgrade to your home is a smart thermostat due to its interactions with the rest of your home’s automated solutions. Smart thermostats are readily available and do most of the work in creating a comfortable home environment. Do you want to set cooler temperatures during the day while the sun is out and transition it a degree or two higher as the night falls? Some smart thermostats can even automatically self-regulate their temperature based on the weather forecast. Furthermore, you can set your smart thermostat to energy-saving mode when your family is out of the house for work or school.
Automated Window Shades
Everyone loves to fill their home with natural light, but the light brings an unwelcome summer visitor: heat. The temperature inside your home might climb as much as 20°F with sunlight coming through your windows, forcing your AC to work twice as hard to cool your home. Automated window shades are the perfect solution to block sunlight and minimize heat intensity during the sunniest part of the day. You can do it all by phone, so you won’t have to leave your couch or desk. Integrating these with your smart thermostat ensures they work together. Now you can enjoy the morning light and the beauty of changing colors outside your window.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
Refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers, dishwashers, and other household appliances are all sources of waste heat, raising the temperature inside your home. Energy-efficient appliances can reduce energy usage by up to 30% and electric bills by $200. When choosing these appliances for your home, look for the ENERGY STAR label, the trusted, government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, which helps us all save money and protect the environment through efficient products and practices.
Summer and hot temps are on the way, and it’s time to explore energy management solutions that will help your home and family. It’s crucial to know your home is ready before the weather comes. If you’re excited to invest in a smart thermostat or feeling confused about the full benefits of a smart ceiling fan, our team of professionals at Origin HiFi will help you create a comfortable home ready for any weather.