Cooperative Living January 2019 - 30

CloserLook | by Kaley Lockwood, Contributing Writer
An Outlet for Energy Savings
D
oes the ebb and flow of your
energy bill have you searching for
an affordable way to reduce or
better control your use?
If your answer is yes, then look no
further, because we're taking a quick
look at a practical and affordable device
that allows you to better manage your
home's energy use. We're talking
about energy-saving outlets.
These next-generation devices
afford the same surge protection
as their predecessors, but also tie
in the " smart " functionality of an
internet-connected device.
There are several different
kinds of energy-saving outlets
available, but there are two
factors you should consider. First
is size: There are many different
sizes available, ranging from a
single external outlet to a power
strip with multiple sockets. The
second thing you'll want to
consider is Wi-Fi connectivity.
Internet-connected outlets,
commonly known as smart plugs,
may enable you to fully realize the
potential of these energy savings
because you'll have greater remote
control of the outlet through your
smartphone, tablet or home
assistant (like Google Home
or Amazon's Alexa).
You'll also want to consider
where you'll be using the energysaving
outlet and what you'll be
using it for. Answering these
questions will make it easier to
choose the device that works
best for you.
With smart plugs or smart power
strips, a few clicks and swipes on your
smartphone will enable you to fully
shut down the electrical currents to
your high-powered devices to prevent
them from consuming electricity even
when switched off. Several devices
found inside your home are commonly
referred to as " parasitic loads, "
28 | Cooperative Living | January 2019
" phantom loads " or " energy vampires. "
In fact, most entertainment systems,
such as televisions, DVD players and
video gaming consoles, consist of
several parasitic loads. These outlets can
potentially curb these loads, which can
cost the average household an extra
$200 per year.
In addition to preventing unnecessary
energy consumption, these energysaving
outlets are affordable for most
folks who are looking to trim their use.
The average smart outlet costs around
$10 to $20 on Amazon.com and has the
potential to pay for itself within two
years or less, depending on how often
you use it.
Convenience is also a
major factor to consider
when thinking about your
next efficiency upgrade.
Smart plugs typically come
with simple instructions to
download an accompanying
app on your smartphone
and then connect the plug
to your home's Wi-Fi. The
convenience in being able
to turn the device on and
off using your phone
cannot be understated.
Advanced smart plugs and
smart-plug apps also have
the ability to automate the
use with your schedule
and even your presence in
the home.
You can also have largeload
devices turn off at a
set time each night and
turn on every morning
when you're ready to use
them. If you want to use
your television, for
example, at a time that's
outside of the preset hours,
you can easily switch the
device on through the
smartphone app. Through
automation, you're able to power
down these energy-intensive
devices and prevent unnecessary
energy use.
For folks who are looking to optimize
their energy use and eliminate vampire
loads, smart plugs may be your best
option. For others who want more of a
hands-off option to save additional
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Cooperative Living January 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living January 2019
