Cooperative Living November/December 2023 - 20

CLOSER LOOK
Energy-Saving
Gadgets and Gifts
Four tips for getting the best smart
technologies for your home
by Paul Wesslund, Contributing Columnist
W
iith theth the holidays approac
shoppers will soon be ey
an abundance of devices
and gadgets to gift friends and loved
ones - or to buy for themselves.
When it comes to cool new
technology, many consumers are
turning to smart home devices that off er
convenience as well as other benefi ts,
including one oft en-overlooked perk:
energy savings. With so many options
available, choosing the best technology
for your needs can be overwhelming.
Here are four tips to help you
determine the right smart home
technologies for your home:
ASK YOURSELF HOW SMART
YOU WANT YOUR HOME TO BE
Smart plugs, energy-use apps and
home monitors are cool devices that can
help you save energy. But to make the
most of them, it helps to understand
how they work. Before you invest your
time and money, ask yourself, how much
technology do you want? What are your
habits when it comes to setting up and
using the latest developments? If you like
to tinker, an energy app on your phone
could be fun and help you save money.
But as electronics get smarter, even
When it comes
to cool new
fifififififififififi, many
consumers are
turning to smart
home devices that
ff er convenience
as well as other
benefi ts, including
energy savings.
oaching,
will soon be eyeing
wil soon be eyeing
non-tech-savvy people are
fi nding them easier to use.
Smart home
devices offer
convenience as
well as energy
savings.
GET THE MOST BANG
FOR YOUR BUCK
Th e most frequently purchased
energy-saving device is a smart
thermostat. And that makes sense
because the thermostat controls your
heating and cooling, which account
for the most energy consumption in
your home. Smart thermostats can
do things like program an energy
schedule to adjust the heating or
cooling when you're sleeping or out of
the house during the day. Additional
smart thermostat features include
detecting movement in a room to adjust
energy use, learning your daily habits,
responding to voice commands, and
tracking the weather.
Renters might even be able to
convince a landlord to pay for an
energy-saving smart thermostat.
If you have a heat pump, you could
benefi t by contacting your electric
co-op before using a smart thermostat.
Lowering the temperature too much
when you're not home could result in
switching to more expensive auxiliary
heat to bring the house back to room
temperature.
Other devices that can produce
energy savings for minimal cost and
eff ort include smart lightbulbs, outlets
and charging stations.
DETERMINE YOUR
ENERGY-SAVING GOALS
A home energy monitor is one way
18 * Cooperative Living * November-December 2023
to save on electricity, and the
range of choices means you'll need
to ask how much you're willing to
pay and if it's worthwhile. One study
found that spending about $1,800 on a
full-home commercially installed energy
monitor could save about 16% on electric
bills and pay for itself in 10 to 15 years.
Much less ambitious approaches involve
downloading an app on your phone
so you can keep track of your electricity
use, and even turn smart appliances on
and off when you're away.
PERFORM AN ENERGY CHECK
Take a walk through your home to
identify everything that uses electricity.
You'll likely notice a lot of functions that
could be managed with smart devices.
If your phone sits plugged in long aft er
it's charged, smart power strips and smart
outlets can stop the electricity use when
the battery is at 100%. Smart lightbulbs
can be controlled with an app on your
phone, saving energy and giving your
home that lived-in look when you're away.
Ceiling fans can now adjust themselves
for the best airfl ow depending on the
temperature. Motion detectors can turn
indoor lights on and off when you enter
or leave a room, and even solar-powered
outdoor lights can detect when you're
approaching and light the way.
With just a little planning, you can
make sure this gift -giving season is merry,
bright - and smart.
*
Paul Wesslund writes on consumer and
cooperative aff airs for the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association.
co-opliving.com
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Cooperative Living November/December 2023

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