Green Technology to Save Money and the Planet
Today we have many options for green technology products that can help reduce energy consumption, and in some cases save money. You may already be familiar with Energy Star Rated appliances. But more recently, companies are creating products that learn from your unique behaviors to make your home smarter and more efficient. These “smart” devices and appliances in your home connect to the Internet, so you can easily access and control them with your phone or computer.
Programmable Wi-Fi thermostats.
Programmable thermostats connected to the Internet are becoming more commonplace and one of the most frequent use of green technology. Most of these thermostats cost around $215-250 each and end up paying for themselves in about 1.5-2 years with energy savings. Typically, they have features such as responding to voice commands, being programmable from your phone and learning your behavior, so they automatically adjust temperature settings based on previous usage. These thermostats serve to heat and cool your home in the most efficient way to save on energy costs. They will turn down energy usage when you are out of your home or are asleep, and they will adjust the temperature when you are home.
Home LED lighting and automation.
Switching to LED lighting in your home is far more energy efficient than traditional incandescent light bulbs. The cost of LED lighting has come down considerably in the past few years, and now, many manufacturers are offering automated LED light technology. Automated LED technology allows you to connect your lighting directly to the Internet so you can adjust your lighting through your phone via an app, whether you’re home or out.
Smart Appliances.
You have more options for smart, energy efficient appliances for your home than ever before, such as the LG Smart Washing Machine and Stove with Wi-Fi Smart Diagnosis, using ThinQ technology. This green technology connects online and uses Smart Grid technology that determines optimal wash times, providing the cheapest electricity rates at any given time. Electrical rates are highest during peak usage times, so ThinQ works to find the times when usage is low, and consequently rates are lowest. Other smart appliances that can be connected to smart electric meters or home energy management systems to help you shift your electricity use to off-peak hours include air conditioners, refrigerators, dishwashers, and many more.
Energy saving apps.
Here’s a list of some of our favorite apps you can use to monitor your energy use and help save on energy costs:
- JouleBug – This app makes a game out of your energy usage, and organizes energy-saving tips into achievements, allowing users to climb leaderboards and fill virtual trophy cases, all while helping them live more sustainably and save a tidy sum of cash in the process.
- Kill Ur Watts – This application is fairly simple and allows you to view, track, and manage the electricity used in your home. By giving users simple, easy-to-read graphs highlighting information such as peak usage times and costs, daily and historical electricity usage, and energy score, you can significantly reduce home energy costs.
- Meter Readings – All you have to do is enter the information from your utility meters, and this app will do the rest for you. It provides graphs and real info to measure your usage, costs, and savings. It will even provide you with detailed information about other energy providers in your region.
While green technology is increasingly available to find and use, it is still up to you to make the effort and make a change.