Are you looking for ways to upgrade your home while staying environmentally conscious? We don’t blame you. Being environmentally responsible has been a significant concern in recent years, and it’s becoming everyone’s responsibility to limit how many of the world’s natural resources we consume.
And the good news is if you are a homeowner or are planning on becoming one, there are many things you can do to make your home more eco-friendly – and even better, the majority of them contain cutting-edge technology that’s exciting to use.
Continue reading to discover three high-tech, eco-friendly home features to consider when making home improvements.
1. Solar Panels
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Let’s start with something you’ve probably heard of but never thought you would actually try because they’re expensive: solar panels that leverage the power of green energy. You may be eligible for a tax credit for purchasing and installing solar panels on your home, plus you’ll be improving the market value if you decide to sell in the future.
Traditional power is generated using fossil fuels like natural gas and coal. Solar power systems harness the sun’s clean, pure energy while also helping to reduce carbon emissions, eventually weaning our collective dependency on fossil fuels.
You can install solar panels yourself or hire a contractor. Some states offer solar leasing arrangements where you can collaborate with a business that installs and maintains solar panels.
If you’re worried about the aesthetics of solar panels, some modern, sleek options seamlessly fit into your roof versus the clunky panels that sit in your yard or are mounted to your roof. You can also have the option to choose portable solar panels.
2. Technology for Home Energy Management
One of the easiest ways to save energy at home is to identify where you’re utilizing the most power, and a household energy monitor makes that data available to you. Whether you choose to monitor your power usage outlet by outlet or invest in a home energy management system with all the fun upgrades, knowing how much power you can help you reduce your energy consumption and save money.
Like most renewable tech, home energy monitors range from simple to elaborate. You can purchase simple monitors to assess energy use in a single power source or build a full-fledged home energy monitoring system. When you put the monitor into a regular outlet, it talks with your smart power meter to inform you how much energy you use at home, in which rooms, and at what time of day. Some can even trace it back to the specific outlet.
All of that data is sent to your computer via the gadget, allowing you to see where you’re spending the most energy. Some home energy monitoring systems may even send energy data directly to your smartphone, allowing you to regulate appliances wirelessly and lower your house’s energy consumption on the move.
3. Smart Power Strips
Have you ever heard of the term “vampire power?” Because they don’t switch off, all of those devices that plug into the wall, such as your TV, DVD player, and video gaming systems, continue to use energy even when they are turned off. Instead, they enter “standby mode,” which consumes energy even when turned off.
Before smart power strips were popular, the only method to snare these vampires was to disconnect items while not in use. That’s not so convenient! However, smart power strips cut off all electricity through a control device.
Most people are already utilizing a power strip for their home entertainment system – simply replace that strip with a smart power strip. When you turn off your “control” device, your smart power strip cuts power to all the other devices on the strip, causing them to be entirely turned off rather than wasting electricity in standby mode.
Conclusion
As more information comes out about the damage we are doing to our planet, it’s wise to start incorporating environmentally-friendly tech into our homes. These eco-friendly home upgrades help with energy conservation. They also reduce carbon footprints and do not cause damage and pollution.
We can make a difference in the world we love by making little adjustments in our daily lives.