The popular question we commonly receive is, “Can a Smart Appliance Really Save You Money?”
In an answer, yes – but read on:
Smart appliances are designed to make life more convenient and comfortable. What few people know is that one of the greatest benefits of switching to smart devices is that it can also save money on a monthly Texas utility bill which never tends to go down, but keep incrementally inching up every year.
But are these electricity savings really worth it when the cost of buying or installing smart devices is taken into account?
Below is a list of smart devices and how much money each of these devices is likely to save to help you figure out whether switching is really worth it.
Smart Thermostat (Or learning thermostat)
Climate control has become more than a convenience and is a necessity in every modern home. However, keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer is one of the biggest contributors to your power bill. Installing a smart thermostat gives you greater control over your heating and cooling appliances or devices letting you decide when they need to work and when they need to save energy.
The good news is that you don’t have to replace your existing HVAC (Heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems with smart ones. You can simply invest in a smart thermostat with integrated smart wifi, that is compatible with your existing system. There is a wide range of smart thermostats available on the market that all offer different features and levels of control.
The most basic units allow you to program the HVAC system as to when it should turn on and off and the desired temperature. Other versions allow you to take control remotely, turning the system on and off or changing temperature via an app on a smartphone, tablet, or computer no matter where you are in the world.
The ultimate smart thermostat learns your climate control preferences after just a few days and takes over control from you. This thermostat will learn when you want it to turn on and off and your preferred temperature setting at different times of the day and eventually at different times of the year.
A smart thermostat costs anywhere between $250 and $30 depending on the features and functions that it offers. The learning thermostat is going to be the costliest but is also going to provide you with the greatest savings.
It is estimated that a learning smart thermostat will save you 20% of the cost of cooling and heating your home. This is an average of around $140 for an average household per year. A thermostat with remote capabilities has an estimated savings of around 12% on heating and 15% on cooling costs.
So, if you purchase a learning smart thermostat for $250, it will pay for itself within 2 years and is definitely worth the investment. A Nest learning thermostat, also known as Google Nest, is one popular brand and model that provides a lot of useful features.
Smart Refrigerator
Like any modern smart kitchen appliance these days, most refrigerators that are available on the market must be compliant with the current energy savings requirements. However, there are more ways that you can save on energy and therefore money with a smart refrigerator. Your refrigerator is automatically controlled by a thermostat to ensure that the temperature remains the same. Every time the fridge door is opened, cold air escapes, and warm air is let in which means the fridge needs to work harder to cool it to the set temperature again.
Smart fridges have a variety of different options to prevent opening that fridge door constantly. Some fridges will take a picture of the fridge every time the door closes that can be sent to your smartphone upon request. This picture prevents you from having to open the door to check what’s inside so that you know what to shop for and what food may be expiring. Other fridges change the door to glass when you tap on it instead of having to open the door.
The power savings from these smart fridges may be minimal but you will also be saving on expired food or buying perishable food items that you don’t need. Never mind the savings on fuel driving back and forth to buy something you might have forgotten.
An energy-saving fridge can save you up to 10% on your refrigeration bills. A smart fridge is going to save you a little more. While it is going to take you some time to recover your initial outlay for the fridge, it may be well worth the convenience the additional features offered. Most of these models also have a built-in air purifier and water filter as well and are wifi connected with even voice control as an option – integrating with Alexa and Google.
Smart Lighting
Lighting is another energy-draining electrical device in the home that we just can’t live without. Changing all your bulbs to LED can save you up to 10% on your power bill. These bulbs produce less heat and therefore require less power to operate than standard light bulbs plus they last much longer. the bulb’s color can range from cool white to daylight and warm white as well as a range of RGB colors you can control with your smartphone.
Smart lights already come equipped with energy-saving LED light bulbs. They also have a variety of other features that will save energy and money at the end of the day. Smart lights equipped with motion sensors will turn on when you enter a room but will also turn off when no motion is detected in the area after a certain amount of time. Ideal for a home with kids who are always forgetting to turn the lights out when they leave a room.
Lights with timer switches will turn off or on at a preprogrammed time. This is ideal if you have a regular routine or are away and want it to look like someone is home. Smart lighting with remote capabilities allows you to turn the lights on and off as please no matter where you are in the world. These lights are controlled by an app that can be downloaded onto a smartphone, tablet or laptop. These are ideal for those who travel often.
It isn’t necessary to exchange all your existing lighting for smart lights. Motion sensors, remote control, and timers are available that can be connected to your existing lighting. Just don’t forget to change out those outdated halogen bulbs for energy-saving LEDs to get the greatest savings on your lighting bill.
It is difficult to calculate just how much you will save on your power bill every month because there are so many different factors to take into account. The amount of time you and the other members of your household are at home, the size of the house, the climate and so much more will determine how much you will save.
However, the cost of changing to LED bulbs or installing one of the smart devices to control your lighting is nominal and should pay for itself within just a few months of switching.
Smart Plugs
The simplest most efficient way to save money on power is to simply turn anything that uses electricity off. This is especially true for electronics that have a standby mode. Although standby mode only uses a tiny amount of power, when you add up all the usage of all the electronics in your home over a period of time, turning them off at the wall socket or plug can result in significant savings.
Smart plugs simply turn off an electrical appliance, electronics, and electrical devices at a preprogrammed time. There are also versions available that allow you to turn the power to these items on and off remotely. The plugs will set you back between $15 and $20 – an amount that can be recovered over a pretty short period of time after which you are putting the savings back in your pocket. Smart plugs are definitely a worthwhile investment.
While smart appliances you can buy that are currently on the market now are going to save you money in the long run, ensuring that you are receiving the best rates from a power provider in your area can offer immediate savings. This site can help you answer these questions, and can generate a comparison of power providers in seconds, and you can sign up and start saving in minutes. Either way, making small changes over time can add up to large Texas electricity bill savings at the end of the year.
