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Did you know you can save money month after month by just installing smart devices in your home?
Yes, utility providers such as energy, gas, water, and even insurance companies will provide reward programs and even discounts for smart homeowners to help cut costs.
With a DIY attitude and some smart home devices, you can build your own smart home to save you money.
Let’s take a look at which smart home devices can save you money by simply taking a day to upgrade your home’s technology.
Smart lighting will save you money and the environment.
When it comes to saving on energy costs, most people think of smart bulbs which can help lower your electricity bill, but there are other ways to save as well.
Smart plugs are another simple way to make your home smart and save some money in the process. You can plug in a few of these devices around your home and make sure things are switched off when you are away by using the app or automatically (dusk till dawn) using a timer.
Our go-to smart plug is WeMo mini which is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit.
You can also use smart switches to control your lighting, they can also be budget-friendly in the long term compared to buying smart bulbs.
Smart switches allow you to control a number of bulbs and multiple fixtures that are connected to a single switch.
The con with smart switches is that they require hands-on electrical installation. This means you have to disconnect the old wire and rewire the new one into the wall.
Also, some smart switches require a neutral wire which older homes may not have in their electric switch box. Fortunately, there is still a way to install a smart switch without a neutral wire.
Any of these smart home gadgets can save you money but the best option is to see what works best for you and your family.
Reduce Heating and Cooling Cost
Using a smart thermostat can help you save up to 23 percent with your energy provider, according to ecobee.
Installing a smart thermostat is a simple way to make sure you are being as inefficient as possible with your energy usage.
We choose the ecobee for heating and cooling savings. By using eco+, it improves our home’s energy efficiency, as it looks at things like local weather, home occupancy, and variable electricity rates to shift our home’s energy usage accordingly.
Most of these devices can also set schedules by using your phone to automatically adjust the temperature when you are not home or on vacation.
Smart thermostats also allow you to monitor your usage over time and compare your home efficiency to the neighbors.
This creates a big impact by encouraging individuals to band together to reduce energy consumption in their neighborhoods.
You can also get rewarded for using clean energy with potential discounts and rebates from your energy provider.
Conserve water to save money
Taking advantage of water-saving technologies can be a simple step you can take around the house.
According to State of the Plant, Homeowners spend billions of dollars on their lawns as farmers do on crops. Most of this water is wasted due to poor timing and application.
Lawn care is just one part of the problem but fortunately, there are alternatives to conventional lawn care.
We can all do our part by using customizable and programmable sprinkler control systems.
Smart sprinkler controllers are a great way that can conserve water by using a weather monitoring system and smart technology that you can control from anywhere.
If you don’t have an irrigated sprinkler system in your yard, you can substitute it with a smart faucet timer.
It’s not as customizable as a smart sprinkler system but it does take weather into account which allows you to control the garden hose with smart commands using Alexa.
Another water-saving technology is water leak prevention. Water leaks are not if but just a matter of when.
Water leaks are very easy to go unnoticed and become part of your regular operating expenses.
A way to fix this solution is by using leak detection which monitors and detects any leaks in real-time.
There are plenty of good smart water detectors on the market but the one we use is part of our Ring Alarm system, the Ring Flood and Freeze Sensor.
Not only can the Ring smart water sensor alert you if there’s a leak, but also alerts you on your smartphone when low temperatures (below 40F / 4.4C) are detected.
There are other ways to prevent leak detections if you are willing to spend an extra couple of dollars.
The Guardian Leak Prevention Kit can automatically shut off the water main to prevent further damage.
What’s great about this smart detector, you don’t need to hire a plumber, it’s easy to install and perfect for DIYers.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work with smart home systems and it doesn’t monitor water usage but it’s a great returned investment over the long haul to prevent a major catastrophe.
You can find the Guardian Leak Prevention Kit at your nearest Home Improvement box store or on Amazon.
Home Insurance Reward Smart Home Consumers
According to Nationwide, one home is broken into every 14.6 seconds, which is more common than most of us think. Homes without security systems are up to 3 times more likely to be targets
90% of convicted burglars say they avoid homes with security alarm systems.
This information is very alarming, but the good news insurance companies like Geico, Progressive, Allstate, Liberty Mutual and etc. provide savings of up to 20% if you installed a home security alarm system.
Similar to car insurance for anti-collision, driving defense certification, or other safety features.
Another great thing is if you own a median (2,500 square feet) size house, you can easily purchase a DIY home security system.
We use the Ring Alarm, which provides an entry-level home security system kit to get started. It includes a base station, a keypad, a motion detector, a contact sensor for windows and doors, and a range extender to communicate between the devices to eliminate any dead zones for larger homes.
What’s even better is the Protect Plus Plan, which is only $10 per month or $100 for the year. That’s less than most of its competitors if not all.
It includes a cellular backup and recording of events from unlimited number of cameras.
For an extra layer of protection, we added the Ring Doorbell Pro, an all-weatherproof floodlight cam, and a Spotlight Cam.
But you don’t have to go with Ring as there are tons of other DIY smart home security systems in the market. Your first step is to hop on the phone to discuss potential discounts that you may be eligible for with your insurance provider. It’s worth it.
Final Note
By investing in some of these devices, you can save a lot of money and be more energy-efficient. No matter which device you start with the benefits of a smart home consumer are sure to decrease your household expenses.
While you’re here, please, don’t forget to check out the recommended gadgets page for the best tech for your buck.
For more useful tips and tricks with Home automation, please continue to check out AutomateYourCrib.com.
Please e-mail me (rodney@automateyourcrib.com) your opinion, or comment or if you have any ideas for a future post you would like to read, drop me a line or two as I appreciate my audience.
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Until next time, enjoy!
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It's great to see that you have come across my website. I hope you explore it thoroughly. The website caters to regular consumers who have an interest in home automation. I am based in the Tri-state area and enjoy the latest smart tech along with my wonderful wife and three energetic boys.
