The issue of sustainability has never been higher on the public’s agenda.
As we move into a new decade, homes are becoming increasingly sympathetic to their environment. Built using sustainable materials, new homes are focused on being as energy efficient as possible as well.
Even in your existing home, there are plenty of options available by which you can improve your energy consumption and your impact on the environment. That’s not just in construction or the how high you have your heating turned up either – appliances and smart technology are helping you to move towards sustainable living even more.
We’ve previously examined our ‘Top 10 Tips to Save Energy’, but those were practical steps you could take without implementing new technology. However, with a few additions to your home, you could drastically increase the positive environmental impact your home has.
Here, we look at some of the smart home trends becoming more popular in 2020.
Smart Appliances
Every home has appliances, from dishwashers to fridges, washing machines to tumble driers. Most are already energy rated for efficiency, but by utilizing smart technology you can further develop your sustainable home.
For instance, a smart dishwasher or washing machine can be linked to solar panels to think for itself and turn on when the sun is producing the most energy. A smart fridge can now talk to a home assistant such as Alexa and order your groceries when you run out. That means far fewer trips to the shop in your car and less impact on the environment.
Smart Boilers
Heating is one of the biggest aspects of your residence in which you can make energy savings. You can take practical steps without technology, as HomeServe outlines that you can minimize your home’s heat loss by insulating your water tanks and cylinders. That will ensure water stays warmer for longer, but with a smart boiler, you can go one step further.
A smart boiler comes in two parts: the boiler and thermostat. Once you download an app you can control your heating from your mobile device. If you leave it on in the morning by accident, it can be turned off from work. Smart boilers can also download weather information and can be ready for unexpected cold snaps, regulating your home temperature without you needing to become involved.
Smart Bathrooms
Water usage is another area where smart technology is helping you become more efficient. Smart showers, for instance, can be programmed and set to a temperature and time frame, saving on water consumption.
Smart toilets are on the rise too, offering a range of flushing options that can decrease your water usage. ZD Net covers how some even have a hand basin above the cistern, using the water you clean your hands with to then flush away any waste in the bowl.
Smart Lighting
All homes need lighting solutions, especially during those dark winter months. How many of you leave a porch light on in the morning ready for coming home in the dark? Smart lighting can prevent the need for that, saving on energy consumption.
It’s also an option which Tech Radar explains will give you complete control over the lighting in your home. You can control your lights from an app, or simply by voice around the home. Some installations will know to turn a light off in a room if there has been no movement in there for a period of time as well.