4 Smart Devices to Make Your Home More Sustainable
4 Smart Devices
To Make Your Home More Sustainable
While smart technology in our homes provides an unprecedented level of convenience and control, from automatic lights, blinds, and music, among others, a significant advantage it provides is the ability to be eco-friendly and energy-efficient. In ‘8 Non-Toxic Eco-Friendly Home Products You Need’ we discussed ways to incorporate sustainable products for everyday living. In this edition, we’d like to continue with four smart devices that can make your home more sustainable. And for the sake of variety and ingenuity, we’ll look at trends locally and from around the globe.
Smart Leak Detector
Leaks are a common problem in households and not only do leak wastewater but they can cause extensive immediate and long-term damage. A UK-based plumbing and heating company has introduced smart technology in the U.S. that will immediately discover any leaks before they become a serious issue. In a press release on PM Newswire, it was noted that 20% of homes in the U.S. are likely to have an undetected water leak. This is the largest predictable driver of home insurance claims, costing the industry over $25 billion annually. This is where LeakBot comes in. LeakBot is a device that was developed by British plumbing experts HomeServe Labs. LeakBot’s ultra-sensitive technology can even detect water leaks as small as 3ml per minute anywhere in a home’s water supply. This helps avoid damage and save water. The wireless device is clipped to the main water pipe and at a touch of a button begins monitoring the entire home.
AI-Powered Air Conditioners
Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled consumer products are becoming more prolific and nowhere is this more common than in Japan. Appliance giant Sharp has incorporated AI technology in its latest line of air conditioners, designed to make them highly energy efficient and provide unparalleled comfort. Sharp says its AI air conditioner can reduce electricity consumption in a 250 square foot room from 228Wh to 186Wh. It does this by analyzing indoor air quality based on temperature, air-flow, humidity and collected infrared data and sends it for analysis in the cloud. Based on the results, it will adjust inconsistent temperature areas in the room to efficiently cool or heat the entire room to the specified temperature.
Smart Lighting
Smart lighting solutions provide you with better control over the lighting in your home and make it eco-friendly. In Australia, Philips’ Hue ecosystem of smart bulbs has become very popular as they let users control not only the intensity of the light but also the color. Their smart home lighting solutions provide you with the capability to modify or alter the lighting inside or outside your home directly from a mobile device. This way they can also be programmed to come on and go off at certain times. Smart lighting systems will alert you if any lights have been left on, so you can switch them off, either remotely or locally to save energy.
Smart Meters
Smart Meters are becoming ubiquitous in the home as they are meant to save energy and give homeowners a better idea and more control over their energy expenditure. In Europe, the EU plans to replace 80% of traditional electricity meters with a smart version by 2020. The European Commission notes that smart meters deployed along smart grids can reduce emissions in the EU by up to 9% and annual household energy consumption by similar amounts. On average, smart meters provide savings of around $176 for gas and $340 for electricity per metering point. If you don’t have one already then check with your local power company to see when a smart meter will be available in your area.
