Smart home gadgets can do more than just respond to voice commands or automate your household chores — they can also save you money. It may require a significant initial investment, but once your smart home is up and running, it’s not uncommon to see most of your electricity bills greatly reduced. If you’re looking to save a few extra bucks every month, here are some easy ways to save money with smart home devices.
Upgrade to a smart thermostat
Arguably the best way to save money on your energy bills is to switch to a smart thermostat. These come in all shapes and sizes, but it’s best to go for a premium model that offers advanced learning capabilities – such as: Nest Learning Thermostat. Products in this category give you the best control over your HVAC system as they actively monitor your usage and suggest ways to increase efficiency.
If you don’t want to settle for a smart learning thermostat, you can still save some money with a budget smart thermostat. Almost all offer more features than a traditional thermostat, making it easy to set schedules, sync with other smart devices, and monitor how much energy you’re using each day.
Reduce your water consumption with intelligent sprinkler control
The hunt for a perfectly manicured lawn is not easy and often comes at a price. Whether you have a professionally installed sprinkler system or a DIY system built on top of your outdoor faucet, adding a smart sprinkler controller to your setup is a great way to lower your water bill. If you have an underground system, adding a smart sprinkler controller that comes with WaterSense verification will almost guaranteed reduce your monthly expenses. These gadgets actively monitor your local weather patterns and will skip a scheduled watering session if it has recently rained. You can also track a range of useful statistics to optimize your irrigation system and reduce your water bill without much effort.
If you run a home improvement system built around your outdoor faucet, a smart hose timer can help you automate your schedule and reduce your water usage.
Monitor your energy consumption with smart plugs
Smart sockets aren’t the most glamorous of smart home gadgets, but they serve an important purpose. Not only can they be used to add a little “smartness” to any electronic device, but they also give you an easy way to monitor your power consumption. Some even offer suggestions on how to reduce your energy needs. At the very least, it lets you quickly turn devices on or off before you go on vacation, and gives you a concrete way to see which devices are costing you the most on your bill.
Install smart lights
All LED lights will save you money compared to traditional light bulbs, but consider going the extra mile and outfitting all your lights with smart LED lights. Not only do you have access to thousands of different colors, you can also create lighting schedules to reduce overall energy consumption. This can be anything from setting it up to turn off at a certain time of day to syncing it with a motion sensor. There is a wide range of smart light bulbs on the market, so shop around and see which ones will best suit your smart home.
Stay safe (and save money) with a home security system
Your mileage may vary with this option (and we recommend checking with your insurance company), but many homeowners can save money by installing a security system. Many insurers offer up to a 20% discount on your monthly bill when an appropriate smart home security system is installed – although specifics vary by provider. As a minimum, you usually need to add security cameras, motion sensors, and an audible alarm that can notify you of intruders.
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