What exactly is a smart home? Generally speaking, it’s a residence with appliances, lighting, electronic equipment and security cameras that can be regulated remotely from any room in the house or even from any place around the globe. All you need is a cellphone or other access to the internet and a reliable router.
Though lighting, electronics and security are important, one of the smartest things you can do to save energy and make your home as comfortable as possible is to control how hard your heating and air conditioning system works while you’re away. HVAC technology has advanced to a point where you can minimize the amount of energy your system uses when you’re away while maximizing the comfort level of your home when you return.
Below are four smart home trends that reduce energy use while increasing comfort.
1. Motion-activated Heat and Air
Motion-activated heat and air is similar to motion-activated lighting you might already be using inside or outside your home. Sensors placed throughout the house, usually attached to rods hung from the ceiling, detect motion in a specific area of your house and turn the system on. Once you or a family member leave a room, the system no longer wastes energy cooling or heating that part of the house.
2. Zoning
Zoning gives you the option to control the temperature in designated areas of your home. For example, if you have a two-story house and all the bedrooms are upstairs, you don’t want to waste energy heating and cooling the second floor to an optimum temperature if you and your family members generally stay on the first floor until bedtime. With vents controlled by sensors, you can even set the temperature in specific rooms.
3. Smart Thermostats
With smart thermostats, you can use your cellphone to check the temperature in your home and adjust it so you will be comfortable when you get home. This is an especially valuable tool if the outside temperature changes during the day while you are away from the house. For example, you might decide to turn off the heat and air when you leave home in the morning because it looks like the weather is going to be beautiful. If a cold front moves through during the day, you’ll be able to warm up your house before you return for the evening.
4. Data
Apps are available that can help you determine how efficient your HVAC system is and let you know when you should schedule maintenance and repairs with your local HVAC experts. You can use this information to save money on your energy bill and also to eliminate the inconvenience of having to call for help after your system breaks down.
Many people are taking steps to make their homes “smarter,” more energy-efficient and more comfortable. They are using modern technology to take control of virtually everything that happens in and around their houses.
Are you looking for heating and air conditioning experts who can help you make your home smarter? Contact the HVAC experts at Mathew’s Air Comfort Solutions at MathewsACS.com, or give them a call at 361-853-6265.
Corpus Christi, TX 78416
(361) 853-6265