Do you know where your home is wasting the most energy? You might think that large appliances like your air conditioner and dishwasher are responsible for the majority of your utility bill charges. Indeed, these appliances do account for a large chunk of every homeowner’s energy use. But you can only do so much to offset these expenses. If you’ve done all you can to optimize those appliances, it’s time to take a look at the other gadgets in your home that are driving up energy costs. And you should reconsider a few home lifestyle habits and any investments you can make in smart house technology.

Invest in the Smart Thermometer

Air conditioner and heater use is certainly a major expense.  But it’s also an unavoidable one. You can optimize your energy consumption, though by dialing back your HVAC by 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours. Doing so while you’re out for work, for example, can help you lower your monthly bills. You can even automate this task with a smart thermometer. This tool gives you precise control over your HVAC system and ensures that you use less energy while never having to be uncomfortable in your home. Read more about energy-savings gadgets and practices in the infographic about Smart House Technology below.

Having looked at the infographic I need to make some changes here.  I didn’t realize you lose up to 20% of your heated air through your windows.  We need to make sure the rooms without blinds have some fitted pretty quickly!  Our house is very big so we need to look at making savings where we can.  Once we have analysed our energy use we can make adjustments based on those results.

To take advantage of the full benefits of energy-efficient major appliances, such as an HVAC unit, it’s important that you schedule a professional installation. Incorrectly setting up appliances can at worst lead to electrical fires and electrocutions and at best lead to you not getting the full benefits of the new system. It can also impact the appliance’s lifespan, meaning you’ll have to upgrade far sooner than you had hoped.