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It sounds nice, but building an energy-efficient home isn’t necessarily a walk in the park. In fact, it could get pretty expensive if the project isn’t properly planned. Luckily, there are a few ways digital tools improve energy efficiency and cut the bills in the process.
1. Monitoring Energy Efficiency at Home
An energy monitoring system is a must-have tool for the homeowner who is serious about saving money. These systems, which are compatible with both solar power and traditional grids, allow you to determine how much electricity your home is using down to the amounts used at each outlet.
From an intuitive interface, you can view digital readouts that help you pinpoint which areas in the home are hogging too much power and take the proper action. If you learn that your refrigerator is the culprit, you may choose to replace it with a more efficient model.
While the thought of implementing an energy monitoring system is intimidating, actually installing one is a relatively straightforward process. The system connects to the existing circuits of the home’s circuit breaker. From there, it is able to track the usage of power sources throughout the home.
2. Converting Energy and Feeding Existing Sources
Another interesting piece of technology delivering energy efficiency on the home front is the grid-tie power inverter. This device is unique in how it powers your home while putting energy back into the source at the local grid. With a grid-tie inverter, you can greatly increase the efficiency of your home by supplying it with energy from traditional systems when needed, then put excess power back into the main source when it’s available.
3. Empowering Mobile Devices
Believe it or not, but there are also a few mobile apps that can aid in your energy-efficient initiatives. For example, there are apps you can download on your BlackBerry Q10 that will help you figure out the best replacement bulbs for conserving energy. Then you have applications that help you measure crucial elements such as energy and water usage, and even track CO2 output.
4. Enabling Smarter Computing
Computing is more energy-efficient than ever. Manufacturers are increasingly building desktop PCs that conserve energy directly at the power source, as well as a slew of environmentally friendly mobile devices, which by nature, have a smaller footprint than standard computers.
Technologies such as virtualization are also making their way into the home environment, giving users the ability to maximize their hardware and lower power consumption by using fewer computers.
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Personal Capital lets you see all of your accounts in one convenient place. Sign up now for free.Energy efficient homes allow families to enjoy a comfortable environment and substantial cost savings. What’s really encouraging is that you can take small baby steps, or tackle large projects and still lower your bills. With technology by your side, the savings you reap will be able to cover further enhancements and eventually start putting extra money in your pocket that can be used for splurging. Who doesn’t want that?
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