SAVE MONEY, SAVE ENERGY, SAVE THE EARTH

This Earth Day we at Home Technology Experts are looking at how automation and other home devices can help reduce electricity, saving you money and helping the environment.

TIVO

People are often shocked to learn that cable boxes rented from Verizon and Optimum are serious energy hogs.  According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NDRC) Americans are spending $2 billion in energy costs to power set top boxes that are sitting idle.  These “power vampires” as NBC called them use as much energy when they are not in use as they do when active, that’s as much energy as your washing machine uses to clean your clothes.

Now think about how many cable boxes you have.  A three-bedroom apartment can easily have five cable boxes. Come out to the Hamptons with guest rooms, pool houses, and outdoor televisions and see the energy (and money) trickle away. 

TiVo’s all in one distributed video system allows for a single top box to serve as a cable box/DVR, streaming device (such as Apple TV or Roku), and Sling Box for up to five TiVo Minis.  The TiVo Minis consume significantly less electricity and because they don’t need to be in standby mode when not in use they can truly be turned off.  By serving as streaming media players you save on both the purchasing cost and additional energy costs associated with extra devices. 

DIMMERS, SENSORS, AND LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEMS

Lighting control systems reduce energy usage through scheduling, dimming, and sensors.

Dimming LEDs saves electricity, creates ambiance, and even extends the bulb’s life. According to Lutron, the average person cannot tell the difference between a light at 100% versus one dimmed to 80%. The savings quickly add up when using dimmers throughout your home.

Sensors can be used to take dimming a step further.  Day light sensors measure the ambient sunlight in a room and adjusts artificial light’s output accordingly.  On sunny days, the Day Light Sensors automatically dim the lights and may even turn them off if the room is adequately lit by sunshine.

LEDS AND LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING

The less energy needed to power a fixture to reach a desired brightness the greater the savings.  While any LED consumes less energy than an incandescent bulb, not all LEDs are the same.  Prominent companies in the industry such as Lutron will tout numerous energy and environmental benefits such as limited UV admissions, energy star ratings, and more.

Low lighting fixtures are made for both indoor and outdoor applications.  At Home Technology Experts we offer a variety of low voltage options that are popular in home theaters.  Our exterior illumination division, Hamptons Landscape Lighting, exclusively uses low voltage fixture in all of their designs.  

MOTORIZED SHADES

Motorized shades are not only a convenience, but they can help cut down on your heating and cooling costs.  Via programming shades automatically rise in the winter to allow the warmth of the sun in, or lowered during summer months to keep the heat out.

WIRELESS THERMOSTATS

Especially in the Hamptons, heating and cooling a home can be a big expense. Wireless thermostats can help.  Many large homes have HVAC zones, using wireless thermostats and home automation software entire zones can be turned off when not in use.  Additionally wireless thermostats can be programmed so it automatically adjusts to your life style, saving on gas and electricity when you’re not home.