Technology has changed our lives in more ways than we could have imagined, and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down. From the medical field to entertainment, manufacturing, and beyond, there are better ways of doing things in this day and age. Below are five ways in which technology is helping us create more energy-efficient homes.
Better Water-Heating
Hot water is a very heavily used commodity in most areas, from the hotel and medical to residential industries. For this reason, making it more energy-efficient is a welcome move that technology has helped many households with. If your home is still running on an older heater, make it a point to upgrade to a modern one that will see you save energy and keep the environment green. With most tankless water heaters having a life expectancy of over 20 years, it’s a good investment to make if you don’t currently have one.
Better Lighting
Good, energy-efficient lighting can help you make noticeable savings on your energy which is why this is a great upgrade to think about. LED lights with the option of dimmers can be installed in any room in the house, especially children’s bedrooms where they will be put to good use for children who don’t want to sleep in the dark. Good lighting has the added benefit of keeping our eyes healthy, so the technology behind improved lights is clearly an important one.
Cleaner, Healthier Environments
With technology, it’s become a lot easier to keep our environments clean. Residential and even medical spaces can be cleaner thanks to installing things like vent fans and automatic thermostats which work efficiently. They help maintain the ideal temperature and humidity among other things, and this is especially important for curtailing the growth of things like mold. With ample food, a temperature of 41 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and moisture present, mold can start to grow in just 24 to 48 hours. Technology has seen to it that this does not have to be the case by making it easier to disrupt these conditions.
Programmable Thermostats
The thermostat can either help you keep your energy bills low or have them go through the roof whenever it gets cold. Technology has seen to it that this does not have to happen when you get a programmable thermostat. You can change the temperatures and set the thermostat to adjust them accordingly, even controlling them when you’re out of the house. There are many available with a wide range of capabilities, making it easy to find what you need.
Cooler Roofs
Cooler roofs work to reflect away much of the sunlight hitting them and therefore keep the indoors cool in hot seasons. Their high thermal emittance and solar reflection make it easier to reflect heat and light away from your home. This heat, when absorbed, makes the indoors a lot hotter and makes it more necessary to use fans and AC to bring the temperatures down. The American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2019 shared that about 12% of homes were built before 1940. Over half were built before 1980, which is the unofficial line that separates the peak usage of asbestos and its phasing out. If your home was built before this time, therefore, consider replacing the roof if you haven’t already to get rid of the chance of living in a house with high asbestos content, commonly found in older roofs.
Technology has helped up improve our energy efficiency among other things, and it shows no signs of stopping. Make the most of living in the current age by leveraging technology in your home, and you will find an easier, more efficient way to live!
