Will Smart Homes Save the World?
17 November 2017
Sometimes when we think of technological advancements, dystopian images reminiscent of Orwell's 1984 are conjured. Everything from nuclear missiles to the increase in intrusive - and creepy - data collection shows that humans can't always be trusted to act responsibly or morally. Thankfully, though, there are those devoted to innovations and concepts that help us evolve and live better lives. In fact, some technologies could help us save the future of our planet. None more so than the advent of the Smart Home - allowing humans to have greater control over their personal energy use and lower their carbon footprint. The question is, if we all lived in one, could the world be saved from self-inflicted destruction?
A Nest Thermostat is completely automated and allows you to control your home's heating in a more affordable and eco-friendly way. After just a few days of installation the Nest Thermostat will have learned and understood your heating preferences. When you're away, it'll turn itself down. When you're home it turns things up a notch if needed. It also responds to external weather conditions. And not only will Nest help you reduce your carbon footprint, it also helps you save up to 16.5% on your energy bills. You can find out more about the Nest Thermostat here.
Energenie radiator valves let you control your heating remotely using a mobile device, making sure you're only heating your home when absolutely needed. Through the Energenie app, you can; set daily timers around your lifestyle, forgot about maintenance as Energenie valves perform weekly maintenance cycles, add to new and existing heating systems without the need of an electrician, and save up to 25% on your energy bills. Want to find out what else Energenie can do? Click here for more info.
It's no secret. LED lighting will save you loads of money on your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint when compared to traditional lighting methods. This is because LED lighting consumes 90% less energy than traditional bulbs. And now Philips have taken the world of LED lighting to a new level, allowing you to operate lighting in your home from a mobile device. Philips Hue Lighting not only allows you to save even more money on your energy bills, but it's also a great entertainment piece and gives you greater control over your lighting. By pairing the Philips Hue Bridge – which acts as a hub for all your lighting – with your mobile device you can control up to 50 bulbs. You can also choose from 16 million colour temperatures to really create a stunning ambience. Plus, they're motion sensitive, so they can be set to come on automatically when someone enters a room, and turn off when they leave – meaning absolutely no energy is wasted. Discover the smart Philips Hue lighting system here.
What is a Smart Home?
A Smart Home is a residence that's equipped with various, connected technological elements that combine to make life more convenient, entertaining or efficient.5 examples of smart technology…
• Amazon Echo: a hands-free speaker system that lets you do everything from playing music to switching on lights through voice command. • Dyson 360 Eye: a compact and automated robot vacuum that cleans your home while you put your feet-up and relax. • Nest Thermostat: allows you to control your heating from your mobile device. • Philips Hue: LED lighting you can control from your mobile device or in conjunction with a voice-command system such as an Amazon Echo. • Nest Cam: a security camera you can control through your mobile device and allows you to monitor activity from anywhere in the world. A lot of these devices can also be paired and used in conjunction with one another. These are just a few examples of an ever-growing and evolving Smart Home industry.What is your carbon footprint?
Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide - or greenhouse gas emissions - you release into the atmosphere, either as an individual or as a larger organisation.What increases your carbon footprint?
The main man-made sources of carbon emissions are: • Burning of fossil fools • Heating • Electricity use • Transport • Manufacturing Efficiently managing or reducing the use of these five things will go a long way to securing the future of the planet.How can I reduce my carbon footprint using Smart Technology?
There are a number of ways you can reduce your carbon footprint using smart technology by monitoring your energy output.Nest Thermostat
A Nest Thermostat is completely automated and allows you to control your home's heating in a more affordable and eco-friendly way. After just a few days of installation the Nest Thermostat will have learned and understood your heating preferences. When you're away, it'll turn itself down. When you're home it turns things up a notch if needed. It also responds to external weather conditions. And not only will Nest help you reduce your carbon footprint, it also helps you save up to 16.5% on your energy bills. You can find out more about the Nest Thermostat here.
Energenie radiator valves
Energenie radiator valves let you control your heating remotely using a mobile device, making sure you're only heating your home when absolutely needed. Through the Energenie app, you can; set daily timers around your lifestyle, forgot about maintenance as Energenie valves perform weekly maintenance cycles, add to new and existing heating systems without the need of an electrician, and save up to 25% on your energy bills. Want to find out what else Energenie can do? Click here for more info.
Philips Hue Lighting
It's no secret. LED lighting will save you loads of money on your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint when compared to traditional lighting methods. This is because LED lighting consumes 90% less energy than traditional bulbs. And now Philips have taken the world of LED lighting to a new level, allowing you to operate lighting in your home from a mobile device. Philips Hue Lighting not only allows you to save even more money on your energy bills, but it's also a great entertainment piece and gives you greater control over your lighting. By pairing the Philips Hue Bridge – which acts as a hub for all your lighting – with your mobile device you can control up to 50 bulbs. You can also choose from 16 million colour temperatures to really create a stunning ambience. Plus, they're motion sensitive, so they can be set to come on automatically when someone enters a room, and turn off when they leave – meaning absolutely no energy is wasted. Discover the smart Philips Hue lighting system here.
