“Smart” Gadgets for Smart Energy Use
Greentips: March 2010
Some of the most effective energy-saving strategies—turning off or unplugging appliances when they are not in use, turning down the thermostat—are also the easiest. At least in principle. But many homeowners lack the unfailing memory or predictable schedule needed to make the most of these strategies.
Fortunately, a variety of gadgets can do the remembering for you:
Programmable thermostats. These gadgets are not new, but they have become more sophisticated and user-friendly over the years. Even the most basic models (which start at about $30) offer multiple settings per day, allowing you to automatically have the heat or air conditioning—which together account for about 56 percent of home energy use—turn down at bedtime or while you are away.
Some let you set up separate programs for each day, some can be operated via the Internet (useful if you need to change settings remotely), and some can be integrated with home appliance, lighting, or security networks. According to the Department of Energy, for each degree you turn down your thermostat over an eight-hour period, you reduce your heating costs by 1 percent.
“Smart” power strips. Many people already use power strips for groups of electronic devices (television/cable box/sound system or computer/monitor/printer). “Smart” power strips, however, automatically cut power to these devices when they go into standby mode (i.e., when they are turned off but continue to draw electricity). According to the Department of Energy, standby (or “phantom”) power accounts for up to 75 percent of an appliance’s electricity consumption and up to 10 percent of total household consumption.
Some models have one or more “always-on” outlets for devices such as cordless phones and digital video recorders, and some have adjustable sensitivity in order to detect standby power levels that are not much different than full power. Smart strips are more expensive than regular power strips (approximately $30 to $35 compared with $10 to $15 for basic models) but can quickly pay for themselves through reduced electricity costs.
Motion-sensing light switches. If you tend to forget to turn lights off, consider installing motion sensors to help reduce lighting-related electricity use (which accounts for about 10 percent of total household consumption). Most models allow you to adjust how long the lights will stay on, but also have a manual override feature. Some models save additional energy by preventing lights from being turned on if there is sufficient ambient light. Motion-sensor switches range from $15 to $40 or more depending on the features.
