Tag Archive for: Smart thermostats

Saving on Utilities this Summer with your Security System

It’s no secret that the costs of homeownership can add up. But because some costs can be managed better than others, homeowners may be able to control how much they pay for some essential services. Take utilities, for example. Unlike your mortgage payment and property taxes, you can exercise some control over how much you pay for heating, cooling and lighting in the home. It all comes down to saving energy.

Easier said than done, right? Not necessarily. Using your home security system and your smartphone, you may be able to save enough energy every month to pay less for the services that heat and cool your home. Best of all, you can start saving on utilities in Delaware Valley this very summer.

Saving on Utilities Doesn’t Have to Be Hard 

What’s the technology?

It’s a smart home system that integrates with the home security system. Homeowners who upgrade their traditional alarm systems to smart home security technology can also have smart thermostats integrated; these intelligent thermostat devices help them reduce the energy they use, which can save them money in the very first month.

A smart thermostat uses contact sensors that instinctively respond to movement in the home. Because it learns your household patterns, it knows when to adjust to a comfortable temperature – and, when to keep the temperature as it is. It also features location-based automation that knows what to do based on where you are. If you’re on your way home, the air conditioning can come on minutes before your arrival so you arrive to a comfortable home. If you have just left, it knows it’s time to shut the air off so you keep your utility bills manageable. And if you want to change anything, it’s easy to do with a tap of your smartphone.

Other Ways to Save 

With a smart home security system, saving on utilities in Delaware Valley happens throughout the year. This summer, you can experiment with a programming option that turns the air conditioning on when temperatures hit 95 degrees or higher. Another easy way to save is to program the thermostat to stay inactive when the security system is armed. You also have the ability to produce a “scene” in the system that performs all money-saving functions at the same time: adjusting the thermostat, turning off the lights and even drawing down the window shades. If all these essential household functions are connected to your system, it’s easy to stay in control.

To learn more about saving on utilities this summer with your security system, Security Instrument invites you to request a free home security assessment.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is one of the Delaware Valley’s largest full-service independently-owned security companues, serving thousands of customers throughout Delaware, MD, NJ & PA.

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4 Ways Investing in Smart Home Technology Saves You Money

We all know that smart home technologies are widely available, affordable and effective, but can they also save you money?  Yes, and in ways you may not have guessed. Here are 4 reasons to opt into smart home and automation technologies.

Smart Thermostats

Investing in a smart thermostat is a smart, cost-saving decision for a number of reasons. Heating and cooling account for nearly half of a home’s energy costs, so getting that under control can provide substantial savings. Smart thermostats can do this by learning your usage and preferences and adjust accordingly so you are never heating and cooling unnecessarily. You can also use it to turn on your heating or cooling from afar, so you can adjust the temperature just before you get home, rather than leaving it on all day so that you can come home to a comfortable home.

Smart Lighting

Smart lighting lets you upgrade your space with features such as motion sensors, dimmers, and app access, but even better -these features save money on your utility bill.

  • Using LED lighting, dimmers save money on a 1:1 ratio so dimming 50%  reduces energy usage by 50%.
  • Motion sensors ensure that lights go off when not in use and on when you need them.
  • App Control provides a way to turn off and on lights from anywhere, so you can still return home to a well-lit home without having to leave them on while away.

Remote Power Management

We’d probably be quite surprised if we could add up all of the wasted energy we use and measure it against our actual needful usage. Leaving lights, fans, electronics, appliances, and things like curling irons is a huge and costly waste. Energy consumption by televisions and other electronics that are in the “always on” mode (but look off) is also a big contributor of wasted energy. With smart home technology, you can control all of these things from an app on your smartphone or tablet, and precisely manage your energy use.

Pro Tip: Energy consumption by televisions and other electronics that are in the “always on” mode (but look off) is also a big contributor of wasted energy.

 

Increased Efficiency and Productivity

It may seem like a small thing, but when all of the peripheral things are working efficiently, automatically, and smartly then you can, too. By using these things as a tool you can keep yourself on track, on time, and motivated. For example, using lighting and temperature controls can help you wake up on time, while enabled appliances are already at work so that you can get to work more quickly. You can also eliminate distractions with smart technologies like video doorbells so that you can accomplish your tasks without interruptions. All of these things ultimately make and save you money.

Adopting smart technologies for a truly connected home not only puts a lot of cool features and conveniences in your hand, it keeps money in your pocket.

About Security Instrument

Security Instrument is Delaware’s largest full-service independently owned security firm, serving Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland with safety, security, and smart home technologies.

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