10 Technologies of The Future to Make Our Home More Energy Efficient
As time goes on, we are developing more and more technologies and methods to reduce the amount of energy we use in our day-to-day life. This has come as a result of growing concern for the environment and of course, increased energy costs. There are a number of interesting technologies on the horizon that we’re very excited about – let’s take a look at some of them.
Now, learn more details of the technologies for energy saving solution of your home.
1. Smart Windows
Windows can present challenges when it comes to keeping your home either cold or warm, and generally double glazed windows are your best bet for reducing the flow of air. However, advanced self-regulating windows are being developed that will adjust according to the time of day, level of sunlight and various other relevant factors. The idea here is that they will adjust the level of shading to ensure things are as energy-efficient as possible.
2. Houses That Are Better Connected
One of the potential biggest technological breakthroughs in the next few years will be increased interconnect-ability between devices, buildings and systems. The technology is referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT). This will likely affect many different aspects of our lives, with energy efficiency being one of them. The idea here is that the appliances and systems in the home will work in synch through automated control technology. Sensors will be able to pick up on the temperature and the system will be able to make real-time decisions about the level of cooling or heating that is required.
3. Reflective Roofs
Reducing the amount of heat that comes through the roof can go a long way in making the home easier to cool. There have been numerous technologies and efforts to reduce the impact of this, with insulation and fan systems proving effective in some cases. However, another technology in development is reflective roofing. This involves certain materials being placed on the roof that reflect the sunlight and ensure that the roof doesn’t become excessively hot.
4. Magnet Refrigerators
Researchers are exploring and developing technology that would allow us to use refrigerated that create a cold environment with the use of magnets and a water-based coolant. If successful, this would greatly reduce the amount of energy used to power our fridges and would do a great deal of good for the environment as well.
5. More Efficient Lightings
LED lighting has already gone mainstream, bringing with it huge energy savings compared to incandescent and fluorescent alternatives. Most new buildings will utilise LED lighting almost exclusively. But the technology is forecasted to improve further – in fact over the next few years it could become twice as efficient.
6. Next Generation of Heat Pump
While considering a heater or an air conditioner for your home, a heat pump can be a great alternative to serve both purposes. Moreover, a heat pump is a proven energy saver. This is a perfect tool to serve the multi-purpose of heating and cooling of a home.
It can do this by moving heat from one room to another. So once a heat pump is brought in a home, a separate air conditioner and heater will be unnecessary for sure. This heat pump surprisingly reduces the overall utility bills of a home. Before buying the suitable heat pump, it is better to consider the size and layout of the house, the landscape surrounding the house and some other aspects for getting the best result.
7. Ultra-Efficient Insulation
Having efficient insulation is another significant way to reduce the heating and cooling cost of a home. Different insulation with distinct features is available on the market. But not all the insulation is suitable for the environment. Those particular insulations are not efficient enough to reduce the electricity bill as well.
So, to make it efficient, The Industrial Science & Technology Network has been developing new foam insulation that is environment-friendly, and the materials are highly advanced. Moreover, it uses carbon dioxide instead of hydrofluorocarbon. All these ensure that the heat in the home doesn’t escape during the cold winter times. This is a very cost-effective solution that can outperform everything that came before. Proper insulation in any home can ensure the comfort for the people living in there.
Ways to make your home more energy-efficient through insulation.
8. Carbon Fighting Clothes Dryers
This could be another energy-saving solution that can reduce the energy consumption of a home. It has the same theory behind the heat pump technologies. This technology can also be used in an application like drying clothes. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (and partners) and General Electric is now making this new dryer which uses the cycle of a heat pump to generate the hot air for drying clothes.
All such new and efficient technology has made a cloth dryer capable enough to lower the potential energy consumption by 60 per cent compared to the other clothes dryers available in the market. This advanced clothes dryers also eliminate the common issue of moisture disposal.
9. Solar Panel
Having a solar panel installed in a home can save someone’s day a big time for an extended period time. This can provide the required energy of a house so it will reduce the energy cost of the home to a great extent. The best part about solar energy is, it is renewable.
Having a backup plan to generate energy, there is no need to think much about being conservative about energy usage. This is only possible because of solar panel technology. Solar power can be used for cooking purposes too. GoStun Stove was mentioned in TechCrunch for the unique feature of using solar energy.
Anyone can be self-sufficient in terms of energy by having a solar panel installed in the house. In case the solar panel is generating more power than they need, one can consider the option of selling that excess energy. This way, it will be possible to make some profit from this renewable energy.
10. Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are used for home automation that controls the air conditioning or heating of a home. It permits the user to control the temperature of a room. It also comes with some additional features like sensors or Wi-Fi connectivity. It has intelligent climate control ability inside a home. This smart thermostat can tell if the members of a home are in the office or home by monitoring movement around the house.
They can understand the cooling preference of the people living there. Any user can monitor and control it just by using a smartphone. This can have a significant impact on reducing the carbon footprint of a home. There are very sharp competitions among different tech companies to invent a better version of this particular product.
So many technology giants now give a lot of focus on the energy-saving feature while launching a new product to the user. Considering the limited energy sources, all the users have to be collectively concerned about conservative use of it. There are many ways to reduce the extent of energy cost. People are becoming very much aware of nature and know the necessity of saving energy now. Some of them are consciously choosing a lifestyle of sustainable living.
It’s likely that we’ll become more energy efficient in the future, as the market gives researchers an incentive to come up with innovative ideas to reduce energy use. Back to the present, to assess whether your home is energy efficient or not, call our Australian home energy rating experts to get a clear idea of state requirements and what to consider in your next renovation/extension planning.
