Controlling your A/C Remotely for Energy Savings

Automating your home has numerous advantages, not the least of which are greater convenience to you and improved resale value when you sell your house. On the other hand, although home automation is less expensive and more sophisticated than ever, you may still feel that this is an extravagance that is not really practical or necessary. But you can now put your conscience at ease, because we’re going to tell you how remote home control can increase your energy savings, specifically when you have remote thermostat control.

Air conditioning is extremely necessary in many parts of the United States, but we all know that it will also drive up your energy consumption during the hot summer. The hotter the weather, the more you need a/c, but then, you also increase your electricity bill too. If you simply shut off your a/c during the work day and wait till evening to turn it on, you may actually end up using even more energy as the system plays catch up, now that your house is uncomfortably warm.

Remote thermostat control, however, can alleviate this problem by enabling you to moderately roll back the air conditioning during times when you’re not at home, while gradually dropping the temperature back to a comfortable level just before you expect to arrive home. With many systems, you can use a computer or smart phone to remotely access your settings and adjust as needed. Used properly, you can reduce your energy consumption and your electric bills.

(One important note, though: If you have pets, be sure the house stays at a tolerable level for your animals and – as always – that they have plenty of water while you’re gone.)

In fact, remote home control can reduce your energy consumption in other ways too. For instance, rather than leave numerous inside and outside lights on during the day (so that you can arrive home in the evening to a brightly lit house), remote home control can cut energy waste by activating lights only when it’s dark. Like the a/c, you can use your personal computer or smart phone to make adjustments from remote locations.

So if you’ve felt that remote home control would increase your energy costs, you may very well have missed an opportunity to increase your convenience and be green at the same time.

Related Articles:
The Benefits of Home Automation
Securing a Home with Automation
Automated Lighting Enhances Convenience and Home Security


 

• Tweet