Welcome, homeowners of Central Pennsylvania! As technology continues to advance, our homes can become smarter, more efficient, and even increase in value. Whether you’re looking to enhance convenience, save energy, or boost your property’s worth, smart home upgrades offer an array of benefits. Let’s delve into some top tips for the best smart home upgrades tailored to Central PA dwellings.
1. Smart Thermostat for Climate Control
Central Pennsylvania experiences a range of temperatures throughout the year, from chilly winters to humid summers. Installing a smart thermostat allows you to remotely control your home’s temperature, optimizing comfort and energy usage. By programming temperature settings and integrating with sensors, smart thermostats adapt to your lifestyle, potentially reducing energy bills and increasing your home’s efficiency rating.
There are many options for smart thermostats including options by Google Nest, Emerson, or Honeywell which is the brand we personally use. One of my favorite features of our smart thermostat is the ability to adjust the temperature of our home or office from my phone from out on the road.
2. Energy-Efficient Lighting Solutions
Switching to LED bulbs and implementing smart lighting systems not only brightens your home but also saves energy. Central PA homeowners can utilize motion sensors and programmable schedules to ensure lights are only active when needed, reducing electricity consumption and lowering utility costs. Energy-efficient lighting upgrades enhance your home’s appeal to environmentally conscious buyers, potentially increasing its market value.
There are many options to choose from when considering LED bulbs. When picking out this newer style of bulb think about the color and brightness you would like and always look for bulbs labeled with the ENERGY STAR certification or an energy efficiency rating.
Another thing to think about is using smart bulbs in fixtures throughout your home. This is extremely helpful for older homes that have rooms with no overhead lighting or wall switch. A smart bulb can be controlled by voice or your smart home app. Another fun feature of smart bulbs is that most offer color changing options. Personally, we use Kasa Smart Bulbs or Philips Hue Smart Bulbs to work with our Google home system. When selecting smart bulbs always double check that they are compatible with your current systems.
Check out our full blog post all about Energy-Efficient Lighting Solutions.
3. Smart Home Security Systems
Protecting your home and loved ones is paramount. Investing in a smart home security system equips you with advanced features such as real-time monitoring, motion detection, and remote access via smartphone apps. These systems provide peace of mind while potentially reducing insurance premiums and enhancing your property’s attractiveness to prospective buyers.
There are a lot of options when it comes to smart home security systems including SimpliSafe and Ring. Personally we use the Blink system for our office and residence. Blink offers a variety of cameras for indoors and outdoors and options for battery operated cameras so that you do not need a close power source. We have found the alert system and app to be easy to use.
4. Automated Window Treatments
Efficiently managing natural light can impact energy usage and comfort levels. Smart window treatments allow you to automate opening and closing based on sunlight and time of day. By optimizing natural light, you can reduce the need for artificial lighting and regulate indoor temperatures, contributing to energy savings and potentially increasing your home’s energy efficiency rating.
These smart blinds offer connection to your smart home systems, remote control and the ability to time opening and closing on the movement of the sun. They also have the option for a small solar panel to charge the battery. Or think about adding this SwitchBot to your existing blinds to add smart controls.
5. Smart Appliances for Efficiency
Upgrade your kitchen and laundry room with smart appliances designed to conserve energy and streamline daily tasks. Energy-efficient refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines not only reduce utility expenses but also appeal to environmentally conscious buyers. Central PA homeowners can enjoy the convenience of remote monitoring and scheduling while potentially boosting their home’s resale value.
6. Water-Saving Fixtures and Smart Irrigation
Conserving water is essential, especially in regions like Central Pennsylvania where drought conditions can occur. Install smart irrigation systems equipped with moisture sensors and weather forecasts to optimize watering schedules and prevent overwatering. Additionally, upgrading to water-saving fixtures such as low-flow toilets and aerated faucets reduces water consumption, lowers utility bills, and enhances your home’s eco-friendly features.
Here is a pack of faucet aerators that you can use to help to adjust the water flow in your faucets and save water or check out this water-efficient shower head.
7. Smart Home Energy Monitoring
Gain insights into your home’s energy usage with smart energy monitoring systems. These devices track electricity consumption, identify energy-hungry appliances, and offer suggestions for optimizing efficiency. By empowering homeowners with data and actionable recommendations, smart energy monitors facilitate informed decisions that can lead to substantial energy savings and potentially increase your home’s appeal to prospective buyers.
This Sense Energy Monitor is highly rated and will track electricity usage in real time.
8. Solar Panels for Renewable Energy
Harness the abundant sunshine in Central Pennsylvania by installing solar panels on your roof. Solar energy systems generate clean, renewable electricity, reducing reliance on traditional power sources and lowering utility bills. In addition to significant long-term cost savings, solar panels enhance your home’s sustainability credentials, potentially increasing its market value and appeal to eco-conscious buyers.
9. Voice-Activated Smart Home Systems
Integrate your smart home devices with voice-activated assistants like Google Home or Amazon Alexa. These systems allow you to control various aspects of your home and the earlier mentioned items, such as lighting, thermostats, and entertainment systems, using simple voice commands.
Embracing smart home upgrades not only enhances the comfort, convenience, and security of your Central PA home but also contributes to energy savings and potentially increases its market value. From climate control and lighting to security and renewable energy, incorporating these innovative technologies offers a myriad of benefits for homeowners. Whether you’re looking to improve your living space or prepare your home for sale, investing in smart home upgrades is a wise decision with lasting rewards.
Our team is here to help you with any questions you might have about how smart upgrades can affect the value of your home.
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