“Buying a home is the biggest investment you’ll ever make”. Heard that one before? As of July 2017, by the US Census, the average home sold in America costs $313,700. Factor in property taxes, sometimes home association fees and you’ve got yourself a hefty sum. Now, an energy efficient home, while it has some upfront cost, can save you thousands if not more in the long run.

It isn’t just about heating, lighting, appliances, and the same things you hear everywhere else. An energy efficient home, if leveraged correctly, can give you many hidden rewards that you might not have known about otherwise.

So. What are we waiting for? Let’s explore them!

USE YOUR ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME AS A LEVERAGE TOOL FOR GETTING THE BEST DEALS

Deals? What the heck is this guy talking about? Unfortunately, you can’t get a discount for that new iPhone X by telling your local Apple store that you have an energy efficient home. However, you’ll be able to have enough in savings from your smart home to buy it! An example is insurance companies giving you discounts for having a smart home. (Not affiliated with American Family). Why wouldn’t they? You are spending more money upfront to protect and optimize your home, so of course they’ll work out a deal!

Also, while not a deal per se, what if you decide to sell your home? You can increase the value of your home by at least 10%. Let’s do some math. If the average home is $313,700… $313,700 x .10 = $31,370. That amount of money covers most home automation systems…And that is just on the value! Imagine adding the actual money you are saving while you LIVE in your energy efficient home.

SECURE YOUR HOME WITHOUT GIVING YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY AWAY!

Think about companies like ADT, Frontpoint, Protect America. Some are familiar with those names, some are not. If you aren’t, these are home security companies. While I am grateful that they exist, and they have surely saved many lives from burglary or fire…They aren’t the cheapest. Overall, you have a security system you can barely control and with required monthly payments. Want to add a camera you like? Oh, must be approved. Have an issue with the system? Better be patient to wait to get taken care of. You are giving away your power to control your home and your money.

Why not take control of your energy efficient home? With smart home technologies, you can skip the “big company control” and secure your own home.

MANAGE AND CONTROL YOUR BILLS

Right now, could you answer the question “How much electricity are you using?”. I assume, you would have pull up your last month’s consumption records and take a guess. Even worse, no answer, if you don’t have the papers. The average American house, spends close to half of their energy use in heating and cooling. About one-third of the bill, goes towards using appliances. Most people know that unplugging your appliances after use, saves you tons of money. However, can you remember the last time you unplugged your coffee machine after your morning dose? Highly unlikely.

Home automation is about integrating everything together. The reason it is called an “energy efficient home”, is because everything in your home works together as a team. This creates a home specific to you and your family. Understanding your habits then, it can automatically turn off certain lights, turn appliances on standby, and regulate your temperature automatically. You will also have access to all this in data. “How much electricity are you using?” You’ll be able to answer that yourself without depending on anyone.

CONCLUSION

An energy efficient home is, without a doubt, where everybody is headed. Constantly rising and predicted to reach more than 50% of American homes by 2021. However, why wait for the “destined date?”. Most home automation systems are highly customizable, which means even after 5-6 years, they will be adapting to the newest technologies. Don’t believe all the things you hear about home automation like “it’s too expensive”. Also, don’t wait for your friends and neighbors to start automating their homes before you do. Start now and show them the power of a smart home!