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How-To’s

Smart Home Tech Tips To Beat The Heat

By July 19, 2022September 19th, 2024No Comments

Summer is officially here and many people are battling to remain cool as the heat waves ride in. Smart home technology can help keep your home even cooler!  You can beat the heat and stay cool even on the hottest days by making clever use of your electronics. Here’s how to do it.

Set a smart bed to cool down before you sleep

EightSleep Smart Bed being shown in bedroom.

The best temperature for sleep is around 20 degrees celsius according to sleep scientists. When it’s over 32 outside, reaching that temperature inside isn’t feasible without substantial energy bills. A smart bed can help you with a solution.

Smart thermostats can adjust the temperature based on the forecast

Finger touching the side of Google Nest Thermostat (2020).

Smart, Internet-connected thermostats can start cooling your house before it gets too hot. It takes more energy to cool a hot house than it does to maintain a constant temperature. Some smart thermostats will even attempt to execute tasks that demand more energy when energy costs are at their lowest.

A smart thermostat also allows you to manage the temperature from a distance. This is ideal for when you go on vacation and set your thermostat higher, but you still want your home to be comfortable when you go home. You may also keep track of total energy expenses; the Google Nest Thermostat, for example, claims to save up to 15% on annual energy costs.

UV sensors let smart blinds close automatically

Have you ever desired that your blinds could close on their own, perhaps at a given time of day or when light falls on a specific area of your home? Through platforms like IFTTT, smart UV sensors may be set around your home and linked to smart blinds. When sunlight strikes the sensor, it sends a signal to your blinds, telling them to close.

For homes with wide windows that allow in a lot of light and heat, this is a good option. UV sensors can give you the best of both worlds by closing the blinds on these windows when the sunlight reaches a particular level, giving you the best of both worlds — the view from the window as well as relief from the heat.

Use smart lights to set up extreme temperature alerts

Philips Hue lights lighting up living room.

Before you leave the house, it’s critical to be aware of the weather conditions outside. Before you walk out the door, smart lighting can give you a heads-up. Simply choose one light to serve as an outside temperature indicator, such as one in your home’s foyer.

Set routines using smart lights like the Philips Hue light bulb using a service like IFTTT. The light can be blue if the temperature outdoors is in the 20s. You can make the light turn green if it’s in the high 20’s. Make the LED glow red if the temperature rises above 30 degrees. These are just a few instances, but they demonstrate how easy it is to gather vital information at a look.

USB powered portable AC units can offer instant cool air

EVAPOLA portable AC unit on top of table.
John Velasco / Digital Trends

The HVAC system will always be warmer in some rooms in your home. Consider purchasing a portable air conditioner for your home office if it is consistently warmer than the rest of the house.

Battery-powered fans are useful during a power outage

Xiaomi SmartMi 2S fan being used outdoors.
John Velasco / Digital Trends

Power outages are common during the hottest days of summer, especially when the grid becomes overloaded due to too many people drawing too much power. A battery-powered smart fan can assist provide some relief from the heat on days when the power goes out and you’re stranded at home.

 

Use Energy Dashboard to track your devices’ energy consumption

Amazon Alexa Energy Dashboard shown on a smartphone.

The Alexa Energy Dashboard displays the exact amount of energy consumed by Alexa-connected devices in your house. It shows daily, weekly, and monthly patterns to show you how energy usage changes over time.

The Alexa Energy Dashboard makes it simple to assess how much energy your smart devices consume and whether their energy usage is justified by the benefits they provide. 

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https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/smart-home-tech-tips-tricks-beat-summer-heat/

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John Velasco / Digital Trends