Conventional electrical systems and devices are not very eco-friendly. This creates the need for devices with better design, built by developers with an understanding of the need to limit carbon emissions. Which is where smart devices prove their worth.

The advent of smart technology and smart systems has led to the development of several innovative devices that can cut down on the energy consumption of our homes, making them greener and more sustainable than ever before.

Here are some smart devices that can help you reduce your carbon footprint to a great extent.

1. Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats are a practical innovation that make our homes smarter and more energy-efficient. A smart thermostat memorizes the user’s schedule and energy consumption patterns and integrates them with the heating and cooling systems of the house.

It has motion sensors that detect movement within a room and can shut off the heater automatically when the room is unoccupied. A smart thermostat also optimizes the heating and cooling of a room depending on the number of people present.

By memorizing behavioral patterns and user schedules, a smart thermostat can run programs to create the best ambient atmosphere for users, ensuring maximum comfort.

Smart thermostats also integrate the data with the outside weather conditions, thus controlling the house’s humidity and other temperature requirements.

Smart thermostats also share monthly notifications about the household’s energy consumption patterns and present tips on saving energy and reducing electricity bills.

2. Smart Power Strips

Some smart power strips have circuits that optimize and conserve power when there is a power cut in the house. They distribute the charge amongst circuits where devices can be charged and act like a multiple-circuit power bank for electronic devices such as laptops, PCs, and phones.

Having said that, smart power strips do more than just charge electronic devices. Unlike conventional power strips that keep consuming energy even after the device has been charged, smart power strips stop charging automatically, even if the device is plugged in. When not in use, the power strip can even shut itself down.

In addition, it also sends charging status notifications to the connected mobile app if any high voltage devices are plugged in, to prevent short circuits.

3. Smart Sprinkler Systems

With climate change and global warming, water resources are becoming scanty. Watering the lawns, especially, wastes a lot of water, which results in overall energy wastage in the home.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a household with an automatic landscape irrigation system wastes nearly 25,000 gallons of water every year. Smart sprinkler systems can provide the answer here, to reduce your home’s water consumption and consequently reduce your carbon footprint.

Smart home irrigation systems optimize water usage and reduce its wastage. Installation of smart sprinklers in the house can reduce wastage of water to a great extent. With this, the household will not be just conserving water but also saving on their annual water bills.

The best part about smart sprinklers is that they are easy to install. You can connect it with the hose pipe or the in-ground irrigation system and control it from your smartphone.

Smart sprinklers have sensors that analyze the weather and the soil condition of the area to optimize water usage. If your lawn has moist soil, the sprinkler will release less water.

They also come with smart scheduling to set the timer and the duration for watering the lawns. Advanced sprinkler systems also integrate with voice-controlled devices and let the user control the direction of water sprays, so that certain parts of the lawn do not get underwatered or be spoiled with over-watering.

An added advantage of smart sprinklers is the availability of different sprinkler heads to ensure efficient usage of water, as per the size of the lawn and other horticultural requirements.

Homeowners can also conserve water by getting notifications about water shortages in the neighborhood or during a drought and accordingly changing the sprinkler settings for reduced water usage.

4. Smart Composters

Disposing organic matter in the environment is not just a waste of natural resources, but can even indirectly be the reason for an increase in global warming. Organic waste that decomposes anaerobically releases harmful methane gas into the atmosphere, which leads to an overall increase in greenhouse gases.

Considering that, according to Rubicon, an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year, so you can imagine the consequences on the global carbon footprint. Which is where smart composters can help.

Smart composters can be used for the efficient treatment of organic wastes. The composter bin has sensors that detect the level of waste and the presence of moisture content. The data from these readings is used to regulate the water level float sensor that controls the water pump and the amount of water required in the compost bin. Appropriate moisture content is a must for organic composting, so this process ensures that the water level is consistent.

Setting up a smart compost bin is easy. It breaks down the kitchen waste in three cycles of drying, grinding, and cooling. These take up to 48-72 hours and make use of aeration and heat.

A smart composter system also sends digital notifications that give users information about the weight of the compost generated in the bin. Many smart composters come with specific features of just composting organic kitchen waste without generating any odor in the kitchen space.

In addition, many smart composters work on solar power and are completely sustainable.

5. Smart Bulbs

Indoor lighting is one of the biggest contributors to energy consumption in the average American household. This can be effectively reduced with the help of smart bulbs, which are internet-enabled LED bulbs that can be configured and controlled remotely.

Smart bulbs have motion sensors that automatically shut down when the room is unoccupied. You can also customize its brightness or dimness by integrating it with voice-controlled technology.

In addition, smart bulbs have in-built features that make them more durable than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. They can also be charged, lasting for five to six hours during a power cut.

Statistics show that switching to energy-efficient light bulbs can make the home smarter and more eco-friendly. And switching to smart bulbs can help a household save thousands of dollars on their annual electricity bills.

6. Smart Meters

Often, we feel that we are conserving energy, but unless there is are measurable ways to know our energy consumption, we cannot be sure. That is what an energy meter does and, by extension, a smart meter.

However, unlike generic electric meters that simply record energy consumption on utility devices, smart meters give data on real-time electricity consumption at short intervals. Smart meters have a two-way connection between the meter and the central electronic system of your home.

The readings from smart meters are more accurate than conventional meters as the entire process is automated and requires minimal human interference.

It also helps optimize the electricity demand and sends homeowners notifications about their consumption patterns and tips to cut down electricity wastage. This helps to reduce the carbon footprint of individual households.

Help by Leading an Energy-Efficient Lifestyle

With these devices, smart home automation can alter not only your lifestyle but also lower energy wastage. With smart monitoring systems and regular notifications, smart devices can study and improve user behavior patterns to minimize the energy wasted every day.

Studies estimate that even if a small percentage of households in the United States install smart devices in their homes, we can reduce electricity bills significantly in the near future. This would be a huge step towards achieving our sustainability goals and creating a brighter, more eco-friendly future for the coming generations.