5 Home Technologies That Will Save You Energy and Money
Summary
"According to our research, energy is the third biggest factor that goes into buying things, behind product features and price," says Tim Doyle, spokesperson for the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). Although the Nest learns your habits, a new product called eversense by Allure Energy — which is set to launch in the second quarter — uses GPS technology via an app for iOS and Android devices to determine when you are out of the house. LG unveiled an entire line of smart appliances — from a refrigerator that keeps track of your diet to an ultra-fast, eco-friendly washing machine that fits more clothes in fewer loads — at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in January. "Its only a matter of time before more people use home automation technology to control lighting and even water, including the sprinkler system," Carnes adds. In fact, it plans to build a sustainable smart town in Japan by 2014, consisting of more than 1,000 homes on 47 acres, according to a report by Popular Science.