As summer bids us farewell and the allure of autumn evenings and festive gatherings beckons, many of us also turn our attention to the impending winter and the dread of soaring fuel bills. Thankfully, innovative technology offers solutions to keep your home cosy while minimising energy consumption. Charlie Hibbins, Managing Director of Symbiotic Smart Homes, unveils some clever ways to help you weather the winter fuel bills and transform your home into an all-season haven.
Close the cold out with tech
Smart curtains and blinds are rapidly gaining popularity – and for very good reasons. Not only do they add a touch of style to your home, but they also serve a practical purpose by helping to retain heat. These curtains are often thick and luxurious, and sometimes even light-blocking. They can reduce the amount of warm air escaping through your windows. By using smart programming to automatically close curtains or blinds at specific times of the day, you can ensure that more of the precious heat generated by your heating system stays inside your home. This not only benefits the environment but also your wallet.
What’s more, smart windows and blinds can also come to the rescue during hot summer months by blocking out excessive sunlight. It’s a year-round win-win!
Shed light on savings
As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, our spending on home lighting tends to increase. Installing dimmer switches for your ceiling and wall lamps can be a game-changer. Not only do they reduce your energy bills, but they also help create a cosy, warm ambiance – the perfect retreat as the temperature drops outside. For added convenience, you can pre-program your lights to come on at specific times, ensuring you never return home to a dark house. Alternatively, you can control your lighting through a user-friendly app or with a simple flick of a switch. For all your lights and lamps, be sure to select energy-efficient bulbs to keep your costs down.
A heated discussion
The age-old debate continues: Is it more cost-effective to keep your home at a continuous, lower temperature while you’re away or to turn up the heat upon your return? Charlie Hibbins sheds light on this dilemma:
“The answer really depends on your home’s insulation and your heating system. In modern, well-insulated homes, heating your space for longer at a lower temperature can be more economical. This is particularly true for homes with underfloor heating, and manufacturers typically provide guidance on the most cost-effective usage of their systems.
However, if your home loses heat through drafty windows, doors, or a poorly insulated roof, keeping the heat on can be a costly affair. Yet, returning to a frigid home after facing the elements is far from ideal.
This is where smart technology takes the stage. Symbiotic Smart Homes can zone your home so that key rooms are maintained at your preferred temperature or heated to the right level before you arrive, while less frequently used spaces are kept at a lower temperature or heated for a shorter duration. This provides you with the best of both worlds: warm, cosy rooms when and where you need them without paying a premium to heat unused space.
Moreover, smart home heating systems can be controlled remotely, allowing you to keep your furry friends warm during unexpected temperature drops and ensuring a warm welcome when you return home. Smart technology offers flexible solutions that help you use energy more efficiently.”
A smarter way to save energy
With countless ways to keep your home warm and inviting throughout winter, you can enjoy peace of mind, lower costs, and reduced hassle. Investing in smart technology today can translate into substantial savings for years to come, benefiting both your wallet and the environment.