Can I Save with a Smart Home?
Turning off the lights when you’re not in the room, unplugging devices on standby and running appliances at off-peak power times – we’ve heard all these tips for lowering your power bill before. And thanks to all the power saving products now on the market, there are so many more options for making your home energy smart.
Smart home products marry two of the most talked about trends in the tech world right now: the Internet of Things (IoT) and green technology. These products can make a difference not only on your carbon footprint, but on your bank account. This is particularly important with the rapidly rising cost of housing essentials like energy in South Africa right now.
The reality is that living in South Africa is not as cheap as it used to be. The rand’s fluctuating strength combined with the price on most products seeing major increases, means we need to be more careful and cut down on expenses where we can. South Africans would be shocked to realise just how much they are paying each month on their energy bill and how much they can save with a few minor changes.
And one of these minor changes is installing smart products to your home. Read on to find out how smart home products are more energy efficient and can help you save money in the long run.
Make the Brighter Choice with MyLights
The average utility costs in South Africa are still riding the middle wave compared to other countries despite the country’s power plants issuing a 9.4% hike in utility bills in 2015. According to a recent report conducted by global database Numbeo, utility bills cost between $48 and $140 per month depending on the size of your house. These utility costs cover water, electricity and waste disposal. But if you wanted to see further savings, why not switch to smart home products like MyLights?
There’s no doubt about it: LED lighting is the way of the future. Not only do they last an incredibly long time, they use a fraction of the energy of their incandescent counterparts. Generally, LEDs (at 100% brightness) are much more efficient and are up to 80% cheaper to run than incandescent bulbs. On top of that, a 60 watt-equivalent LED bulb provides a whopping 25,000 hours of life whereas an incandescent lasts a measly 1000 hours in comparison.
The ability to have your lights turn on and off automatically, dim, work on a schedule and be controlled from a smartphone app has obvious energy savings. A smart lighting system like MyLights by MyPlace Africa can do all this and more. Not only does MyLights cost substantially less than other systems, its energy efficient to guarantee you those extra savings. Have a look at the table below to see just how much you can save using the dimming function (based on a house with 60 lights running for 1.5 hours per day):
Then, why not add MyEco to see even more smart energy savings? With the MyEco button, all Mylights LEDs automatically dim, so you’ll barely notice the difference in the room lighting, but you will see a big drop in your power bill.
Always Keep your Cool with MyAir
South Africa’s Cape experiences a Mediterranean climate, which means mild, rainy winters and warm, sunny summers. However, Cape Town is currently experiencing a devastating event dubbed “Day Zero” and is looming dangerously close to being the first global city to run out of water. As a result of all the dams nearly dry, the city has become extremely hot and humid.
In contrast, Johannesburg and inland South Africa experience hot, wet summers and cold, dry winters. So for the country as a whole, this can mean unexpected turns in the temperature and climate at any given time. As a result, this can lead to ramping up the air con to adapt and therefore ramping up the electricity bill.
Be prepared for this with smart air conditioning. A smart AC system can be programmed to your schedule so that it delivers the best temperature for your home habits at the lowest possible cost. That means you won’t have to give up your air con during these hot summer months and can cut down on your usage to save on your energy bill. In fact, programmable air conditioners can help you save up to 25% off your heating and cooling bill.
With the MyAir air conditioning management system, you have the option to add motion sensors that detect when a room has been empty for 10 minutes and automatically adjusts the target temperature by 1 degree. Then, if the room is still empty after 20 minutes, the temperature is adjusted by 2 degrees. This small adjustment can reduce the room’s energy use by 20%.
MyAir also uses clever zoning to help you see further savings. The average home has 10 rooms and the standard air conditioning system has only 4 or 5 zones. This means if all your bedrooms are in one zone, all rooms must be air conditioned, even when some are not in use, which wastes energy. Unlike a standard system, MyAir divides your home in up to 10 zones – one for every room – which allows you to heat or cool only the room you’re using.
For even more savings, picture this: You have left home and suddenly remember that you forgot to turn off your lights or air con before you left. Can you imagine the money it would cost you to keep them running for no reason? Now thanks to MyPlace, you don’t have to. MyLights and MyAir both come with a smartphone app that turns most smartphones or tablets into wireless remote controls, allowing you to control the system even when you’re away from the home.
Are you ready to start saving money on your energy bill? Have a chat to MyPlace Africa today to see how our MyLights and MyAir smart systems can cut costs in your household.
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