Conserving Energy by Using Technology

Conserving Energy by using Technology

Technologies to help homeowners conserve energy are not new. However, since 2002, they have become progressively more affordable and intuitive which has made them more effective  (Graff).  These technologies create a winning combination for consumers to both save money on energy bills and reduce greenhouse emissions.  Companies that provide consumers with energy saving technologies such as programmable thermostats, energy smart appliances, and options for lighting has not only increased conservation, but has also minimized the need for the consumer to actively manage energy consumption.

Programmable thermostats allow consumers to create schedules to control the climate in their homes rather making manual adjustments. The evolution of these types of thermostats moved manual programming to that which can be monitored and programmed, via portable devices. The latter gives the consumer more options and more control. In addition, many monitoring programs provide incentives for conservation by noting the dollar amount of energy savings and making current rates of energy use instantly available. However, technology is every changing and manufacturers of devices such as the “Nest” realized that remote climate control still fell short of optimum (Graff). Research by energy.gov showed that many consumers initially programmed thermostats but failed to adjust or use the interactive control features. The most contemporary technologies have the ability to “learn” consumer habits and create the most effective, and conservative environment that is customized to each user’s routine. This puts conservation on autopilot for the consumer.

Another way that conservation has become more plug-and-play through technological advances is the embedded features available with hundreds of EnergyStar appliances. Removing consumer guesswork is one way that the technology used in modern appliances encourages conservation. For example, refrigerators that display energy conserving options are external reminders of the internal technologies that adjust temperature and fan use to save energy. Washers and dyers work independent of operators and use sensors to calculate the time and resources needed to clean and dry clothes.  Using steam and tumble settings that are adjusted for each load, these devices are able to detect the “needs” of each load, ensuring that excess water and energy are not used. This contrasts previous models in which the consumer must set cycles. Like thermostats, those settings are often not adjusted efficiently.

Plug and play reduces the need to remember adjustments. Another area that this benefits consumers is lighting. Not only do fluorescent and LED bulbs offer alternatives to the higher power consumption of incandescent bulbs, but technology that provides infrared, light, and photo sensors provide conservation when light is not needed by turning lighting off. These technologies provide hands-off conservation for the consumer (Sood, Vayas and Singh).  Additionally, programmable lighting and connections to smartphone control allows consumers to make conscious decisions about energy use without having to constantly monitor them. Like thermostats and appliances, programs that control lighting often remind consumers of savings as an incentive to continue conservation efforts.