Smart plugs and Alexa type devices to control them aren’t cheap, but I like the convenience of pulling up to my office and telling my Auto Alexa to turn on my PC, printer and workbench. I enjoy walking into the kitchen and telling the microwave to turn on. “Alexa, turn the heating up one degree” is a delight. As is, at the end of the day, “Alexa, everything off.”
It turns out my investment in automation will reap financial rewards as well. Research by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and CLEAResult shows that smart plugs can save between 1- 4.58% of electricity annually. That is about 500-1000 kilowatts per year. I set my smart plugs and lights to turn off automatically when I’m not there, the lights switch on at sundown, the TV is off (rather than standby) when I’m not using it. I don’t forget, because Alexa never forgets. Curtains, blinds and doors are my next projects.
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