Five years ago, Florida Power & Light rates for usage of 1,000 KWH, 1,200 KWH, or 2,500 KWH were:

• 1,000 KWH – $103.78
• 1,200 KWH – $127.13
• 2,500 KWH – $278.83

Five years later, the average monthly bill was:

• 1,000 KWH – $139.94
• 1,200 KWH – $170.13
• 2,500 KWH – $366.46

Costs keep rising, and everything you can do to lower those costs will help your household budget. Smart home integration is one of the best moves when it’s time to install a new AC system.

The Cost-Saving Benefits of Smart Home Integration with AC Systems

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy did studies in 2018 regarding the cost-saving benefits of smart home integrations. That study found savings of:

• Electronics and Appliances – About 3%
• Home Energy Management Systems – An average of 13%
• HVAC – About 10%
• Lighting – Upwards of 27%
• Smart Blinds and Window Shades – An average of 15%
• Smart Outlets and Power Strips – Up to 50% 
• Smart Thermostats – About 10% for cooling and 8% for heating
• Water Heaters – About 15%

If you ensure your entire home makes the most of smart technology, the savings are substantial. The ACEEE estimates electricity consumption would drop by upwards of 17% for an entire household.

A second study by several universities found that smart thermostats reduced energy bills by an average of 50 KWH per month. Other smart devices saved:

• Appliances – 60 KWH
• HVAC – 75 KWH
• Lighting – 25 KWH

Even if you consider the cost of purchasing smart technology and any subscription services and maintenance, you end up saving money each month. Plus, smart technology alerts you to problems that are just developing. Catching issues in the earliest stages often leads to less costly repairs.

Know the Technology That Works With Your Home’s AC System

Many newer central air conditioning systems are equipped with smart technology, too. Manufacturers have customized smart technology that requires you to download the free app, but that makes it easy for your South Florida AC system and other smart appliances and devices to tell you when service is needed.

One example is the built-in Comfort Bridge technology Goodman incorporates into some of its newer AC systems. Comfort Bridge analyzes your patterns and habits and makes adjustments to minimize your energy consumption. It also pairs with Clean Comfort air purifying systems to clean and cool your air together. Because it’s built-in technology, a smart thermostat isn’t necessary.

Rheem also has built-in smart technology called EcoNet. EcoNet connects air conditioning, home heating, and water heating systems. It also monitors your home’s humidity levels providing problem-free operation that you don’t have to monitor. If something does go wrong and needs maintenance or repair, you’ll get a notification.

Finally, GE uses the SmartQ app that connects every appliance and HVAC system in your home. You can turn appliances on and off from anywhere you have service. You’ll receive notifications when something needs repair or maintenance is needed. Your AC service technician also has insight into the problem before leaving the shop, which makes it easier to ensure the correct parts and tools are on the truck.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats communicate with your new AC system to adjust temperatures within your different zones. More importantly, they learn your patterns to adjust temperatures automatically when you normally leave home for work or school and when you usually arrive home.

You can set timers to automatically take care of this, but a smart thermostat will study your activities and create a customized schedule for each day. Plus, you can use the app to check your home’s temperature when you’re on the go. If something’s wrong, you’ll get a notification, which allows you to act fast before your home is too hot or cold, which can impact any pets that are home.

Smart Home Hubs

Smart hubs are another option, and you’ll need one if you have multiple smart devices that need to communicate. Suppose you have smart lights. You could have them programmed to turn on when you open your garage door and park your car. Several smart home devices work well to make your home as energy-efficient as possible.

• Smart Air Purifiers: Smart technology cleans your air by constantly monitoring the air quality and turning the fans up and down as needed. 
• Smart Garage Door Opener: Smart technology opens and closes your garage door per a voice command or through the app, and it can also alert you to the garage door being left open.
• Smart Locks: Smart deadbolts that you can pair to your lights to have lights turn on or off when you unlock or lock your door.
• Smart Outlets/Power Bars: Outlets and power bars that turn on when a device is being used and off when it’s not. 
• Smart Panels: Upgrades to electrical boxes that analyze your home’s energy consumption, alert you to issues with appliances, and adjust power flow to certain areas of the home when no one is using power in a specific area.
• Smart Shades: Light-blocking shades that open and close depending on the sun exposure, which keeps solar energy from heating rooms and causing the AC to run more.
• Smart Speakers: Smart speakers where you can speak to your smart system to turn items on and off or check the status of systems within your home.
• Smart Switches: Light switches that are voice or touch-activated and connect to other smart devices for multi-function control.

At the same time, these devices continually monitor the functionality and power consumption and alert you when something changes. This is a great way to tell if an appliance requires maintenance or repair. Plus, you catch issues in the earliest stages which staves off a frustrating breakdown.

Keep Security in Mind

As you set up smart home devices, keep security in mind. Don’t use an easily guessed password like “password” or “ABC123.” Make sure you have a firewall and software that scans your system for malware, viruses, and other threats. 

Your Wi-Fi security is important. If you’re not certain how to make your system as safe as possible, hire an IT professional to help out. It’s also worth hiring professional technicians to install a smart thermostat and hub that’s compatible with your new air conditioner.

Once it’s installed, check for patches and updates daily. If possible, change the settings to constantly check for updates and install them automatically.

Always Work With a Professional Miami AC Expert

Anything other than a window AC unit is never a DIY project. Improper pressurization or a system that’s ill-equipped for your home’s square footage and design can ruin the efficiency you’re aiming for with smart technology and new AC units.

If you want to maximize your savings when you need a new AC system, work with an energy-efficient AC system expert. All Year Cooling’s Miami AC technicians know everything there is to know about current smart technology and its use in efficient HVAC systems. Reach us online or by phone to discuss your AC needs.