Ramblings from an Automation Mad Man (A Blogs Series)
By Jerry Maldonado –VP of Automation, Customer Lifecycle Solutions
Remember the old Kermit the Frog song, “ it’s not easy being green”? Well for him, it was his struggle as a frog that made the song such a childhood favorite. But today, green means many things to me. It means saving some of the planet for my kids and my grandkids. Guess it can also mean saving power, conserving energy, recycling waste, and using renewable fuels etc. Whatever it means, one thing is for sure, and in the long run it will save me some green if I think green. I personally believe in the green effect. In my own terms this is in regards to the effect a person or persons can have on their environment to protect our future. Little things like not littering (which technically is not a little thing, but something we all need to do better) to larger scale energy consumption using renewable fuels. Hey every little bit helps and we should all do our part.
So here are some of the things I do to save the planet! Yes of course since I am the automation mad man, a lot of it has to do with automating technology. Besides, living in a home that is green certified I tend to do the following . . .
1. Switch light bulbs over to CFL or LED
This is a no brainer because with the major shops stopping the production of most standard light bulbs, consumers are forced to look at cfl’s and led as replacements. With this push comes much lower prices for these bulbs as well as new technology that actually make the rooms feel and look brighter. Changing up your bulbs helps to create a better mood without the need for wires. I personally prefer LED bulbs to cfl’s for size and color choices but there is definitely a cost difference. So choose based on need and location. Yes location. Here’s a tip: if you ever put a drop ceiling in over an air ventilation system then you may have noticed that the incandescent bulbs blow out more frequently there than anywhere else. Why? Vibration. The ceiling will actually vibrate in harmony with the duct work this slight vibration would cause heated elements to break it can also cause cfl’s to pulse on and off quickly causing them to have a much shorter lifespan. Not so much an issue with led’s.
2. Programmable thermostats
Yes this is a good one, and one most folks don’t really believe! Trust me, I have seen reductions in my heating and cooling costs by 37% or better, because of programmable thermostats. Granted I have mine tied into a broader smart home setup, but still the cost savings of the programmable thermostats will pay for themselves in no time. Multiple time settings will give you the most range of choices and comfort levels.
3. Programmable lights
Ok automation dude, but with cfls and LED is it really worth it?. Answer: yes it is . Not only is it good for security reasons, but also good if you have kids. My kids always leave the lights on, always have to walk into a room and turn on all the lights and always forget to turn off the lights. I have my system check during weekdays after 10 AM and turn off all closet lights and all hall way lights. I use sensors to turn on lights when folks enter hallways and family areas. I also have pre-programmed events like school night to shut down all areas where the kids are to go to sleep and ones to shutdown the whole house for the night. Nice ka-ching in my pocket there.
4. Programmable fans
Have ceiling fans , well they are very efficient air movers and during the day I have found out that if I can use ceiling fans as opposed to the main heat and ac systems, I can keep the house comfortable when no one is home without too much power being drawn . This is one I am still working on however, so look for more on this in a later post.
5. Efficient heating and cooling system
There was a time when systems such as geo thermal was way too expensive and the ROI on these items were almost as long as the systems would last . Now more geo thermal and heat pumps can save you big and can be tied into the home automation system to allow it to be programmed as needed. This system would be just like most major green office buildings, but now in your own home.
6. Solar electricity
With the current tax breaks , new advances in technology, major corporations putting up solar farms , energy companies offering to lease your roof for solar, this looks to be the wave of the future . While I am just in the process of doing this now, initial estimates put my fully purchased system as paying itself off in 2-4 years current rates. Clean and renewable, solar is also able to keep me in power during power outages. Couple this with detail analytics on power consumption and a home automation system and I can fine tune power usage for peak and off peak times increasing efficiency.
7. Hot Water
I chose the on-demand model for hot water for my home. This method only heats water when necessary and keeps the water hot for the duration of the need. Since converting, I have seen a reduction in gas usage at my house by at least 25% plus never running out of hot water during my shower again is a plus. Solar heat promises the most direct bang for the buck, but I have my concerns about storage facility and maintaining heat during dark days.
8. Recycle Program
We live and breathe recycle bins in the kitchen turn into garbage cans and recycled bags in the garage to a bi-weekly trip to our recycle center. We even have an aluminum can collection that every other month pays for the family lunch as well as support the local schools with funds for the education system.
9. Veggie Garden
No green house would be complete without a veggie garden that uses natural, organic compost from our local compost heap. The garden helps us remember what it is we are living for on the planet and fresh veggies definitely taste better. Add a programmable timer to the water supply and use drip irrigation or pointed sprinklers so as not to have excess water.
10. Automated watering
Water conservation is also a must! Programmable sensor that feeds data will determine watering of lawn and gardens as appropriate.
While I am sure there are many other ways I can automate and “greenify” my environment, and rest assured I am looking for them as we speak, but if you have any ideas in the meantime, please send them my way @ncmaldo on twitter or leave a comment below!
Follow the Ramblings from an Automation Mad Man every Wednesday. Did you miss last week’s post? Read it here: How I lost my privacy in the world of IoT