Smart Homes: The Way of the Future or a Risk to Homeowners? Glitches of early iterations aside, smart home technology has an increasingly active presence in the lives of homeowners who are looking for convenience and savings in a pushed-for-time era. From adaptive thermostats that automatically gauge energy usage and alter temperatures for optimal savings, to smart home speakers that use sophisticated artificial intelligence to provide services and information in real-time, a

Four Easy Ways to Harness Solar Power at Home The price of solar technologies has dropped in recent years. Is now the time to hop on the bandwagon? Even if you're not fully convinced, there are small steps you can take today to reduce your environmental footprint and save money through solar. 1) Solar lighting. Eliminate the need for extension cords or pricey landscape lighting installations by opting for solar lights outdoors. In addition to smaller pathway lights, you can f

...Start Saving! Replace traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescents Opt for desk or reading lamps to avoid unnecessarily lighting an entire room Raise the thermostat on your air conditioner by 10 percent when you leave for the day. Use an ice tray. Automatic ice makers increase a refrigerator's energy consumption by 14-20 percent. Clean the coils on your refrigerator. If you need a recommendation for local professionals who can increase your home's energy efficiency, w

Remote-controlled window shades, voice-activated TVs, and door bells with high-quality video were once limited to sci-fi novels, Hollywood movies, and TV shows like “The Jetsons.” But the future has arrived, and more tech-savvy homeowners are installing smart home technology. Color-changing lightbulbs, anyone? Nearly half of homeowners renovating their pads are adding new technology while they’re at it, according to a recent report from Houzz, a home remodeling and design web