In today’s world, technology isn’t just about convenience. The right tech gadget purchases can quickly transform into a money-saving investment, helping you reap benefits for months and years to come. Here’s a list of 12 tech gadgets that can help everyone save money.
Smart Thermostats
A smart thermostat is one of the best gadgets you can own to lower your utility bills. They make controlling your home’s heating and cooling settings easier through a dedicated mobile app. While the precise savings will vary depending on the home size, occupancy, local climate, etc., you can save up to 10% on all your heating and cooling through proper adjustments. Energy Star claims that its smart thermostats can help people save up to 8% on heating and cooling costs.
Solar Panels
If you’re an eco-conscious consumer, you must consider installing solar panels. These panels seamlessly convert sunlight into electricity, powering most of your devices. While you won’t get instant savings, average U.S. homeowners can save approximately $50,000 in nearly 25 years through these installations. The savings can vary widely depending on how much money you currently spend on electricity, your location, and other factors.
Energy-Efficient Ceiling Fans
Modern ceiling fans available in today’s market come equipped with DC motors, which are more energy-efficient than traditional AC motors. DC motors, on average, consume up to 70% less energy, helping homeowners save significant money on their monthly electricity bills. A family in Oregon reportedly reduced their summer cooling costs by 40% using energy-efficient ceiling fans.
Smart Refrigerators
Smart refrigerators are fancy, huge, and loaded with high-performance features that use less energy for improved cooling. If you plan to replace your old refrigerator with a new one, consider buying an ENERGY STAR-certified smart refrigerator. These models are 9% more energy efficient than the ones meeting the federal minimum energy efficiency standards. You can expect to save over $220 over a 12-year lifetime.
Energy Monitors
Energy monitors are a must-have if you’re struggling with constantly high electricity bills. These Wi-Fi-enabled devices help you understand how energy is being used in your home. You can use these monitors to determine how much electricity each device consumes and adjust your usage to lower power consumption. Homeowners can save nearly $100/year on average using energy monitors at home.
Coffee Makers
Coffee makers can save you significant money if you regularly buy coffee from local baristas. While buying coffee provides convenience to busy professionals, it affects people financially. Assuming you grab one Starbucks drip coffee (tall) daily, you spend nearly $462.50/year on coffees alone. You can save approximately $307.50/year by making coffee at home using any smart coffee maker. The savings can be significant for people who buy multiple coffees every day on their way to work.
Energy-Efficient LED Bulbs
Your house lighting accounts for nearly 15% of the total electricity usage, so installing energy-efficient lighting solutions can lower your recurring electricity bills. The best part about investing in LED bulbs is they allow homeowners to enjoy the same amount of illumination throughout their house at a fraction of the cost. LEDs use up to 90% less energy. They also last up to 25 times more than traditional lighting solutions. Households can expect to save about $225/year in energy costs.
Water-Saving Showerheads
If your water bills affect your monthly budget, consider replacing your standard shower heads with water-saving shower heads. Traditional shower heads typically use 2.5 gallons of water per minute, compared to the 2 gallons per minute limit of WaterSense label showerheads. It is estimated that if every household in the U.S. installs water-saving showerheads, like WaterSense-labeled ones, the U.S. can save over $2.9 billion in water utility bills and over 260 billion gallons of water. People can also avoid paying $2.5 billion in collective energy costs for heating water.
Electric Toothbrushes
While electric toothbrushes don’t provide instant savings, they contribute to long-term savings. These devices are designed to provide superior plaque removal, helping regular brushers reduce the risk of gum diseases like gingivitis. You can buy these brushes to maintain good oral hygiene to lower your chances of potential dental visits or treatment, which would generally cost a lot of money.
Smart Irrigation Systems
Maintaining lush green lawns is a resource-intensive task and is often costly. Traditional irrigation systems make proper maintenance more expensive as they waste water due to overwatering or inefficient scheduling. Smart irrigation systems have emerged as a cost-efficient option that prevents costly runoffs. Homeowners with these advanced irrigation systems report saving up to 50% more water, increasing their savings on water bills. The exact saving will depend on your lawn size, water used, and other factors.
Water Leak Detectors
Every household must install a water leak detector to lower its water bills. These advanced devices monitor for water leaks and spills across your house, alerting you about potential leaks when they occur. It can help you make timely fixes before the situation gets worse, saving you from expensive repairs. Using these detectors to fix easily corrected household water leaks can save American households nearly 10% on their water bills.
Bluetooth Trackers
These tiny devices help people find lost items, saving them huge amounts of money. If you’re a frequent traveler who often struggles with missing or delayed luggage during long airport transits, you can install these trackers in all your luggage to keep real-time track of their location. The savings will vary depending on the value of the items stored in the luggage.
