As we venture further into the era of climate change, humans are constantly searching for ways to decrease energy consumption and increase efficiency. Unfortunately, there's no silver bullet. Truly reducing our impact on the global climate requires a combination of an increase in renewable power generation, behavioral changes to decrease consumption and increasing the efficiency of our homes and appliances. Even as we strive for improvement, sometimes we fall short. According to a new study from the University of California, Berkeley, for example, a federal Weatherization Assistance Program is not bringing in the expected efficiency benefits.

Looking for the Win-Win

Investments in home efficiency are usually considered win-win scenarios. Reductions in energy consumption lessen the impact on the environment and reduce energy bills at the same time. Many upgrades, like replacing an outdated refrigerator with a new Energy Star-certified model, will eventually pay for themselves in energy savings.

However, not every savings promise comes through. The Berkeley study looked at 30,000 households in Michigan that upgraded their home systems with new insulation, weather stripping, HVAC equipment and more. The federal government paid up to $5,000 per house for the improvements, but the average household only realized $2,400 in savings during the lifespan of their new efficiency features. That's not a great return on investment.

Ancillary Benefits

The households saved 10 to 20 percent on their energy costs, on average, which is only about 40 percent of what they were projected to save. The results are discouraging for consumers who are striving to implement any cost-saving measures they can find. Electricians and home service technicians can help you upgrade your home systems, but the changes will only go so far.

There were other benefits to the weatherization program outside the raw financial data, of course. The investments were aimed at low income households, so the money saved helped reduce poverty in the area. Plus, the reduction of carbon in the atmosphere from the program has additional economic benefits. Nevertheless, the disappointing result could be a blow to the willingness of the government to make similar investments in the future.

Let the Buyer Beware

The big lesson for the consumer? Don't believe just any claim about energy efficiency, and do your due diligence before investing in a big-ticket upgrade. You can and should make efforts to reduce your energy consumption, but be careful not to blow your investment dollars on items that don't give you a good return.

"This underscores the value of field-testing," paper author Michael Greenstone said to Vox. "Particularly in a world where economy-wide carbon pricing does not look feasible, we should be redoubling our efforts to find those CO2 reduction measures that have the biggest bang for the buck."

If you need advice on how to get the best return when it comes to energy efficiency, find an experienced electrician who can help you invest your dollars wisely and steer you away from less effective purchases.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide Series. Last week we looked at great ideas for the custom bobble heads designed to look like the recipients are a fun gag gift that is guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind.

If your active grandparent hasn’t discovered the outrageously fun sport that I can only describe as a cross between tennis and ping pong, then gifting them with their own bluetooth tracking tag that hooks onto your keyring (or anything you find yourself losing often) solves the problem brilliantly. Use this little gadget to locate your phone with the push of a button. Or, locate your keys using an app on your smart phone. 

But what if your grandparent doesn’t have a smart phone or device? Get them one! My parents love to sit down with their tablet and look at photos of my children that we send them digitally. You can find tablets and e-readers for less than $100 these days.   

As we age, eyesight diminishes and adequate lighting becomes more important than ever. If your grandparent enjoys curling up with a good book, reading the morning newspaper, or knitting sweaters, a stylish night lights that match their decor or motion activated this one in the shape of a tree ring. There are a number of online resources that will help you uncover your ancestry. Once you’re finished, a battery operated Blurb.com or head down to your local drugstore to have your book made.

Do you have an epic entertainer in your family or circle of friends? Come back next week to get great ideas on holiday gifts for your favorite host or hostess.

*Prices and availability are subject to change.

Until recently, home automation seemed like a distant dream to many homeowners. Thanks to the advancement of smart technology, we now have the ability to turn lights on or off, open or close the garage door, adjust the temperature setting, and so much more – all with the simple push of a button. Now, you won’t have to wonder for hours on end if you left your bedroom light on or if you your garage door is open; you can achieve instant peace of mind!

The technology behind home automation is sophisticated, but before you panic let us ease your worries. Smart systems were designed to add convenience to your life, not complication. Operating such a system is fairly simple; you need only have your smart phone, tablet, or remote control on hand.

There are numerous benefits to using smart technology within your home. Should you have any further questions about installation or operation, feel free to give us a call!

Home automation can supply you with an incomparable level of assurance. If you’re returning to your home late at night and are afraid of the dark, you can automate your lights to turn on before you arrive. Or, if you’re going on vacation for a few days or even a few weeks, you can schedule your lights to turn on and off at certain times to act as a deterrence.

Apart from lights, you can also use smart controls with garage door and house doors. If you’re unsure whether your kids remembered to lock the door when they left or if your garage door is still open, you can take control with the help of your app.

In addition to light control, you can also dictate the temperature of your home when you’re away. When it’s particularly cold outside, you may want to turn the heat on when you leave work so that your home is warm and cozy when you arrive. Further, some systems even track your heating and cooling usage. This gives you valuable insight into your unit’s performance and energy efficiency.

We’ve all let out a loud gasp in fear of having forgotten to turn something off at home or to lock a door. Now, instead of gasping, you can let out a sigh of relief. Simply open your app and check on the status of your concern. When you have kids or a demanding job, it can be hard to remember every little thing you need to do. With home automation, however, you can enjoy peace of mind.

When people go on vacation, they often entrust others with their home. Of course, you can still do that, but with home automation you can retain all control.

If you have any further questions or concerns about home automation, feel free to give us a call! We are happy to help determine what systems will best suit your home and needs.