It’s an exciting time in the electrical industry with many new innovations and technologies available now and on the horizon. Area electrical contractors are already implementing many of these advances for Dallas-Fort Worth businesses and homes. Let’s explore some upgrades that you may want to add to your own property.
Smart Homes
Smart technologies are the future of the American home and likely business, too. There’s more to realizing a smart home than adding a smart device or several. Smart homes have a collection of smart devices that communicate with each other and with a central hub. This network or Internet of Things (IoT) adds a considerable amount of functionality and convenience.
Another reason to invest in a smart home is energy savings. The industry estimates that a smart home can use 30%–40% less energy than the average home. That means you’ll significantly reduce your carbon footprint. You’ll also spend less each month by reducing costs for heating, water heating, cooling, lighting, and standby power drain.
Modern Outlets: Smart, Safe, and Feature Rich
There are many excellent reasons to replace your outdated outlets with modern products. One of them is standby power drain. The typical home has many appliances and electronic devices that don’t turn off when you press the power button. Instead, they go into a standby mode and continue to draw a small amount of power that adds up over time. Smart outlets can put an end to this often unnecessary drain and perhaps save you hundreds of dollars on electricity annually.
Many area homes aren’t up to code with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires GFCIs for outlets near water, such as in kitchens and bathrooms. It requires AFCIs wherever there’s the potential for electrical fires. There are smart outlets that are GFCIs, AFCIs, and both in one.
There are many other innovations to consider for your outlets as well. Integrated surge protection is effective in areas where you don’t usually have a surge protector strip. You can opt for integrated USB ports for charging. Homes and businesses can also run their networks through their outlets. Enjoy dedicated Ethernet connections and other ports.
Smart LED Lighting
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) encourages all homes to make the move from incandescent to LED bulbs. It will lower annual electrical costs by 15% on average. That means that you can often pay for the upgrade in the first year and reap the savings long after. Some property owners hesitate to make the move. One reason is that the earliest LED bulbs for home use left something to be desired. Modern products have come a long way since then. If you invest in a high-quality LED bulb, it will provide all the illumination you need inside and outside your home.
Premium LED bulbs support dimming, and you probably won’t need to use them at 100% brightness. Smart LED bulbs offer additional adjustment options for color and mood as well. They also offer traditional smart features. You can have them blink during an alarm, for instance, and turn themselves on and off via a schedule.
Electrical Panels
Electrical panels have come a long way over the years, too. This is notable since many area houses still have old, inefficient panels they should have replaced years ago. Smart panels are now emerging on the market. One reason to invest in a smart panel is to have remote access and control of your home’s entire electrical system. Another reason is that smart panels often have integrated energy monitoring so that you can track your electricity consumption daily. Easily sport sudden spikes in usage, and collect data that helps you achieve a more efficient home.
Surge Protection
The NEC now requires whole-home surge protection. That update didn’t go into effect until 2020, which means most American houses don’t have it. An integrated surge protector will safeguard your home against lightning strikes and anomalous power from the grid. A blown transformer is a common cause of that. A surge protection device can also protect you from internal surges. Those can arise from generators, heat pumps, air conditioners, and so forth. Installing surge protection can even qualify you for a home insurance discount.
Standby Generators
Being without power for an extended period presents health risks and can be devastating financially. There have been impressive innovations in home backup generators. They’re more affordable than ever especially if you size just for your critical power needs. Most modern units provide an app that lets you monitor and control them from your phone. Some offer smart grid integration. This helps you save money during peak electricity rates. You also have the option of adding a solar panel and lithium-ion battery for even greater energy savings.
EV Charging Stations
The demand for home EV charging stations is high, which has led to a flurry of innovation. The efficiency of home chargers continues to improve, and you can look for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR is a certification that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awards for highly efficient appliances. Many systems provide app-based remote access and control. Many smart chargers are also rate-aware. You can set your vehicle up to charge, for instance, but the system won’t actually start charging right away. It will wait until your provider charges non-peak rates.
Smart Thermostats
The DOE encourages every home to invest in a programmable thermostat. It can lower your annual cooling costs by about 15% and heating costs by about 8%. With most programmable and smart thermostats, you achieve these savings through automatic scheduling. Many smart thermostats also offer geofencing. This technology is even better because it eliminates the need for a schedule. It creates a virtual boundary around your home. When anyone is within the boundary, it uses a comfort setting. When no one is, it uses an efficiency setting instead.
Smart Ceiling Fans
Homeowners should have ceiling fans in all rooms where they’re practical. In both summer and winter, they help rooms feel more comfortable, improve energy efficiency, and promote good air quality. Smart ceiling fans are even better. They let you adjust the speed and rotation of the fan through voice commands or via your phone.
Wireless Device Charging
Wireless smartphone charging isn’t just for your vehicle any longer. You can have a wireless charging pad in your foyer, living room, and bedrooms. Many newer smartphones come with integrated wireless charging support. If you have a device that doesn’t have that support, you can easily add it with a relatively inexpensive add-on.
Would You Like to Upgrade Your Electrical System?
HR Phoenix is a family-owned and -operated electrical contractor that serves homeowners and businesses throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, and the surrounding areas in Texas. We have licensed, experienced electricians who can perform inspections and help you bring your home or business up to code. Our team wires and rewires homes and buildings. We carry out electrical repairs and perform upgrades and new installations. That includes electrical panels, generators, EV charging stations, and ceiling fans. We also have plumbers for re-piping, drain cleaning, and water heater installation and service. Our electricians and plumbers are available 24/7 for emergencies.
Call HR Phoenix today or contact us online to schedule a service appointment or an on-site consultation.