LEDs have even made their way into video projectors, though the prices of these remain high. TVs with ambient light sensing can dim or brighten a picture, depending on the amount of the light in the room, making viewing easier and saving energy.

In audio, efficient class D amplifiers have improved their performance and are being used in some audio/video receivers and whole-house music systems. They are worth your consideration and can save you money.

It’s Wicked Cool. If you’re really into home technology, how can you not get excited about innovations like LED TVs and energy monitoring systems that can be tied to home control systems?.

Think about it: many of us still learn about our electricity usage a month after the fact, in the form of a paper bill sent to us via snail mail. Wouldn’t you rather be able to monitor your energy usage, in real time, and be able to command a home control system to turn on and off things from your iPhone or other mobile device? Or get alerts when running the washing machine will cost you less if it isn’t turned on until later?

That’s cool, convenient, and economical. And with upcoming smart grid services, these kinds of features shouldn’t cost exorbitant prices. In fact, you can get fairly affordable home control systems and energy monitors now. If that doesn’t get you juiced about energy efficiency, here’s what’s coming down the pike: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that we’ll charge in our garages or driveways.

They will be automatically regulated by home control systems so they charge at times when the electricity rates are lower and possibly feed power from the car’s batteries back to the smart grid when needed.

Page 3 of 3
Previous  < 1 2 3

Steven Castle - Contributing Writer

Steven Castle is Electronic House's managing editor. he has been writing about consumer electronics, homes and energy efficiency topics for two decades. He is also the co-founder of GreenTech Advocates.