Smart home technology makes everything a little easier.

It means you do your part to live as an eco-friendly homeowner, reducing strain on the environment with every click of the button. It means you’re using up far less energy on average, supporting your community even as you support your wallet. In fact, it’s hard to think of any downsides to the benefits of an energy efficient home. Should you be considering the benefits of smart home technology this year, now’s the time to start planning. The market is filled with useful options that can change the way you live your life.

Lower energy bills, energy efficiency…is it too good to be true? Take a look below and learn about how you can incorporate smart home technology this year.

Too many homeowners today are losing precious dollars that could be spent elsewhere. Drafty windows, cracks in the floorboards, outdated HVACs…the list is seemingly endless. According to recent studies the average American household spends over $2,200 every year on energy bills alone. This doesn’t even go into the aftermath of too much energy-related waste. When you neglect this aspect of your home, your wallet suffers and the environment suffers.

The good news? Smart home technology is explicitly designed to counteract these common issues and bring you back up to speed. You can save as much as 10% on your total annual energy bill just by sealing and insulating your home. This means tracking down troublesome drafts and patching them up, whether they’re caused by single-pane windows or gaps between your door. It’s recommended you have between 10 and 15 inches of insulation for your attic. These little touches don’t seem like much, but they can be a huge boon for the overtaxed home.

Heating and cooling is one of today’s most frustrating energy-related issues. It seems like if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Up to 50% of the average American household energy bill just goes straight to the furnace, HVAC, or boiler. With smart home technology, however, you can start tracking where your energy is going and why. Energy efficiency goals are a great plan to start in 2019 so you can look forward to 2020, 2021 and beyond.

What does environmentally friendly home technology look like? It means a better HVAC system, for one. It’s highly recommended by today’s home improvement experts you update your HVAC system to an energy efficient option if your system is between 10 and 15 years old. A heating and cooling system that’s improperly installed is able to reduce efficiency by up to 30%. Swapping out your filters every three months and regularly checking for duct leaks will make sure you’re never missing out on the benefits.

That’s not all you can look forward to. Residential electricity demand is expected to increase by 115% or more over the next 15 years. This means you also have plenty of eco-friendly businesses ready to step up to the task and provide you with a means to save. Bundle offers exist to give you a package deal that covers the basics, such as insulation and installation. You can also call an expert to double-check your efficiency twice a year so you’re constantly keeping the ball rolling on green living.

Whatever method you choose, you’re already doing a great job thinking about environmentally conscious home living.