Do you need more space for a growing family? One of the tradeoffs to buying a larger home is having to pay more in utility costs for heating, cooling and other appliance use. However, advances in energy efficiency mean that you can offset some of that increased consumption. That means you save money and worry less about your energy use, even if you just bought the mansion you always dreamed of.

Bigger Houses and Bigger Households

We like our homes bigger. The average American home size has grown  20 percent since 1980, and we've been filling those homes with ever more electricity-dependent devices, like televisions, computers and household appliances. Fortunately, over 70 percent of the growth in household and building size has been offset by efficiency improvements, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Total energy use by U.S. households inched up each year between 1980 and 2009, the EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey reports. That is because of various reasons, including more households, larger households and a trend toward bigger houses. However, consumption per square foot actually dropped by 37 percent during that time period -- and if it hadn't, the total increase would have been considerably higher.

Residential energy accounted for 21 percent of total U.S. consumption in 2012 so the cumulative savings are significant. The numbers are astronomical -- residential usage increased from 9.3 quadrillion BTUs (British thermal units) in 1980 to 10.2 quadrillion by 2012 -- and without additional efficiency measures the total would have increased by another 3.6 quadrillion BTUs.

Multifaceted Efficiency Efforts

There are numerous factors driving the efficiency revolution: Stricter consumer appliance standards, local building codes geared toward efficiency and federal tax credits, in addition to awareness outreach programs and labeling efforts like the federal Energy Star program have all contributed to the reduction in consumption per square foot.

If you want to save the most energy, smaller is always better when it comes to houses. There's less space to heat and less to cool. However, if you need the extra space, take heart knowing that technological and behavioral improvements mean that a large house doesn't gobble up nearly as much energy as you might expect.

For more ideas on how to decrease your consumption, ask a home services expert to evaluate your home. He or she can help you find new ways to save no matter the size of your home.

Call local Mister Sparky® for more energy efficiency tips and advice. We're always here to help!

Have some renovations or home additions in the works for your Tampa home? Congratulations! But before you get too excited, the certified electricians at Hoffman Electrical would urge you to take some things into consideration. Home additions almost always mean electrical work, and there are a lot of factors to consider if your end product is going to result in proper function.

The team of master electricians at Hoffman Electrical always takes your needs seriously! If you’re about to perform some home additions, we are your go-to source for important information and superior service. Wondering what needs to get done? Let’s get started!

Doing your own yard work is a rewarding experience. While there is always the option of hiring a landscape company to take care of your lawn needs, it is often a job many homeowners would like to take on themselves. It is an excellent way to get some exercise while working with your hands. One of the biggest motivators to taking care of your own yard work is the cost savings. The money you save by taking care of your own landscaping needs gives you more money to put back into the landscaping. Landscaping is not complete without adequate lighting. Although you may want to do all the work yourself, landscape lighting is one job you will want to hire a Glendale electrician to take care of. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help you.

Many homeowners who tackle their landscaping needs on their own will usually opt to install solar lights. These lights are quick and easy to install and require very little effort. They can be placed anywhere in the landscaping, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will work effectively. Solar lights need at least 8 hours of sunlight to recharge. If the lights are placed under trees or thick shrubs that get very little sun, the solar lights will not recharge and will not light up when darkness falls.

Electric landscape lights require a little more effort to install, but they will remain lit throughout the night whether the sun shone on the lights or not. Because the lights will require electrical wire, you will want to hire an electrician. Glendale residents will appreciate the reliability of electric landscaping lights. Your electrician will wire the lights into the home’s electric panel. You can opt to have a timer installed for the lights or a manual switch for you to control when the lights are turned off and on. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your landscape lighting installation.

When you leave your house to go to work or out with friends, there’s always that worry in the back of your head of leaving your door or windows unlocked. Maybe you forgot to turn a few lights on or off when you left or perhaps you left your straightener on and forgot about it. Thanks to the technological advancements with smartphones, you can easily control devices in your home with just a touch of a button or a swipe of the finger. If you are worried about doors being left unlocked or lights not turning off, all you have to do is check the settings for your home via your smartphone. Put your worries at ease with installing smart controls to automate your home.

If you are not sure about installing smart controls for home automation, check out these benefits they can provide:

Security Camera Access

We love our pets and we hate leaving them by themselves when we have to leave. Having home automation updates installed will give you access to camera feeds for your home. If you are worried about your pets, kids or house being broken into, you can check the status of your home through your smartphone. Security cameras can protect your family by recording clips when detecting movement or at specific times of the day or night.

Easy Temperature Adjustment

It’s easy to forget to adjust your thermostat before leaving for work. When you come back home, it can be too hot or too cold and you end up waiting for the temperature to adjust in an uncomfortable home.  With a home automation system, you can adjust the thermostat a few hours before heading home. This also saves on money and energy and gives you a nice welcome after returning from a hard day’s work.

Provides Security with Automated Door Locks

This is one of the greatest benefits of an automated home system. Automated door locks help keep your home safe while you are not there. If you forgot to lock your doors while you headed to work, you can have the convenience of locking them via your smartphone. This is also a great benefit if your kids are home alone. Making sure the doors are locked while you are away is an added comfort for them and gives you peace of mind.

Saves You Money

A home automation system can help save you money in the long run. You will see your monthly utility bill decrease as a result of having control over household appliances left on in your family’s absence. The convenience of an automated home system can give you complete control and help you cut back on unnecessary costs as well as benefit the environment around you.

There are many benefits to having an automated home system installed. All of these benefits include two common factors: safety and security. You get peace of mind knowing that you can check on your home and family from the convenience of a smartphone. An automated home system lets you be in control of your home and saves you money on utility bills as well.

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