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Technology is the home`s missing element

Let the guilty energy message end right now! Well you can turn it down a notch anyway.

Let the guilty energy message end right now! Well you can turn it down a notch anyway.

Our recent study into how homes use energy with and without some smart technology in place proves without a doubt that adding high-tech touches is a major boon.

The Smart Families study compared 65 appliances in an average home, a home with energy efficient appliances and a home that has smart wiring, broadband, smart appliances and solar hot water/heating.

I must admit I was astounded by the results. A home with some of the simple-and very affordable-technology was able to cut 40% on electrical use and save around $21 a day compared to a current Australian home.

In a year that meant roughly $10,000!

I've never been comfortable with the guilt trip that government and the green movement has pushed on to us about our homes any way.

It also seems a wrong-headed way to go, trying to rely on the good intentions of people to do the right thing at home.

While I know that most people do want to do the best for the planet, the research shows that most of us can't live up to the strictest standards all the time and that a lot of that ambition is sapped by things like economic downturns.

What we've shown with Smart Families is that even a bit of well-placed technology can make a major impact on our energy footprint and on our household bills.

With Smart Wiring in place for instance you have the ability to have robust broadband in every room and to add quite simple home networking features like programmable lights or appliances.

Fast, reliable broadband can also be very powerful when we use it to support whole swathes of our lives and cut down on transport.

Sure we all need to make the right choices at home, but we can make it painless by getting some high-tech back up as well.