Proving that cool homes need not loom large, this stop on the June 9 Austin Cool House Tour gets the job done in only 1,000 square feet of interior living space. Built by Newcastle Homes, the home was designed to evoke the modern, compact aesthetics…
Summer is closing in fast, which means warm weather, plenty of time spent outdoors, and lots of fun. But the hotter temperatures and more time at home, especially for kids, tend to boost household costs. Thanks to modern technology—particularly smart devices—you can offset some of…
We won't take the time here to beat around the forsythia bush. So just how intelligent is a Zilker smart water timer? Let's do some Q & A to find out. Can it alert you to possible leaks? Check. Adjust itself based on the weather?…
From our colleagues at CopyPress, here's a timely infographic for Earth Day 2019, where you can learn about some great tips for saving money and helping to save the environment. These include recommendations for switching to LED light bulbs and smart thermostats, tips on water…
When talking about smart homes, the main focus is usually the functionality and convenience factor. However, investing in smart home automation technologies can also help you save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. There are myriad ways in which a smart home can help you…
Our houses, like most aspects of our modern lives, are becoming increasingly technological—and increasingly smart. Smart devices for the home range from a button that restocks your laundry detergent via an Amazon order to a camera that answers your doorbell for you when you’re out.…
As we wrote in Part 1 of our coverage of the KB Home ProjeKt, this Las Vegas-area concept home endeavors to deliver connected home and holistic design features aimed at the long-term health and wellness of its eventual occupants. In this segment, we will take…
Americans spend an average of 90% of their time inside, where pollutants can be up to five times more concentrated than they are outside, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These pollutants, such as mold or carbon monoxide (CO), pose health risks ranging…
In synch with CES 2019 in Las Vegas, Phyn has announced that Phyn Plus—a smart water assistant, leak detector, and automated shut-off valve—has gained Amazon Alexa voice control. Furthermore, Phyn Plus will be soon be expanding beyond the shores of the U.S. to include wide…
The modern homeowner doesn’t put up with wastefulness in their household. No, nowadays the residential realm is all about sustainability and aiding the preservation of the environment—not just for the sake of Mother Earth, but for the sake of their family budget as well. Through…
Becoming eco-friendly has become a priority for many homeowners who are considering upgrading or retrofitting their dwelling. It is understandable, as everyone is more conscious about their impact on the environment. And the truth is that many eco-friendly decisions also end up saving you money…
Less than a couple decades ago, energy efficiency in the household was an optional feature you might or might not have opted to introduce. Nowadays, though, with the rapid progress of global warming and climate change, as well as the growing scarcity of natural resources,…
Filling a gap in the Apple HomeKit home automation ecosystem, Rachio has added HomeKit compatibility to their latest smart irrigation controller, the Rachio 3. The Colorado-based company says this is the first smart irrigation controller with onboard HomeKit firmware. The integration facilitates control with the…
Smart and sustainable homes can offer excellent energy efficiency, curbing energy and resource waste on a global scale. A variety of technologies and applications promote efficiency in smart homes, with light bulbs, thermostats, window coverings, sprinkler controllers, solar photovoltaic systems, and much more. Although the…
Having a garden is one of the biggest joys a nature enthusiast can have in their lives. You get to hand pick the little plants you want to raise in your yard and take pride in raising them well into their blooming stages. The trick…
As the temperatures creep up during the long days of summer, lawns grow thirsty. Even though you might have the best intentions to keep your lawn properly watered and looking lush and green, busy work schedules and family activities can derail you from those plans.…
Everybody wastes at least a little bit of electrical energy in their home, but how can you eliminate that waste if you don’t know where it’s coming from? Well, with Smappee, you can. The company offers a range of whole-home energy monitors, smart plugs, and…
So, you ask, did CES® 2018 yield a watershed moment for the connected home? If the number of water-related devices introduced this week in Las Vegas was any indication, your home may be on course for a flood of new devices designed to help save…
For many homeowners, water cost can compromise a large portion of their monthly utility bills. From our colleagues at Ireland-based Nature's Water Ltd., this infographic on water conservation in the home offers an outpouring of information on this all-important natural resource, and offers many suggestions…
The month of June in the city of Austin, Texas, can be blistering hot, as the sometimes-moderate temperatures of spring yield to an often-oppressive summer climate where the thermometer can climb toward or inch beyond the century mark. And it is no coincidence that the Cool…
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