Smart Home

Welcome to the world of smart homes, where technology meets comfort and convenience! In this category, we'll explore the wonders of transforming your humble abode into an intelligent sanctuary. Discover the latest gadgets, tips, and stories that revolutionize the way we live.
Most recent posts
Someone adjusting a smart thermostat to eco-mode
Climate control, cost down

What Is Eco-Mode on Smart Thermostats?

How exactly does eco-mode on smart thermostats work? What’s happening to save you energy and money and what do you need to do?

A smart power strip on a wooden background
Plug into green tech

Smart Power Strips 101: A Beginner's Guide

Smart power strips revolutionize home energy use, automatically cutting power to unused devices and curbing unnecessary expenses.

A million EVs were added to the grid last year, this is a picture of one
EV surge, energy plunge

How Adding a Million EVs to the Road Didn’t Break the Grid

Despite over a million new electric vehicles hitting the roads in 2023, the U.S. saw a surprising 1.1% decrease in overall electricity consumption

A man charges his EV in cold weather
Charging through the chill

Should I Be Worried About My EV in Cold Weather?

Discover how to maintain your EV in cold weather with effective strategies for charging and driving.

Woman watching eco mode TV
Eco mode: view responsibly

Eco Mode on Your TV: A Guide to Energy-Saving Viewing

Discover how eco mode TV settings can significantly reduce your energy consumption and carbon footprint.

A pair of home batteries hang on a garage wall, rendered by AI
Energy to spare

A Comprehensive Guide to Selecting Batteries for Your Home

Homeowners are increasingly adopting solar power systems with battery backups to ensure reliable electricity during grid outages and to support the shift towards renewable energy.

Smart home devices are connected invisibly by a network of light
Automatic for the People

Choosing the Right Smart Home Platform: Energy Efficiency Meets High-Tech Living

From dream to reality: delve into the world of smart home technology and see which platform can make your home smarter and more efficient.

A worker installs a smart meter on a house, just as ConEd did in New York.
Smart meters, complex implications

Why Did ConEd Install a New Smart Meter on My Home?

ConEd’s new smart meters are a way for consumers to control their energy usage and save money while the utility prepares for the transition to renewable energy. Everything you need to know as a consumer.

A rendering of home batteries on the wall of a garage
Big batteries are key

How Batteries Can Power Your Home and the Grid

Home batteries and other large-scale batteries play a vital role in our shift towards sustainable energy. These batteries power homes and store renewable energy, offsetting its variability.

Someone calculates light bulb cost with a bulb and a stack of coins
Slash bills with LEDs

Shedding Light on Energy Use: How Much Electricity Do Light Bulbs Actually Consume — And What's It Costing Us?

We did the math on how much different light bulbs cost you to run. You might be shocked to learn how much you could be saving by switching to energy-efficient LEDs.

A smart meter mounted on the outside of a home
Smart Energy Transition

Smart Meters Explained: Your Energy Use and Helping the Planet

Smart meters can help consumers save money while they help utilities manage the transition to clean energy.

An outlet on the wall, where you could employ a smart plug
Control More, Consume Less

Save Energy and Money: Top Picks for Smart Plug Usage

Learn about the ultimate appliances to pair with a smart plug and which ones to avoid. Unveil the secrets to saving energy and simplifying your life with these essential tips!

Electric car batteries, manufactured in the battery belt
Battery Belt: Climate Solution

Charging Forward: How the Battery Belt is Powering America's Future

The transition from fossil fuels to electricity is essential for our planet's future, and the U.S. Battery Belt's growth not only fuels this shift but also enhances supply chain stability, creates jobs, and promotes a sustainable domestic battery economy.

A daughter found a great gifts for dad.
Handy, Happy Dad Picks

Smart, Useful Gifts for Dads and Father Figures

Dive into a world of clever and handy gifts for dads and father figures, where practicality meets fun, ensuring every present is as enjoyable as it is useful.

A group of people working together on community solar
Shared renewable energy access

Power to the People: Unleashing Community Solar for a Brighter Tomorrow

Learn everything you never knew you needed to know about the benefits of bringing community solar to your neighborhood in this handy how-to guide!

A person powers on a smart plug.
Plug In, Power Smart

How Do Smart Plugs Work? — A Beginner's Guide To Automating Energy Savings

Smart plugs offer the convenience of remote control of appliances, the efficiency of timers and scheduling for automated operation, and the advantage of energy monitoring to help reduce consumption and costs.

Someone screws in a smart light bulb, they want to use more smart lighting
2023 Smart Light Picks

Our Top Picks for Smart Lighting

Presenting our top picks for smart light bulbs in 2023, each carefully selected for their innovative features and superior performance, setting the standard for smart home lighting this year

Two men shake hands over solar panels, they are being installed in conjunction with batteries to help with Net Metering.
Solar energy’s next phase

NEM 3.0 - What You Need to Know About California’s New Net Energy Metering

Explore the economics of solar panel installation: is it right for you? What to know about net metering and the benefits of home batteries under NEM 3.0 in California.

Some streetlights are turning purple. This is a photo of an underpass with purple lights.
Eerie purple lighting

Some Streetlights Are Turning Purple — Here's What You Need To Know About It

Streetlights are turning purple or blue, learn more about this mysterious occurrence happening all over the country. Hint: there is an interesting scientific reason for it.

Woman charges her EV, as EV sales are actually up
An EV traffic check

Are EV Sales Skidding to a Halt? Despite Warnings, There’s Reason for Optimism

Are EV sales really slowing? Despite automakers dire predictions for the EV industry, the market is growing fast, hitting multiple milestones in 2023.

A woman sits on her couch looking at Black Friday deals.
Shop Smarter Black Friday

What to Buy on Black Friday for Your Smart and Energy-Efficient Home

Unlock the future of home living this Black Friday! Discover smart tech and energy-efficient appliances for a modern, eco-friendly home.

A man uses his phone to control his smart plugs, easily automating his home.
Smart plugs, smarter living

How To Automate Your Life With Smart Plugs — Resourceful Tricks to Simplify Your Daily Routines

From scheduling your devices to work in harmony with your daily routine to remotely controlling them with your smartphone, these smart plug strategies empower you to make your home more comfortable and customized.

A man in a black helmet is charging his electric bike.
Electric in style

E-Bike 101: Everything You Need To Know About Electric Bikes

Electric bikes are an ideal choice for city commuters, casual weekend explorers, and fitness enthusiasts alike. Learn what you need to know when choosing yours, plus state incentives to save you money!

Someone adjusting an air fryer, which is a multifunctional appliance.
All in one

Multifunctional Appliances - Is 3 in 1 Always Better? What to Know.

Is buying a multifunctional appliance always the smartest choice when it comes to saving yourself time, money and energy?

A doctor implants a chip into a person’s hand, they plan to operate their smart home with their implant.
Extreme smart home choices

Do You Need a Surgical Implant to Operate Your Smart Home?

Some Smart Home enthusiasts are implanting chips into their hands in order to operate their homes. Would you do the same and is there another way?

A modern home, which uses presence sensors, which are an innovation in in-home sensors to create more micro zoning.
The best in-home sensors

Innovation in Smart Home Tech: Adding Presence Sensors

Presence sensors enhance smart homes by detecting people and objects, optimizing HVAC and lighting, and automating tasks like curtain control. Are they right for you?

A couple is looking at a dishwasher together, they are deciding what to buy on Black Friday
Buy Smart Black Friday!

Overpriced Appliances to Score on Black Friday

Learn which appliances we think are best bought on a discount on Black Friday, especially smart home devices and other energy-efficient appliances.

Suburban home with solar panels
A Solar Future

Navigating the Costs and Benefits of Solar Panel Installation for Your Home

Explore the economics of solar panel installation: is it right for you?

A home garage that has a smart garage door opener on it.
Safer garage, safer family

What is a Smart Garage Door Opener, and Do You Need One?

Smart garage door openers are a valuable addition to your smart home setup, providing security and convenience for your garage access.

A family charging their electric vehicle at their house, they used the Electric Vehicle tax credit through their dealership.
Time to go shopping

Saving Money with the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Is Getting a Whole Lot Easier

A new rule is going to make it easy to get a massive discount on an electric vehicle through your car dealership. It will come in the form of a tax credit applied at the point of sale, and it’s happening in 2024!

A woman in a green shirt controls a smart thermostat on the wall, allowing it to save her money on her energy bill.
Make saving easier

What To Know Before Buying A Smart Thermostat: A Beginner's Guide

The best beginner’s guide to buying a smart thermostat and automating your energy savings.

A young man is doing laundry with an ENERGY STAR-certified laundry machine, making for a more energy-efficient experience
ENERGY STAR breakdown

What Does it Mean for Something to Be ENERGY STAR Certified?

Everything you need to know about ENERGY STAR-certified appliances!

A family with a baby is next to their solar panels, which they got through a Purchase Power Agreement, or PPA
Solar for cheap

What is a Purchase Power Agreement and Should I Choose One?

OhmConnect breaks down how to use a Purchase Power Agreement to access solar power without a large upfront cost.

A couple is hanging a photo together in an apartment they just moved into. They would need a couple of simple tools in their toolbox to do this properly and safely.
Easy Toolkit builder

Tools Every Renter Should Own

Our list of basic tools every renter should own. Fill out your toolbox or help out someone living on their own for the first time.

A couple is looking at their computer, deciding together what to buy during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days to make their home more energy-efficient
Smarter home, smarter you

What to Buy on Prime Big Deal Days for a Smarter and More Energy-Efficient Home!

Your guide to getting the best deals on Amazon for a smarter and more energy-efficient home.

A man installs solar panels, which are either monocrystalline or polycrystalline based on their shape, size and rigidity.
The more you know

What Are Solar Panels Made Of?

A look at the materials used to manufacture solar panels, an overview of the three main types, and what researchers are trying to improve next!

A group of friends toasts one another in an outdoor dinner lit with LED Exterior Smart Lights
Entertain better, save more

Make Your Yard Safer and Entertain Better with Smart Exterior Lighting

Everything you need to know to light your property at night with efficiency and functionality in mind.

A modern home at dusk that has recently updated all their major appliances to electric ones so that they can quit carbon.
Upgrade your home

Is it time to retire your home’s gas appliances? Here’s what to know.

A list of your biggest gas appliances and how to know when it’s time to replace them with the electric version.

Two solar panel installers work on a roof together on a sunny day. They are part of a growing trend of solar panel adoption in the United States.
Shining bright

Sun Kissed Roofs: Why Residential Solar Panel Adoption is Rising!

Why solar panel adoption is skyrocketing, especially in states like Florida and Texas.

Someone punching in a code on a smart lock that also has a key, which you can rekey.
Smart Locks are amazing

Can You Rekey a Smart Lock?

Rekeying a smart lock is very similar to rekeying a regular lock, learn the ins and outs here!

A DC motor ceiling fan cools someone in a sunny room
Efficiency in the wind

DC motor ceiling fans are a sneaky easy way to be more energy efficient

Why the best energy-efficient ceiling fans us DC motors

A couple screwing in their new LED lights, which are more versatile, energy-efficient and budget-smart.
LEDs over incandescents

Understanding the New Lightbulb Guidance: Out With Incandescents and in With LED Lightbulbs

Why you should only buy LED light bulbs and what the new Biden administration rules mean for you.

How much does a house full of solar panels cost?
Savings on savings

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?

How much solar panels cost depends on how many you need, what rebates are available, and how and where you’ll be installing them.

Our first electric car is a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4
It’s electric!

What I learned buying my first electric car

Buying your first electric car can seem overwhelming, but with some research and some rebates, it’s a great time to be shopping.

Solar canopies installed over parking in the Netherlands
Make it happen

The enormous potential of solar canopies

Solar canopies simply structures that uses solar panels to generate electricity while also creating shade and protection for your parked car.

A SunPower energy storage system in a garage.
Harness the sun

Embrace the Power of Energy Storage: 6 Reasons Every Homeowner Should Consider It

Discover the six reasons every homeowner should be considering investing in an energy storage system and find out if the technology is right for you.

Renewable energy plans: Solar panels in a Texas city
Let the sun shine

Embrace a Brighter Future: Why You Should Choose a Renewable Energy Plan in Texas

Discover the power of choice! Learn why opting for a renewable energy plan in Texas, with a nod to OhmConnect Energy, is a bright idea for your wallet and the planet.

A full dishwasher, as pictured here, is best for dishwasher energy use
Save, don’t scrub

The Dishwasher Energy Use Guide: Saving Money and the Planet

Your guide to all things energy efficient dishwashers

Having a backup power source to keep your home running during a power outage is critical.
Big, big batteries

What Backup Power Source Should You Use?

A backup power source, whether it’s a generator, grid-connected battery, a portable power bank, or a combination of those, is increasingly important during extreme weather.

Adding solar panels on an asphalt shingle roof
Mo' sunny, mo' money

Considering Adding Solar Panels To Your Home?

Adding solar panels to your home can be a smart move with a host of benefits, but there are a few things to think about before jumping into installation.

A Ford F-150 Lightning powers a construction site
Plug it in

The Future Is Now: Electric Cars That Can Power Your Home

The future is now! Your car could soon power your home. Unleash the power of electric vehicles as PG&E partners with BMW for vehicle-to-everything testing.

These Father's Day gift ideas are sure to please
Dad deserves it

5 Energy-Saving Father's Day Gift Ideas for Dad in 2023

Still on the hunt for the perfect gift for Father's Day? Help Dad save energy at home (and money) this year with these energy-efficient gift ideas!

A pair of Wemo smart plugs that need to be recycled
It's upgrade time

PSA: It's Time to Recycle Your Old Wemo Smart Plugs (If You Haven’t Already)

Need another reason to switch to an OhmPlug? There’s a problem with the Wemo Smart Plug Mini V2, and Belkin isn’t going to fix it. Upgrade time!

The best father's day gifts you can purchase online
Because he deserves it

Best Father’s Day Gifts for the Tech Enthusiast Dad in 2023

Looking for the perfect Father's Day gift for your tech enthusiast dad? Check out this roundup of the smart home best gifts for dad in 2023.

A smart fridge is a great way to save energy
Cool savings inside

What is a smart fridge, and should you invest in one?

Want the scoop on smart fridges and how they can save you energy and money on your next electrical bill? Here's everything you need to know.

A woman loads her energy efficient dishwasher
Save money and time

A Guide to Energy-Efficient Dishwashers

Looking for the most energy efficient dishwashers to save money? We've got everything you need to know to get squeaky clean while staying green.

A home outfitted with SunPower solar panels and solar battery storage
Sunny days ahead

How Solar Battery Storage Can Help You Earn Money

Get rewarded for creating a more sustainable grid with OhmConnect and SunPower's solar battery storage. We break down all the savings for you!

A man looks at a smart plug and his OhmConnect app
Make the investment

Meet the $11 Smart Plug That Could Save You $27 Every Year!

Here's how I "smartened" up my apartment, helped the planet and saved on my electricity bill with an OhmPlug smart plug. Cost $11, saves me $27 annually!

A collection of smart LED light bulbs
Bright ideas ahead

Bright Ideas For Your Home: The Best Smart LED Light Bulbs in 2023

Feeling left in the dark? Here's everything you need to know to make the switch to smart LED light bulbs in your home this year, saving money and energy.

gas stoves are more dangerous than we think
Let's settle the debate

Let’s Settle the Debate: Are Gas Stoves as Bad as They're Made Out to Be?

Are gas stoves bad? For my health? For the environment? For my kids? We've got all the latest news you can use. Here's what researchers are saying.

What to know when you want to buy electric car
Get the goods

4 Things to Know Before Buying an Electric Vehicle (EV)

Considering buying an electric vehicle (EV) in 2023? Here are four things you should know and keep in mind before you make your next big purchase.

A refrigerator smart plug can alert you to issues with your refrigerator
It's just smart

Why It’s Time to Put a Smart Plug on Your Refrigerator

Putting a smart plug on your refrigerator yet? If not, meet the smart home hack OhmConnect members use to rack up big energy savings and even earn rewards.

A smart plug that saves electricity
Get smart with plugs

Smart Plug Life Hacks to Make Your Home More Efficient and Just Plain More Fun

Is a smart plug your home's best friend yet? It should be! Save electricity and money with some strategically placed smart plugs. We've got the tips!

How to save energy while working from home
Stack on savings

How to save energy while working from home

Flexible hours and no commute can be good for your mental health, and your pocketbook

Smart Thermostats 101: All You Need To Know To Upgrade & Save On Your Energy Bill
HVAC hack

Smart Thermostats 101: All You Need To Know To Upgrade & Save On Your Energy Bill

Why you need a smart thermostat (if you don’t already have one) and how IT can pay YOU for your energy

These Devices Mean You Can Crush Your OhmHours Without Lifting A Finger
Keep it simple

These Smart Home Devices Mean You Can Crush Your OhmHours Without Lifting A Finger

‘Set it and forget it’ with smart home devices.

Are Electric Vehicles Always Cleaner Than Gas Cars?
Fossil-fuel free

Are Electric Vehicles Always Cleaner Than Gas Cars?

No brainer, right? … Or is it?

Making Your Home a Smart Home Has Never Been Easier or Cheaper
Join the fun

Making Your Home a Smart Home Has Never Been Easier or Cheaper

OhmConnect has partnered with Hive to give you 20% off a Smart Home Starter Pack.

TP-Link Smart Plug on a wall. What's the best place to put my smart plug? We'll let you know.
Location, location, location

Where’s the best place to put my smart plugs?

High five, you! You got a smartplug, an easy way to save energy and money every month. Now we want to help you be smart about where you put it.

If you use a lot of electricity, the pros and cons of solar panels are clear
Get the facts

What Are the Pros and Cons of Installing Solar Panels?

Installing solar panels on your home can be a smart choice but before investing in solar, it’s important to consider both the pros and cons.

The Future Is Now With Home Automation. But What Is It & Why Do We Need It?
Future is now

The Future Is Now With Home Automation. But What Is It & Why Do We Need It?

Wherever you decide to start, a small investment in some smart home technology will help you take the first step towards simplifying your home and your life – and you'll save more than just time. ‍

Cheap solar panels mean more houses are installing them
Sunshine is free

Why Did Solar Panels Get So Cheap in the Past 20 Years?

Since 2010 alone, the cost of installed solar has dropped 70 percent. But how did solar panels get so cheap? And what does the future of solar look like?

The Silver Lining to America’s Tech Obsession
Circle of tech

The Silver Lining to America’s Tech Obsession

Smartphones and tablets keep getting smaller, replacing energy-hogging TVs and PCs while saving on raw materials