Earth Day 2025: How Sustainable Tech is Shaping the Future of Home Living
You’ve probably heard a lot about sustainable tech over the last decade, but what exactly is sustainable tech, and how is it poised to shape the future of home living? This Earth Day, April 22, we celebrate sustainable tech, which is becoming an integral part of our everyday lives.
What is Sustainable Tech?
Sustainable tech is a general term for products or innovations that use natural resources to boost economic and social development. Common examples of sustainable tech include:
- Electric vehicles
- Public transportation
- Solar power
- LED lights
- LEED buildings and construction methods
- Carbon capture and storage technology
Top 5 Sustainable Tech Trends for Homes
There are many ways to incorporate more sustainable tech trends into homes, whether it’s building a new home, renovating an existing home or simply adding a few key features that help celebrate the earth and value its resources.
1. Tech Paint
The future of paint is cooling down. In 2023, researchers at Stanford University developed an exterior home paint designed to reflect heat, which could ultimately reduce cooling and heating costs by as much as 20% to 25%. That same year, China’s Harbin Institute of Technology announced a paint that changes color to regulate heat. The University of Surrey in the U K created a living paint that helps trap harmful carbon dioxide while producing oxygen.
2. Sustainable Building Materials
Sustainable tech continues to evolve and develop, including impacting building materials. The University of Colorado developed a new insulating gel that uses environmentally friendly cellulose nanofibers derived from wood pulp. This product can be applied between existing windowpanes, making them more energy efficient.
Sustainable building materials to consider also include:
- Bamboo
- Reclaimed wood
- Reclaimed steel
3. AI Energy Audits
AI is making it easier to conduct home energy audits. Many companies are exploring software that will help visualize home energy usage and allow homeowners to target areas of high energy use. However, professional energy assessments and do-it-yourself assessments are available online.
4. Solar Panels
We’ve all heard of and seen solar panels, but they are bulky and inflexible. However, researchers are working to create flexible solar panels that are easy to integrate into a building’s facade.
5. Eco-Friendly Home Automation
Many modern homes and high-tech homeowners use sustainable tech as an environmentally friendly way to reduce utility bills. Using automated devices in the house can dramatically reduce energy consumption.
Hub/Controller
While not necessary, a hub or controller makes it easy to have a central management system that connects all your smart appliances, wireless networks and bluetooth devices. Examples of a hub or controller include Amazon Echo, Google Home or Apple HomeKit and HomePod.
Smart Thermostats
Did you know that cooling and heating accounts for nearly 50% of the average U.S. home’s energy use? Smart thermostats allow you to schedule when you use your system, consider the weather when setting the temperature and heat/cool specific rooms, ultimately dramatically impacting your overall energy bill.
Power Adapters and Smart Strips
Power strips and power adapters are often considered power drains from idle appliances. Smart adapters can sense when an appliance is not in use and shut off energy usage completely. Amazon has a wide variety of smart strips available.
Automated Lighting
Home lighting accounts for nearly 10% of energy consumption. Automated lighting can set a schedule for lights and even adjust the brightness and hue.
Irrigation and Sprinklers
Half of our outdoor water consumption directly relates to poor watering methods. To save water, consider a smart sprinkler system that integrates with current weather, targets watering based on soil zones and will dramatically impact your overall water bill.
Home Telecom Offers HomeSmart Advanced Home Automation
Home Telecom offers HomeSmart technology, which integrates directly into your home’s sustainable tech. Whether you’re looking for home security options or want to make your home more eco-friendly with smart temperature control and lighting options, we’ve got you covered this Earth Day. Learn more about HomeSmart today!