12 Entertaining and Energy Saving Home Gadgets and Gizmos
A couple or three of my favorite home-enhancing gadgets aren’t on John’s list below. They may not be labeled state-of-the-art or even technology but they are most certainly energy-saving and entertaining.
Black and Decker Thermal Leak Detector I love to see my work bench covered in tools, and Black and Decker has always been a more-than-satisfactory source off all things ‘workshop’. This one is inexpensive and can save you a bundle no matter what climate you’re living in. Check windows and door frames, pet doors, attic access, anyplace heat or air conditioning leaks might occur. A color changing light will indicate temperature variations.
Automated Window Blinds (Smart Blinds) If you’ve ever entered a home in or around the Phoenix Valley, you know that dark = cool. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, blinds can reduce the radiation of heat by up to 45% when fully closed. No need to purchase a house full of new window coverings, the MySmartBlinds Automation Kit claims to turn ordinary blinds into smart blinds in just minutes.
So this one is probably not energy-saving, nor is it even new. But it’s most definitely a home gadget and, as I’ve only recently discovered how entertaining it can be, my new favorite. Nutribullet. It’s small (this is relevant because blenders are awkward and just too much trouble to drag out), it’s FAST (always important to me), easy to clean (absolutely imperative), and makes the most amazing, most delicious things you could possibly dream up. One piece of advice I might add, ditch the (healthy) recipe book that comes with it and use your imagination to create awesome things like: Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Banana, or Strawberry Cheesecake, or Orange Creamsicle smoothies. Freeze them for a few hours and they’re better than ice cream! (incidentally, these are all healthy too, they taste nothing like kale and quinoa, and I have recipes if you want them 🙂
9 Additional Home Gadgets to Save Energy and Entertain- By John Voket
So you’re up for making your home truly state-of-the-art? I’ve got a great list for you. Here are nine gadgets to be on the lookout for:
Moen’s U lets you customize the perfect shower before ever stepping in with just a few taps on your smartphone.
Smart and Blue’s Hydrao smart showerheads let you instantly control your water consumption and energy needed to heat it by lighting up the water spray with different colors depending on the amount of water used – and it’s powered by the shower’s natural water-flow.
Luke Roberts Smart Light. This LED pendant lamp, from Austrian startup Luke Roberts, lets you place light in any direction, illuminating only certain areas of a room through simple gestures on your phone.
Kuri. Created by Mayfield Robotics, this app uses a camera to check on pets, kids, or guests when you’re away. It sets reminders, uses its Wi-Fi to connect to things like weather reports, and works with IFTTT to control some connected devices, according to cnet.com.
Hello Egg. From RnD64, this works with its Eggspert web and mobile application to fully automate planning weekly meals, supervising the pantry, organizing shopping lists, even ordering grocery delivery. Hello Egg also projects voice-navigated video recipes and answers cooking-related questions with a connected 24/7 support team of cooking experts.
CUJO creates a guarded firewall gateway between your devices and their connection to the Internet by analyzing packets for malicious intent, whether it’s coming in from the Internet, going out to the Internet, or making moves across your network.
AirTV is the only major streaming platform that integrates local over-the-air (OTA) programming with your streaming services. Just add an AirTV Adapter and an OTA antenna to get local channels in HD, without a monthly cable bill.
Sony A1E. Unlike most TV speakers, sound comes to you from the entire screen, immersing you in a new entertainment experience – if there can be such a thing!
LG W7. Capturing Best of the Best recognition at CES 2017, the W7’s picture-on-Wall design allows the television to lay virtually flat so it seems to blend with the wall and disappear.
