[ energy tips] Never worry about power outages again WILL SMARTPHONE ENERGY APPS SAVE ✔ Expert Sizing and Assistance YOU MONEY? ✔ Colorado Company since 1999 BY PAT KEEGAN AND AMY WHEELESS ✔ 20kW Generators from $3999 Several smartphone apps can help you ✔ Warranty and Service available in determine how energy is used in your home ALL areas of Colorado
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and provide information that helps you choose efficiency upgrades that make the most sense for your home. Consider these smartphone apps:
• Your electric co-op’s app: Many electric co-ops offer smartphone apps that allow you to view recent bills, set high use alerts, pay your bill, read about co-op efficiency programs or incentives, compare energy use with others with similar homes and learn how the weather may have impacted your energy bill. Visit your co-op’s website to find out if it offers a smartphone app. • Smart thermostat apps: Smart thermostats like Alarm.com, ecobee, Honeywell and Nest can optimize your home’s Touchstone Energy’s heating and cooling “Together We Save” based on your family’s app provides energy habits and the weather. tips and energy use calculators. If you have one of these smart thermostats, take advantage of the corresponding smartphone app. • Energy disaggregation device apps: Devices and corresponding smartphone apps from companies, such as Bidgely and PlotWatt, analyze electric signals to determine how much electricity appliances are using in your home. You can also see the energy use of a particular appliance over time. An unexplained jump in energy use could pinpoint a problem.
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Call a dealer today NORTH OF I-70 CALL: 970-310-1775
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• Apps with energy-savings tips: Some apps provide personalized energy tips based on your location, home characteristics and other information you provide. One example is Touchstone Energy’s “Together We Save” app, which provides energy savings tips for the home, as well as energy use calculators. This column was co-written by Pat Keegan and Amy Wheeless of Collaborative Efficiency.
Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn more about smartphone apps. Look under the Energy tab. FEBRUARY 2017
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