Even if this reaches you on a 60-degree day, we all know Winter is upon us for a little while longer—and with it are cold temperatures, heavy snowfalls and ice, and dry, chafing air. While parts of the country are lovely in winter, there’s no escaping the fact that colder temperatures and bleak weather can take their toll.
Wintry weather also brings higher energy expenses. Home heating units often pump out warm air constantly just to keep the house comfortable—and at great costs, too. Thankfully, today’s technology can help make winter more bearable, utilizing Trailblazer Broadband’s high-speed fiber internet not only connects you to the most reliable network available but also helps keep your home warm and snug.
Together with “smart technology,” it all adds to saving money this winter and beyond! Below we highlight some of our favorite tech to help you get through the coldest months more comfortably. These unique items will make you and your loved ones feel cozier all winter, from Bluetooth devices to smart thermostats and even smart clothing.
Smart Thermostats
One of the best upgrades you can make to your home this winter (or any season) is to install a smart thermostat that monitors and controls your heating and air conditioning. Smart thermostats can sense temperature changes in different rooms and can be easily programmed to get warmer or cooler at various times of the day. Smart thermostats can connect to your home’s internet network, and through Bluetooth, to your smartphone and other devices for easy control.
Even more conveniently, many smart thermostats are controllable through voice-activated technology like Alexa or the Apple Home Kit (using Siri). And according to the federal government’s Energy Star program, which researches and provides consumers with reliable information on energy-efficient products and services, smart thermostats can save homeowners up to 30% on their energy bills.
Several solid options exist, including the Google Nest Learning Thermostat. Google’s device is particularly impressive because, over time, it learns your temperature preferences in each room and at different times of the day. Using a Smart Thermostat can more effectively heat your home than conventional thermostats—and because of its “smart” features and controls, it saves energy costs, too!
Smart Space Heaters
If you’ve reduced your energy bills by lowering your home’s temperatures a tad, but find that you or others in your household still feel cold, consider adding a smart space heater to those chillier rooms. Smart space heaters are ideal when one or two people prefer the temps just a bit warmer than everyone else or when the temperatures drop drastically. The Atomi Smart Ceramic Tower Space Heater is one option to consider. The Atomi can heat up to 750 square feet, perfect for small rooms.
Its safety features are also top-notch, including notifying your smartphone if the heater tips over. Then, you can easily shut it off from your phone. Its base sits evenly on multiple flooring types reducing the likelihood of tipping over at all.You can also connect the Atomi Smart Space Heater to Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free voice control through your home network.
Smart Clothing (Jackets and Shirts)
Have you heard about smart clothing for personal warmth? Smart clothing, especially jackets and shirts, can safely and steadily heat your body in different zones that you can control. And you can even quickly recharge them when you’re on the road with your car’s charging ports.
The DEWBU Heated Jacket, for example, has multiple heating zones. It also comes with a convenient 12V Battery Pack that can keep it powered longer on the go. Also, check out smart shirts from Venture Heat, which makes different styles for women and men. Bluetooth-enabled, you can control Venture Heat’s smart shirts ten-temperature settings with your smartphone, helping to fine-tune the perfect temperature to keep you feeling comfortably toasty on even the most frigid days!
Smart Hats
Growing up, you may remember hearing that you can lose nearly half your body heat just through the top of your head. While science has proven that that was not exactly accurate, you can still lose around 10% of your body heat off your head alone. So grandma was right—you should keep your head covered in colder weather!
Believe it or not, there are actually smart hats available for you to get the most coverage for your noggin! For example, iLive Beanie is not only fashionable in a cute, wintry way, Its Bluetooth-enabled speakers connect directly to your smartphone, doubling as a music-listening and hands-free calling device, too!
The internet and smart technology can’t stop Mother Nature’s annual blast of wintry weather. By utilizing these smart devices and a reliable fiber internet connection like Trailblazer Broadband’s, we bet you’ll cope better than you ever have before!
Trailblazer Broadband and the Town of Estes Park provide this article for informational purposes only and are not affiliated with nor do they endorse any of the companies or products mentioned in the article.
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