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Smart

Thermostats & Your Privacy

Smart home devices that often analyze your habits and patterns are everywhere. How much of your privacy are you giving up while using smart home devices?

One smart home device growing in popularity is a smart thermostat. To be most effective, a smart home device can virtually “feel” and “listen” to what is happening in your home. Asking a few key questions can help you better understand how smart device companies use your information.

What data are they collecting and what will they do with it? - Review the company’s terms of service and privacy policy carefully to understand the type of information it is collecting and how it will use it.

Watch for how companies use your activity data. Even if a company confirms it does not share or sell your data to third parties, it is possible it may still be using your thermostat data (such as when you are home or not home) for other purposes beyond heating and cooling your house.

Does the thermostat require you to integrate with a larger platform, use its smart home platform or have other requirements to use the basic features of the thermostat? Activities like these often give companies easy access to your data.

Are they recording what you say? - Some smart thermostats include a microphone so you can use your voice to interact with the thermostat. Do you know how that information is being used or stored? There are smart thermostat options without microphones available.

The key with any smart home thermostat product is to do your research to ensure you are buying one that meets your needs without sacrificing your privacy. Emerson offers one such option with its Sensi smart thermostats. You don’t need to trade your privacy for energy savings and a comfortable home. To learn more about smart thermostats that prioritize your data privacy, visit Sensi.Emerson.com/DataPrivacy. (BPT)

3 Steps Closer to

a New Home

No matter how many times you do it, moving doesn’t really get any easier. Packing up everything you own into tidy boxes is intimidating. Check out the following moving advice inspired by the TLC Home network.

1. Pack little-used items far in advance.

Don’t wait to start packing. Just don’t. Start packing largely unused items roughly two months away from the moving date. Take care of seasonal decorations, clothes that aren’t being worn, books, DVDs, guest room contents, and anything else that won’t be missed for a little while. Label every box by its room or contents, and put things from a certain room in the same box. There shouldn’t be kitchen utensils in a box with “bathroom” scrawled on it, or unpacking will be a nightmare.

2. Plan menus to use up pantry food.

Cans and boxes of dry goods are obnoxious to pack, move and unpack. Chances are, the food in the back of the cupboards isn’t on any favorites list. It may even be going bad soon. So, take some time and create a menu using up as much old stuff as you can. Don’t go overboard, but exercising creative muscles never hurt anybody.

3. Make sure the moving estimate

includes everything. A small oversight on the amount of boxes, rooms, size truck you’ll need or furniture that needs assembling could lead to additional charges. Moving day will present enough headaches, and the professionals you hire shouldn’t add to them.

For help choosing a moving company, or to find more advice on moving and packing or unpacking visit www.youmoveme.com/us. (NewsuUsa)

Hog In Your House

Clothes dryers are a convenience most of us wouldn’t choose to live without even though that little hog can use more electricity than a newer dishwasher and refrigerator combined. If you’re not ready to forsake convenience for savings, there are still steps you can take to dry clothes using less energy.

• Use the fastest spin cycle on your washer to remove as much water as possible from your clothes. • Dry light and heavy items separately. - Sorting loads by weight means you won’t waste energy on items that require less drying time. • Untangle items before placing them in the dryer and don’t overcrowd. More circulation of air equals less drying time. • Clean the lint filter every time. Did we mention you should do that every time? Not only is lint a serious fire hazard, but buildup on the filter also impedes air circulation leading to longer dry times. • Skip the time cycle and use the auto-dry setting instead. Auto dry sensors turn dryers off automatically, potentially saving you a lot of money each year. • Running back-to-back dryer loads lets you take advantage of retained heat from the previous cycle, cutting down on energy usage.• Do laundry when it’s cheapest. If you’re eligible for time-of-day pricing, free energy weekends or a similar pricing perk from your electricity provider, save your laundry for when rates are lowest.

Look for the ENERGY STAR logo and read the black and yellow ENERGY GUIDE labels the next time you’re considering purchasing a new dryer.