What drives a person or household to purchase home automation products? A survey conducted by the Internet of Things Consortium and released last December revealed that 60 percent of those who purchased home automation devices did so because they considered energy efficiency as among the most attractive benefits offered by these connected home devices and services.

It is clear that the majority of homeowners want to lower monthly electric consumption and save money. But you’ll need more than just a smart home to eliminate utility bills.

What is a net zero-home?

A net-zero home is one that consumes roughly the same amount of renewable energy that it produces. This is possible by harvesting energy using solar or wind technologies, and the harvested energy can be used on site or if there is surplus energy, it can be rerouted to the local power grid to be used by others.

The interest in net-zero homes is increasing as alternative energy sources become cheaper and traditional fossil fuel continues to cost a premium, not to mention the long term environmental cost of  fossil fuel.

So how do you get started?

Smart home technology leader, Vivint, Inc., released an interactive infographic that will help people who are looking into transforming their homes into a net-zero one. Here are the highlights:

10 steps towards a net-zero home

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Kick your gas habit for solar power – by installing solar panels in your home, you can lower your dependence on the power grid or lower your cost significantly as a 5kW solar system that runs for six to seven hours would be enough to power an average home.

The proof is in the roof – do not take your roof for granted as using highly reflective paint or tiles, a sheet covering or shingles can cool roofs by up to 50 percent which means the inside of the house remains cool without using up more energy to cool it down, plus these materials can also extend the service life of the roof.

Blow away your old insulation – heating and cooling accounts for the majority of a home’s electricity cost and if your home’s insulation is poor, it’s like leaving your windows open while the air conditioning is turned on and you’re left wondering why it’s still so hot. Opt for a blown-in insulation as it can reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent.

Reduce and reuse with an ERV – using an energy recovery ventilator can help households not only reduce energy consumption but it also purifies indoor air. An ERV will help you maintain a comfortable temperature without having to use more energy as it uses fresh air from the outside to cool the home and dispose of the stale, warm air from the inside.

Double up your window’s performance – replace your single-pane windows with double-pane ones as it gives better insulation. It keeps the heat out during hot days and the warmth in during cold one. This is said to significantly reduce your energy consumption related to heating and cooling.

Put a better handle on your toilet situation – opt for a low flow toilet that only uses 1.6 gallons per flush, saving you 8,000 to 20,000 gallons of water per year.

Get smart about your thermostat – swap your old thermostat for a smart thermostat that is able to identify patterns of when to turn the temperature up or down, saving you up to 30 percent on your energy bill.

Turn a stronger light on the subject – replace old incandescent bulbs that use 33 percent more energy compared to CFL and LED bulbs. Though more expensive than incandescent bulbs, CFL and LED bulbs last longer, which means you get more out of your money, aside from reducing your energy consumption.

Get efficient with your water heating – replace old water heaters with tankless water heater to save space as well as uses less energy or opt for a solar water heater and save 30 percent off the cost because of a federal energy tax credit that’s available through the end of 2016.

Plant like you mean it – trees offer shade which means planting more trees outside your home can help you get cooling savings to up to 20 percent as well as heating savings between eight to eighteen percent.

Image courtesy of Vivint, Inc.