Smart Home Tech: Terms You’ll Hear

CFL, LED: These energy-efficient lightbulbs will eventually replace the old-school incandescents because of the longevity and cost savings they provide. Installing these is often the first step toward a greener home. LED stands for light-emitting diode, while CFL is an acronym for compact fluorescent light. Both are rated in terms of the equivalent light output of traditional bulbs, and though initially they’re more expensive, they significantly reduce energy costs over their projected life.

Compatibility: There are a number of competing — and sometimes proprietary — communications standards used in home-automation products to communicate with each other by a connection that’s wired, wireless, or a combination. Products compatible with one standard may not work with another. Standards you may encounter include X10, UPB, Z-Wave, ZigBee, and Insteon.

Energy Star: A government-backed standard, this serves as a label for products, home renovations, and homes that meet the program’s energy-efficiency guidelines.

HERS: The Home Energy Rating System developed by the Residential Energy Services Network to evaluate any home in terms of its energy efficiency. This rating indicates energy costs and identifies improvements which can introduce savings.

LEED: A rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, to promote and identify sustainable or green design, construction, and energy usage in new buildings, including homes.

Smart appliance: Originally, this referred to appliances that communicate with the smart-power grid to manage operation based on demand, time of day, and costs. Manufacturers have appropriated the term for “smart” Web-enabled appliances loaded with specialized apps for enhanced features.

Smart grid: An energy- and cost-saving approach to distributing power to homes and businesses, still in its early development and experimental stages. Once in place, smart electrical meters will track each home’s energy usage, and communicate with smart devices to more efficiently manage power consumption based on total demand, time of day, and cost.