March 24, 2025 | About Us, Features, Sustainable Home Tips
Smart Home Upgrades and Data: Your Home Called. It Wants to Join the 21st Century
Table of Content
Smart Home Upgrades and Data: Your Home Called. It Wants to Join the 21st Century
Ready to bring your home into the 21st century—without giving away your personal data? Discover 7 smart home upgrades that save money, add a little green to your life, and keep you in control.
Source: Lakeshore Living
Let’s be honest: If your house had a phone, it would be leaving voicemails that sound like this:
“Hey. Just wondering if we’re ever going to stop wasting energy, leaking air, or scheduling home projects like it’s 1998?”
Yep—your home is ready to evolve. And truthfully? So are you.
The good news: Bringing your home into the 21st century doesn’t require a total renovation, an HGTV production crew, or a second mortgage. It just takes smart upgrades, modern tools, and a few well-timed group deals (that’s where we come in).
In this guide, we’ll break down what it actually means to modernize your home, the biggest mistakes people make when trying to upgrade, and how Pigybak helps homeowners save money, reduce waste, and skip the stress—without compromising your privacy.
1. Plug the Energy Leaks
Before you buy anything new, make sure what you already have isn’t secretly draining your wallet. Most older homes are hemorrhaging heat and cooled air through gaps in insulation, outdated windows, and inefficient doors.
✅ The Fix: Start with a certified home energy audit. These usually include blower door tests, infrared imaging, and insulation inspections to find where your home is leaking (and how to fix it).
💰 Savings: Upgrades like insulation, air sealing, and weatherstripping can reduce heating and cooling costs by 15% or more.
If you’ve noticed drafts in winter, uneven temperatures between rooms, or shockingly high energy bills, it’s probably time to take a closer look at your home’s envelope.
📎 More Resources: U.S. Department of Energy – Air Sealing Your Home
🔗 Internal Link: 10 Eco-Friendly Things to Do Right After Moving In
Pigybak Tip: Start a Ride with your neighbors for a shared energy audit—same price, split savings.
2. Upgrade to Smart, Sustainable Tech
A modern home is an efficient one. That means smart systems that adapt to your schedule and appliances that do more with less.
🧠 Smart Upgrades to Consider:
- Smart thermostats (Nest, Ecobee)
- Motion-sensor lights and energy monitors
- ENERGY STAR-rated appliances
- Smart plugs and surge protection
📲 Why It Matters: These upgrades save money and cut carbon emissions. But don’t forget to keep your data safe.
⚠️ Watch Out: Many smart devices collect personal data, usage patterns, and even voice commands. Make sure to adjust privacy settings, disable unnecessary data sharing, and use strong, unique passwords for each connected device.
📎 More Resources:
Pigybak Tie-In: Use Pigybak to find tech-savvy pros who can install and configure your smart home—and help you secure your data.
3. Get Solar-Ready (Even If You’re Not There Yet)
Solar panels aren’t for everyone right now—but preparing for them absolutely is. A “solar-ready” home increases long-term value and cuts upgrade costs later.
☀️ How to Prepare:
- South-facing roof exposure
- Minimal shading (trees, chimneys)
- Electrical panel capacity
- Roof under 10 years old
A surprising number of homes have great solar potential but don’t take advantage due to outdated electrical systems or roof age. Planning ahead can save thousands.
📎 More Resources:
Pigybak Tip: Start a Ride to get a solar consult for you and your neighbors—many installers offer steep discounts for bundled projects.
4. Water-Smart Landscaping = 21st Century Curb Appeal
Your lawn might be pretty, but if it’s guzzling water and pesticides, it’s doing more harm than good. Traditional landscaping practices are often wasteful and labor-intensive.
🌱 Upgrade Options:
- Native plant gardens
- Drought-tolerant ground cover (like clover)
- Rain barrels
- Drip irrigation systems
💧 Why It Matters: Sustainable landscaping saves water, supports pollinators, and reduces the chemicals you track indoors.
Long term, these changes can cut monthly water bills and boost curb appeal—especially with increasing drought awareness nationwide.
📎 More Resources:
🔗 Internal Link: Pollinator Gardens: Why Less Mowing = More Bees
Pigybak Tip: Book a landscaper through Pigybak and invite others on your block for eco-friendly upgrades—and a group discount.
5. Clean Up Your Indoor Air
Here’s a 21st-century truth: indoor air can be up to 5x more polluted than outside. From off-gassing furniture to mold-prone HVAC systems, most homes need help.
✅ What to Replace:
- Carpets with FSC-certified wood or low-VOC flooring
- Paints with low or zero VOCs
- Ventilation systems with ERV or HRV
Improving your indoor air quality doesn’t just help with allergies—it boosts productivity, sleep, and long-term health. That’s a 21st-century win.
📎 More Resources:
Pigybak Tip: Pigybak contractors can assess your indoor air quality and help plan smart, safe upgrades.
6. Automate the Annoying Stuff (Securely, the ultimate Smart Home Upgrade)
You don’t need to be Tony Stark to simplify your home. Smart tools can take over the repetitive tasks, from lighting to locks—but only if they’re set up right.
💡 Automations Worth Adding:
- Smart garage openers
- Keyless entry locks
- Smart irrigation timers
- App-controlled lighting
🔐 Privacy Alert: Avoid brands that require excessive data sharing or always-on recording. Choose systems with local storage and two-factor authentication.
Bonus tip: disable remote access when not in use, and opt for systems that don’t force cloud-based control.
📎 More Resources: Mozilla Privacy Not Included Smart Device Ratings
Pigybak Tip: Ask your Pigybak contractor to walk you through your devices’ privacy settings post-installation.
7. Know When to Call in the Pros
Some projects sound DIY… until you hit wiring, water lines, or walls with a will of their own. That’s where Pigybak makes the upgrade process smart.
🔧 Use Pigybak When:
- Opening walls
- Installing solar or smart HVAC
- Replacing flooring or roofing
- Bundling multiple upgrades into one visit
The old way? Multiple appointments, inflated prices, and crossed fingers. The Pigybak way? Vetted contractors, upfront pricing, and group deals when neighbors join in.
How It Works: Post your project, join or start a Ride, and invite your neighbors to pigybak off your booking. Better pricing, faster scheduling, and no shady contractors.
🔗 Internal Link: Start a Ride
Final Thoughts: Your Home Is Ready. Are You?
A 21st-century home isn’t just about gadgets—it’s about comfort, cost savings, sustainability, and security. Whether you start with smart lighting or a full eco-makeover, the path forward doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming.
In fact, the best part of bringing your home into the future? You don’t have to do it alone. With Pigybak, you can modernize on your terms—and bring the whole block along for the ride.
📣 Don’t just update your home—future-proof it.
Upgrade smarter. Spend less. Keep your data to yourself.
oinkers Author
