Surprising Savings of Home Automation: Time Saved, Stress Lowered, Life Upgraded

Most people chase energy bills and rebates when they think “savings.” Livewire’s Henry Clifford flips the script:

“If you believe that time is the most valuable thing of all… that’s really where I see us saving people… automating routines… not walking around the house to turn off lights… sleeping better because of better light.”

Time is money you actually get back

Clifford calls the big win “time savings,” not coupon clipping. Fewer nightly laps to shut down the house. Fewer tech hassles. Better mornings and bedtimes because lighting and scenes run on autopilot.

“We haven’t touched a light switch in my home in a long time… as a dad… my kids can’t leave a light turned on… routines handle it.”
“What’s togetherness worth… a magical night in your backyard where everything’s set up properly… that’s pretty good ROI.”

Energy savings exist, but they’re not the headline

Independent and vendor studies consistently show smart thermostats can trim heating by about 10–12% and cooling by ~15%, paying back within a couple of years for many households. Google Help
Clifford’s pragmatic view keeps it honest:

“Does LED lighting save you money… does having managed HVAC save you… Yes… my overall HVAC bill every month is 30 to 40% lower than it would be.”

Insurance perks can sweeten the pot

Homeowners with monitored security often receive premium discounts. Several consumer insurance guides peg typical savings around 2–5% with some carriers going higher depending on the system and monitoring. Policygenius
Meanwhile, the everyday peace of mind is hard to price:

“You could not get within 300 feet of my house right now… I’ve got you lasered up… that’s peace of mind.”

Intangible benefits you actually feel

Good lighting is not just “nice to have.” A growing body of research links light to wellbeing, sleep quality, and daily mood. Reviews and meta-analyses report small to moderate positive effects of well designed lighting on wellbeing, and industry research continues to refine real world circadian control. PMC
Clifford’s lived experience connects the dots:

“Having really high quality lighting… that can render sunlight pretty accurately… is something you kind of need to experience.”
“It’s abstract until that point… then you start living with it and you’re like, there’s no way I would ever not have this stuff in my house.”

The retrofit reality

You do not need a new build to reap these benefits.

“Most of our installations are actually retrofit… a lot of what used to be hardwired is now wireless and reliable.”
Historic construction can block signals, so design matters, but Livewire solves it with proper access points and clever wire paths.
“Some rooms become a Faraday cage… it might mean more access points… we do it all the time.”

The bottom line

The biggest savings aren’t only on your utility statement, in fact those dollar might not add up to much. The biggest impact just might be in reclaimed hours, calmer routines, safer spaces, and better days. Start with what hurts, let the tech automate the annoyance, and enjoy the compounding returns of a home that quietly works for you.