Smart Tech to help you monitor your energy use and save money
Here are 3 easy ways to get started with Smart Tech in your home that are relatively inexpensive and easy to get started with - they give you visibility and/or control over the energy you're using and the ability to control from anywhere.
Right now we're all trying to figure out easy ways to reduce our regular outgoings, whether that's shopping around for the best energy bills or changing up our go-to supermarket. But many don't realise how much cash could be saved just by making their ordinary household technology and appliances a little smarter – with very minimal upfront costs.
Take control of your heating with a smart thermostat.
Smart thermostats connect your heating system to the internet, which means that the temperature can be controlled from smart devices such as mobile phones, tablets and computers. Smart room thermostats can help reduce your heating costs by offering the flexibility to control your heating remotely, so that you only use the energy you need. Wi-Fi heating thermostats have a variety of features across the ranges, some include geofencing technology which tracks when you leave and enter your home to automatically reduce or increase the temperature.
Research by Uswitch.com shows turning your thermostat down by just 1°C could actually save you as much as £80 per year
There are a wide range of brands available, and they are a great way to get started with Smart Tech
Check out
Hive - Suitable for combi boilers and temperature control via the Hive app available for Apple and Android.
Google Nest - Suitable for Combi & System Boilers and works with Apple and Android devices
Both Hive and Google Nest, two of the most popular brands, provide a full Smart Home solution which you can find on their websites, but I'll break down the key areas you can look at if you're venturing into Smart Home Tech
2. Smart Plugs
They might look like an ordinary adaptor or extension lead, but they can do so much more, connecting to your wifi and letting you manage your gadgets from an app on your phone. Setup is as straightforward as popping one in a socket, pairing it with your network, and then using it to switch on and off any appliance attached to it.
adding some smart plugs to minimise the energy wasted by technology left on standby, or even that lamp you always forget to turn off! You can then control your electronics using just your phone, or one of the best smart speakers if you want to dive further into the automated homeworld.
According to research by Ocean Finance, enlisting smart home products in the fight against rising bills has the potential to save you more than £400 over just two years, with smart plugs just one of the quick, inexpensive fixes available.
With a smart plug, you can set routines for your electronics to turn on only when they're needed, and some even turn your devices off and on depending on whether you're home or not – a great burglar deterrent whilst you're away on holiday. The same is true of smart bulbs
3. Switch to Smart Light bulbs
Smart light bulb will usually run for around 15,000 hours. This is 15 times longer than an old-school, incandescent bulb. So they can help you save on your bills.
though smart LED lights are a tad more expensive than your bog-standard bulb, they’ll save you money in the long run. While an incandescent bulb (run for six hours a day) costs almost £40 per year, a smart bulb will set you back just over a fiver for the same period.
Smart bulbs also account for fewer CO2 emissions – meaning they’re light on the environment, as well as your wallet.
Popular brands include
Philips Hue
TP-Link
Hey Smart