19 January 2024 , 15:41
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With the cost of energy remaining high and the temperature plunging, it's a tricky time for many. We're all on the lookout for ways to stay warm and manage our homes without sending the smart meters souring.
Most of us are growing accustomed to modern technology helping us around the house, by it via asking Alexa to change the music you're listening to on an Amazon Echo device or making Google searches on your smartphone using your voice.
But one area where smart devices have really come on in recent years is actually around energy saving. There are a number of gadgets out there can that help you use less energy, and save money off your bills in the process.
Simon Oram, Smart Home Category Manager at Toolstation, has listed some of the the best smart home devices for energy efficiency that will help you to reduce your consumption this winter.
1. Smart lighting
You can control this Tapo Smart Bulb through Alexa (Amazon)Smart lighting comes in all shapes and sizes, from smart light switches to outdoor lighting. Fully controllable from your smartphone, smart lights can be dimmed to conserve energy, as well as switched on and off. Prices start from as little as £4.49 and could save you a lot of money this winter.
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Simon Oram, Smart Home Category Manager at Toolstation said: “While turning off the lights when you’re leaving the room is a great habit to pick up, it may also be worth switching to LED smart lightbulbs around the home. These can connect to a range of smart home providers such as Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri and more.”
2. Smart heaters and fans
A cheaper alternative to turning on your central heating, smart heaters can cut back on energy spending. Many smart heaters also double as fans, so these handy appliances can be utilised year-round to control your temperature.
Smart heaters and fans are easily managed from your smartphone, so if you forget to switch off the heating before leaving the house, it can be remotely turned off with the press of a button.
3. Smart thermostats
The Google Nest (Amazon)Smart thermostats allow you to control your heating wherever you are. This means you don’t have to rely on a fixed schedule for your heating, giving you more flexibility and saving on unnecessary energy usage.
Some smart thermostats can even learn your schedule and automatically adjust the heating depending on your existing routines. This could help you cut back on energy use if your pre-programmed timer is using more than needed.
Danielle Robinson, Central Heating Category Manager at Toolstation, provided some extra tips for efficient heating: “In the winter time, we want our heating to keep us warm. However, you might not notice the effects if you were to lower the thermostat by a degree or two. This means you and your family could still get the benefit of a warm home, but you could save a bit of money when the energy bill comes.
“It’s also important that your heating is set to come on for a time when you and your family can feel the benefit. For example, you could cut the midday heating burst particularly if no one’s in, but a mid-evening radiator switch-on could be considered more essential, particularly if you’re looking to cosy up to the TV.”
4. Smart plugs and sockets
Smart plugs are another way to help track your energy usage (Tapo/Amazon)Switching off appliances at the mains helps to reduce energy consumption. But if you have lots of appliances to switch off regularly, or simply don’t want the extra hassle, smart plugs and sockets could be the answer.
The Toolstation expert said: "To make life easier, smart plugs automatically turn your devices off standby and can be controlled remotely from your mobile. Alternatively, timer plugs turn your appliances on and off depending on the schedule you set.”