How to Make Your Smart Home More Energy Efficient

16:19 23 April 2021

Whether you are in the process of creating your first smart home or you are simply making small changes to your existing property so that you can enjoy the convenience of home automation, you should know that a smart home has the opportunity to be incredibly energy-efficient.

 

From the installation of smart thermostats which will revolutionise your home heating systems, to the use of smart lighting that could potentially reduce your energy usage on lights by up to 80%, keep reading to find out how you can ensure your smart home is as energy-efficient as it possibly can be using the top smart, energy-saving devices.

 

Smart Thermostats

 

If your home is either always too hot or too cold or you are shocked at the annual cost of heating and cooling your home, then smart thermostats are exactly what you need. Providing you with the ability to automate your heating and cooling systems, these handy devices can help to cut down your overall energy consumption and reduce your monthly bills.

 

Most smart thermostats feature a smart device app that can be accessed on your smartphone, allowing you to control all your heating and cooling settings at a touch of a button, wherever you are.

 

In terms of potential savings, installing a smart thermostat in your home could save you up to 8% on your annual heating and cooling costs.

 

Smart Locking

 

If you are thinking about investing in a smart security system for your home with features such as automated doors and automated locking, then you should know that not only do these devices enhance the safety of your home and your family but they can also help to make your home more energy-efficient.

 

That being said, you first need to make sure that your existing windows and doors are in good condition. As a general rule, if the windows and doors in your home are five years old or older, they may be in need of an upgrade. Unfortunately, this can be expensive, especially if you need to replace every window and door in your home.

 

If you are worried about the cost of this crucial home improvement, you may want to check out this Double Glazing Funding website and see if you are eligible for completely free or partially funded windows and doors for your property.

 

In terms of potential savings, double glazing can save you on average £110 per year on your energy bills, with smart features such as automated doors saving you even more.

 

Smart Lighting

 

Your home smart system wouldn’t be complete without the addition of smart devices such as smart lightbulbs and a smart lighting system. Allowing you to set a schedule for when the lights in your home go on and off, a smart lighting system will help to reduce your energy usage and lower your electricity bills.

 

Furthermore, if you also switch to LED lightbulbs throughout your property, you can enjoy an even more energy-efficient home.

 

In terms of potential savings, smart lighting can save you between 25% and 80% on the energy you currently spend on lighting, depending on how many light fixtures you have and which types of bulbs you are using.

 

Smart Plugs

 

Although the savings for using smart plugs are not quite as dramatic as those for the other smart technologies detailed above, they do still have an impact on your overall energy usage; plus, they can help to minimise your impact on the environment.

 

If you don’t know much about smart plugs, they work much in the same way as smart lightbulbs in that they are used to help mitigate wasted energy. They work with any compatible device such as lamps, fans, appliances, and humidifiers and allow you to control these devices remotely or using your voice.

 

One of the best elements of smart plugs is that they can handle between 4 to 8 devices at once, making them an all-inclusive hub for your electronics.

 

In terms of potential savings, the installation of smart plugs can reduce your annual energy consumption by between 1-4%. 

 

Smart Sprinklers

 

Although this does not massively impact your energy usage, it does affect your water bills, so it is worth considering when it comes to adding control systems to your smart home.

 

Ideal for properties with a large lawn, a smart sprinkler system can significantly improve the efficiency of your smart home. Effectively enabling you to reduce water waste and use your water more efficiently, smart sprinklers work by allowing you to schedule when you water your lawn and by offering improved fixtures that use less water.

 

Furthermore, this handy smart device will also monitor the weather for you, so if it is due to rain, it will automatically override your schedule, resulting in even less water wastage.

 

In terms of potential savings, smart sprinklers can save up to 15% of the water applied compared to a standard sprinkler system. Depending on the climate of where you live and the size of your lawn, this could lead to huge savings on your water bills.

 

Smart Home Energy Monitors

 

A smart home system that many are not aware of is smart home energy monitors that attach directly to your home’s electrical box. Allowing you to monitor your energy consumption in real-time and see electricity usage trends by day, week, and month, this smart device is a must-have for any home looking to become more energy efficient.

 

You can even monitor each individual appliance in your home to see where you are potentially wasting energy, enabling you to cut down on your energy bills even more.

 

In terms of potential savings, a smart home energy monitor could cut your energy bills by between 5-15%. With even something as simple as not leaving your appliances on standby saving you £35 per year.

 

Other Energy-Saving Smart Devices You May Want to Consider

 

Although the above smart devices are the most effective at helping your home use less energy, there are many other smart products that you can invest in that will also reduce your energy bills and make your home more energy-efficient.

 

These include:

• Smart fridge. With innovative features, including LED touch screens and web browsing, a smart fridge can help you cut down on your energy consumption and help to automate your supermarket shopping.
  
  
• Smart TV. Allowing you to access all your favourite apps and to search the internet, a smart TV uses much less energy than older models, and the vast majority are ENERGY STAR certified for efficiency.
  
  
• Smart oven. Smart ovens or cookers come with numerous features, including offering multiple cooking options, automated temperature adjustments, and touchscreen doors. Some even have a built-in HD camera inside that lets you check on the cooking process without having to open the oven door.
  
  
• Smart washing machine. Smart washing machines can be controlled remotely using an app or via your smart speaker. Most models will determine the load of your laundry and use the right amount of water and energy accordingly. Plus, some will even adjust the amount of detergent needed to save you even more money.

 

When it comes to making your smart home more energy-efficient, there are so many different smart devices that you can choose from. However, the key to creating the perfect smart home lies in picking products that are tailored towards your family’s needs and your current way of life.

 

Think about where you think you are currently wasting energy. This could be through your kids leaving lights on in every room in the house or your windows letting in too much cold air. Once you have established where your home is falling short in the war against energy wastage, you can then find the perfect smart devices to fix the problem.