Smart Homes Adapt for Home Workers

Smart home energy management systems could minimise domestic energy use for employees working from home this pandemic.

10:40 15 September 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many companies to allow their employees to work from home in accordance with the social distancing protocols in place. This has led to the fall in energy demand not just in workplaces but also closed shops, bars and restaurants, among others.

 

However, domestic energy consumption has drastically increased as many people are now forced not just to work from home but also to stay at home to prevent the further spread of the virus. Comparison site comparethemarket.com launched a survey during the UK lockdown and found that the 2,000 people involved in the study said that they were using more energy that they used to. The company said that the extra usage could lead to a 30per cent rise in energy bills. Similarly, a study from manufacturers of smart thermostat and air conditioning found that people used 15per cent more heating in March 2020 when compared to their energy usage the same month the previous year. 

 

The use of smart home energy management systems could help reduce domestic energy use this pandemic. British Gas' HIVE is the market leader in providing such solutions with its comprehensive entire home smart automation system that controls everything from lightbulbs to thermostats. 

 

Other companies in this industry include Samsung, which offers an almost real-time energy monitoring app - the SmartThings Energy Control, which launched with green energy supplier bulb last year. 

 

Another notable player is tado°, the European leader for smart thermostats for heating and cooling. According to the company, it can save consumers around 31per cent on their energy bill.