Smart controls

Smart controls allow you to monitor and manage your home’s energy usage in real-time. By gaining better control over your heating, lighting, and appliances, you can reduce waste, lower your energy bills, and improve the comfort of your home.

In a typical UK home, space heating and hot water account for over 60% of energy usage. Smart controls target this directly, ensuring you only heat the rooms you are using, when you are using them.

The benefits of smart technology

  • Real-time monitoring: See exactly how much energy you are using and where it is going.
  • Automation: Set schedules that match your lifestyle, so you never accidentally leave the heating on when the house is empty.
  • Remote access: Control your home’s temperature or appliances from anywhere via your smartphone.
  • Optimisation: Some smart systems use artificial intelligence (AI) to learn your habits and automatically adjust for maximum efficiency and comfort.
  • Grid integration: Connect your smart home to Time-of-Use tariffs to automatically run appliances when electricity is cheapest and cleanest.

Core smart components

Depending on your goals and budget, you can start with a single device or build a fully integrated smart home system:

  • Smart Thermostats: The most impactful upgrade, providing zonal control and remote management of your heating.
  • Energy Monitors: Devices that plug into your smart meter or consumer unit to show real-time electricity and gas usage.
  • Smart Plugs: Simple adapters that allow you to monitor and remotely turn off individual appliances.
  • Home Automation Hubs: Central controllers that allow different brands of smart devices to work together.

Energy Saving Tip: Installing a smart thermostat and using it correctly can save the average UK household between £75 and £150 per year on heating bills.

Tools

Guides