Home automation does not only bring comfort and security to our homes; it has also become a key ally in cutting energy use and reducing electricity and gas bills. Thanks to automation and the intelligent control of different systems and devices, choosing the best smart home devices to save energy is straightforward — and it lets us spend less on bills, be more careful about what we consume, and adapt the house to what we actually need instead of wasting energy.
In this article we look at the best smart home devices for saving energy, and at how to bring them into your home to make it more efficient and more sustainable.
The best smart home devices for saving energy
1. Smart thermostats: full control of the temperature
Smart thermostats are one of the most effective tools for reducing the energy that heating and air conditioning consume. They let you:
- Schedule and control the temperature: adjust it remotely or automatically, to fit your routine and your preferences.
- Optimise consumption: stop rooms being heated or cooled when there is no need for it.
- Use the advanced features: some models include geolocation, which adjusts the temperature according to where you are, or machine learning, which adapts to your habits.
2. Smart plugs: goodbye to phantom load
Smart plugs are a simple but effective way to eliminate the phantom load that appliances draw while on standby. With them you can:
- Control power on and off: switch any connected device on or off remotely or on a schedule
- Measure energy use: some models let you identify which devices consume the most, so you can act on them
3. Smart lighting: light on your terms
Smart lighting lets you create the atmosphere you want and save energy at the same time
- Brightness and colour control: adjust the light remotely or on a schedule, to suit the time of day or the activity
- Motion sensors: turn lights on and off automatically, so nothing is left burning in an empty room
4. Motion and presence sensors: smart devices that save energy on their own
These sensors detect whether anyone is in a room and can switch lights, climate control or other devices on and off automatically
- Savings in unoccupied areas: no energy is spent where there is nobody to benefit from it
5. Energy management systems: monitor and control what you use
These systems give you complete control over your home’s energy consumption
- Real-time monitoring: see the consumption of the whole house and spot the devices that cost the most to run
- Tailored recommendations: get advice on optimising consumption and making the most of renewable energy
6. Smart appliances: efficiency in everyday tasks
Smart appliances help you save energy in the jobs you do every day
- Intelligent scheduling: run the washing machine or the dishwasher during off-peak hours
- Saving features: make use of eco cycles and low-consumption standby modes
A more efficient, more sustainable home with the best smart devices for saving energy
Home automation is a key tool for saving energy at home and reducing our environmental impact. By bringing together smart devices and energy management systems, we can optimise consumption, adapt the way the house runs to what we actually need, and enjoy a home that is more comfortable, more efficient and more sustainable.
There is no reason to wait to start saving energy — and money — with home automation.
Useful links:
- Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE, Spain): https://www.idae.es/
- Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Spain): https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/
- Spanish Association of Home and Building Automation (CEDOM): https://cedom.es/
We hope you found this article useful. If you have a question, or want more detail on a particular device, leave a comment. You may also want to read Home automation for older adults: technology in the service of wellbeing and independence
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