Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats including Nest, Ecobee and Hive learn household patterns and automatically optimise heating and cooling schedules to eliminate energy waste. Research from the thermostat manufacturers and independent studies consistently shows 10-23% heating and cooling bill reductions after smart thermostat installation. The payback period from energy savings typically ranges from 6-18 months depending on existing heating system efficiency and local energy costs.
Smart Plugs and Energy Monitoring
Smart plugs with energy monitoring reveal which appliances consume the most electricity enabling targeted reduction of standby and vampire power consumption. Scheduling smart plugs to cut power to entertainment systems, gaming consoles and other standby consumers overnight eliminates 5-10% of household electricity consumption from devices that contribute nothing in standby mode.
Time-of-Use Tariff Optimisation
Many energy suppliers offer time-of-use tariffs where electricity costs significantly less during overnight off-peak periods. Running dishwashers, washing machines and charging electric vehicles overnight on off-peak tariffs can reduce effective electricity costs for these activities by 30-60% versus peak daytime rates available on standard flat rate tariffs.