Automating your heating
There’s no shame in wanting a toasty home when you get in – but are you wasting energy heating an empty house? Using a smart thermostat, you can not only automate to ensure your house is at the optimum temperature for when you’re home. You can also view just how much energy your heating is consuming, which naturally encourages better habits. Just log into your smartphone app and go.
Do heaters need to be on full blast in every room? Would a jumper do the trick? Data is key for smart home technology, and with full visibility, you’ll be on your way towards reducing your carbon footprint.
Keeping an eye on your water consumption
The average UK household consumes up to 350 litres of water per day, equating to more than £4,000 in water bills over the course of the year. Reducing your water consumption starts right in your bathroom – and again, it all comes down to data.
These smart shower heads warn users when they have used a certain amount of water, cycling through four different LED lights. If you go into the red, you’ll know your shower has consumed 50 litres of water – while the green is a much more environmentally friendly 10.
Saving on unused devices
Did you know that devices can still contribute to your energy use even when they’re not turned on? By unplugging, we can save up to 10% on our electricity bills per year. You can use technology such as this 4 in 1 sensor to determine which devices are not in use, and therefore which ones you can unplug.
These sensors also help to automate lighting, turning off lights when the room is at the optimum brightness, and slowly dialling back up if it becomes dark. Likewise, they can be automated only to activate when a user enters the room.