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Stand-by suck

From handy timer settings to tracking electricity and water usage, smart home devices are designed with energy efficiency in mind. Let’s take a further look at how this clever tech can save you power and money. Words Bec Summer R ising energy costs and environmental concerns are now a part of everyday life, but a smart home can help you manage SMART SAVINGS

‘Vampire energy’ might sound like a horror film concept, but this evocative term actually refers to devices that suck power when parked in stand-by mode, like TVs, PVRs, audio gear, microwaves and multifunction printers. It’s something many of us don’t give a second thought about, but stand-by power consumption will add dollars to your bill. Smart plug

scheduling can drive a stake through the heart of vampire energy by cutting the power completely when devices are not in use, and turning it back on just prior to peak usage times.

Water, water, everywhere… Installing a water sensor can reduce costly wastage. This moisture-sensitive device detects drips and leaks and instantly alerts you to them via a smartphone notification or an alarm, so you can patch it up or call a plumber before

both, saving you power and money, and reducing your carbon footprint. We’ve all experienced anxiety when the power bill arrives – and possibly bill shock after seeing the amount due – but how many of us actually keep track

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of our daily energy consumption? If you answered ‘no’, you’re probably in the majority. Fortunately, some smart home devices and appliances can do this for you, and checking those hours of power is as simple

preset times can further conserve power, or you can control them when needed from the companion app, at home or when out and about. Plug in and save Wi-Fi-enabled smart plugs not only provide in-app remote control and timer countdowns for connected lights, portable air coolers and other power-hungry devices, but also track real time and historical power usage for analysis. Temperature tracking Heating and cooling are among the biggest contributors to electricity bill shock, and that’s

as consulting the respective apps. The following smart home tech is, well, switched on to the need for energy efficiency, and simple scheduling can reduce power consumption and put more money in your pocket. Lights out Smart LED lights are highly energy efficient – 75% more so than old school bulbs – and also have a longer lifespan. So, it makes sense to replace those old globes with smart shiny new ones. Integrating lights with other smart home tech can also reduce power consumption. A pet peeve for many of us, especially during these cost-conscious times, is when lights are constantly left on after someone leaves a room. A motion sensor is a smart solution. When connected to a smart home ecosystem, it will detect when people come and go and turn lights on and off accordingly. Scheduling lights to turn on/off or dim at

it gets worse. Water sensors are, of course, ideally placed under sinks and in wet areas like the bathroom and laundry. Smart water controllers for the garden will also save you bucks. Hook a sprinkler or irrigation system into one and schedule it to activate at regular watering times. It will also track your water usage and has an auto shut-off function to prevent overwatering and flooding the garden. Clean and cool savings Moving into the laundry, smart dryers with a heat pump use a lot less power than a traditional dryer, this is because they reuse the hot air generated during a drying cycle. Smart washing machines that weigh loads to optimise water usage are also more economical to run. And in the kitchen, a smart fridge can alert you when the door is left open, and use internal sensors to detect and set optimal cooling times based on how often you open the door.

where a smart thermostat control comes into play – it can adjust and maintain optimal temperatures according to your routines and needs. And now there’s

no reason to leave the air con running all day so the house is chilled when you get

home. Simply schedule it to activate an hour before you arrive, or turn it on from your phone when you leave work.

56 MARCH 2024

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