5 Energy Saving Gadgets to Cut Your Household Bills
Sometimes you need a little help when it comes to saving energy around the home and luckily there are gadgets on the market to do just that. Here's our run down of 5 of the handiest energy saving devices to make life a little easier.
1. Smart Thermostat
The priciest item on our list but also the one with the potential to save you the most money is the smart thermostat. Although the features vary by device, smart thermostats generally help you to monitor your energy usage so you can spot any areas where you can save. They will also give you a much higher level of control and in many cases you can even create a heating schedule or manage your heating on the go. Our guide to the best smart thermostats can help you decide on the ideal model for your home and lifestyle.
2. Timed Smart Power Strips
If you get fed up of having to unplug endless devices every night, or if you have a bad habit of leaving electricals on standby, consider employing a smart power strip. These handy gadgets can help you to control 'vampire loads' – energy that is being drawn by appliances even when they are not being used.
Features can vary between models, so you can likely find one to best suit your energy habits and needs. If you have a computer or television that uses other devices such as speakers or monitors, you could implement a power strip that turns these additional electricals off once the main device (the computer or television) has been switched off. Other power strips have the ability to sense when your appliances are not being used and will switch them off automatically. Finally, some smart sockets even let you set a timer for one or all of the connected devices to be turned off.
3. Water Saving Shower Gadgets
We all know that cutting the amount of time you spend in the shower can dramatically reduce both your energy and water bills but it can be hard to enforce this habit on a daily basis. Gadgets like the Waterpebble and ECO Showerdrop monitor your water usage in the shower and let you know when it's time to get out. Alternatively there are simple timers available to use in your shower that will beep once your set time has run out, however these don't account for the fact that different showers will use water at different speeds.
4. Automatic Radiator Bleeder
Bleeding your radiators gets rid of any excess trapped air that is preventing hot water from heating them effectively. You might not realise that your radiators need bleeding for some time - during which they can be reducing your central heating systems efficiency. Automatic radiator bleeders (also referred to as auto vents) will vent the air from your radiators when necessary, meaning you don't have to do it manually.
5. Smart Chargers
Most households have plenty of devices that regularly need charging – from smartphones to laptops. Many people don't realise that even when your device is fully charged, leaving it plugged in means it will still be drawing power and adding to electricity bills. It can be tricky to know when your gadget is fully charged, and many of us choose to charge over night for pure convenience. Luckily you can now buy chargers which shut themselves off once the job is done - saving both energy and the long term life of your devices battery.
