• Energy saving smart tech gift ideas
• Practical smart tech gift ideas
• Smart home smart tech gift ideas
• Smart tech gift ideas for camping
• Smart tech gift ideas for the garden
• Smart tech gift ideas for entertainment
• Smart watches
• Creative smart tech gift ideas

Energy saving smart tech gift ideas

1. Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

Automatically optimizes heating and cooling schedules for energy savings. With a larger bezel-free screen complete with gorgeous animations and advanced AI features, the new Nest Learning Thermostat is a major upgrade. Includes a separate Nest Temperature Sensor in the box. This device lets you set a target temperature for a specific room rather than rely on the main sensor built into the thermostat itself. It also comes in more finishes including Polished Silver, Polished Obsidian and Polished Gold.

Buy Now on Amazon for £410

2. Hive Thermostat for Heating (Combi Boiler) with Hive Hub

Equipped with advanced sensors to control temperature and reduce energy use.  Hive Heating Plus – 50% off annual plan included with this purchase to help you save even more. Set up to six daily time slots. Helps prevent frozen pipes. Set heating alerts when you leave or return home.

Buy now on Amazon for £115 

3. Tapo Smart Plugs with Energy Monitoring

Monitors energy usage and allows remote control of plugged-in devices. works with Alexa and Google Home, No Hub Required. Monitor the average power consumption of the load to determine the usage of electricity and monitor everything from your smart phone. Schedule the smart plug to automatically power electronics on and off as needed.

Buy now on Amazono for £15.49  (2 pack)

4. Meross Smart Plugs with Energy Monitoring

Tracks energy consumption and provides insights to lower usage. Works with Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, Smart Socket Remote Control Timer Plug, No Hub Required. Helps users schedule when to switch appliances on and off optimally, aiding in electricity bill reduction. Users can input the cost per kilowatt-hour to get an estimate of their electricity bills. Furthermore, the plug can monitor the electricity generated by solar panel installations. Compatible with both Alexa and Google Home, allowing for voice commands like “Alexa, turn off the light”. Customised schedules and timers let you turn devices on and off according to your routine.

Buy now on Amazon for £18.99 (2 pack)

5. Refoss Smart Plugs with Energy Monitoring for HomeKit

Works with Apple HomeKit Siri, Alexa, Google Home. No Hub Required. A HomeKit-compatible plug that tracks energy use and helps optimize device schedules. Suitable for iOS 13 or Android 6.0 or later, HomeKit’s compatibility has been extended to various smart devices, including lighting, sockets, temperature control, and safety systems. This means that users can choose smart devices of different brands, and integrate them into a unified smart home system through the HomeKit platform, which improves the equipment’s interoperability.

Buy now on Amazon for £39.89 (4 pack)

6. Tapo Smart Plug Power Strip

Works with Apple Home Kit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Smart Things no hub required. Set your electricity rate to estimate your energy bills, offers more comprehensive insights into home appliances’ power consumption with more intuitive and straightforward data visualizations. Supports setting power thresholds to prevent overcharging of mobile phones and other devices. Use simple voice commands with Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, or Google Assistant to conveniently control connected devices.

Buy now on Amzon for £24.99

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7. T-Smart Tesla Hot Water Cylinder Thermostat

T-Smart is the most radical evolution of technology in the immersion sector for some time. Upgrade your cylinder to a genuine smart appliance for complete remote control of your hot water when its needed via the app. Built in programmers, planners and timers provides unlimited time and temperature settings via the T-Smart app giving you complete flexibility and control. Built-in anti legionella function gives additional piece of mind that the system will be continuously protected from bacteria growth carrying out the antibacterial cycle at least once every 15 days.

Buy now on Amazon for £140

Practical smart tech gift ideas

8. Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Multifunction Oven

Cooks meals efficiently, using precise heat control to reduce energy waste. Fast Mini Oven, 10 Cooking Functions, Air Fry, Pizza, Grill, Roast, Bake, Toast, Bagel & more for family-size meals. This large capacity countertop oven cooks food on 2 levels, fit 2 pizzas at once. Fit a main and sides at the same time, no need to use 2 appliances. Up to 40% faster than a fan oven, with super-quick 90 second preheat. Air Fry – up to 75% less fat than traditional frying methods.

Buy now on Amazon for £249

9. Dreo Smart Electric Space Heater

A smart space heater for indoor combines Hyperamics 1500W with a new heat funnel design to deliver heat within seconds and enhance warm air circulation for up to 200% farther reach than traditional heaters. Schedule room heating hours to match your routine, access your heater settings from anywhere with the Dreo app, or even use your voice to control it thanks to Alexa and Google Home compatibility. Dreo’s heater warms quietly thanks to its brushless DC motor with frictionless performance and a winglet fan design that reduces turbulence, reducing noise to only 34dB.

Buy now on Amazon for £59.99

10. Keurig K-Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker

The perfect smart coffee maker for anyone who loves their morning brew. Less than 5 inches wide, perfect for small spaces. Brew any cup size between 6-12oz with Keurig K-Cup pods. Just add fresh water for each brew. Coffee made in minutes.

Buy now on Amazon for £79

11. Ember Smart Mug 2

Maintains beverage temperature using minimal energy compared to traditional methods. The Ember Smart Mug allows you to control the temperature of your hot drink from your smartphone. Connect your mug to the Ember app to determine the ideal temperature of your hot drink, and enjoy every drop exactly the way you like it. Also works without being connected to the app. It will then automatically keep your drink at a temperature of 57°C and will remember the last temperature used: this tumbler is really the perfect gift!

Buy now on Amazon for £130

12. Vitesy Shelfy Smart Refrigerator Device

Reduce food waste and save money with the amusingly named “Shelfy”. This device extends the freshness of food up to 12 days more therefore reducing waste. The photocatalytic filter with nanotechnology ensures prolonged freshness and safer food by eliminating pollutants responsible for food ripening. The device also detects how often the refrigerator is opened and sends the information directly to your mobile phone via the Vitesy Hub app. Voice control is available by connecting it to Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Features a washable filter that doesn’t need replacement.

Buy now on Amazon for £119

13. Philips Eco Conscious Toaster

A fairly standard toaster but made with 100% plant-based plastics to reduce its CO₂ footprint by 14%, this eco-friendly toaster offers a sustainable choice without compromising on quality. 8 browning settings, so you get the perfect golden brown or crispy slice every time, fast, efficient toasting with 830 watts of power that evenly browns your toast. Warm buns, rolls, and pastries with the integrated bun rack, giving you more breakfast options without the need for additional appliances.

Buy now on Amazon for £34.99

14. Lomi Home Composter

Reduces food waste while consuming minimal energy compared to traditional waste disposal. Lomi is the ultimate kitchen appliance for turning food & waste into nutrient-rich compost. Lomi uses advanced technology to break down food waste quickly and efficiently, producing compost in as little as 4 hours. Includes your first 45 cycles of filters & pods. 12″ tall, 16″ wide, 13″ deep.

Buy now on Amzon for £399

15. RENPHO Smart Scale

A high-tech scale that measures weight, body fat, and more. Connect the smart scales with the Renpho Health App to track your 13 essential body measurements, including body weight, body fat percentage, BMI, muscle mass, etc. Equipped with automatic calibration and 4 high-precision sensors. Easily switch between 4 units (lb, kg, st, st:lb) via the app to suit your preference. The smart app seamlessly syncs with other leading fitness apps such as Samsung Health, Apple Health, Fitbit and works with Apple Watch (excluding Apple Watch Series 1). This is one of our favorite smart tech gift ideas.

Buy now on Amazon for £24

Smart home smart tech gift ideas

16. Tapo Smart Motion Sensor

Captures motion up to 23 ft.(7m) away and through 120° view. Activate your Tapo devices whenever motion is detected for security or home automation. Easy installation, mount it by attaching 3M adhesive or the build-in magnets. Automatically turn on connected smart devices when you come and go, with 2 years manufacturers warranty. Real-time notifications alert you in Away Mode for anything you want to know (Tapo Hub Required – sold separately). 

Buy now on Amazon for £14.99

17. Onvis Motion Sensor for Apple HomeKit

A motion sensor based on the Thread protocol, with faster, low energy usage connections for reliable device communication. It requires an Apple TV 4K 128GB (Wi-Fi + Ethernet), HomePod Mini or HomePod 2nd gen as your home hub. Also monitors temperature and humidity and can trigger other AppleKit smart home devices to save energy when it gets bright/dark. 100° field of view and up to 7m detection range. Once the motion detector is triggered, it will send real-time alert notifications to your smartphone whether you’re at home or away.

Buy now on Amazon for £32

18. iRobot Roomba j7+

A smart robot vacuum that cleans your home autonomously, saving time and effort. Enjoy an exceptionally seamless home cleaning experience: Roomba j7 Robot Vacuum learns your home and your routines to adapt to your life. It also works with Alexa.

Buy now on Amazon for £319

19. Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni Robot Vacuum

The latest model with advanced cleaning and mopping functions. After mopping, your DEEBOT returns to station and automatically washes the mops, the machine pumps dirty water into the waste tank and dries mops with hot air, keeping the mopping pads clean without unpleasant odour. The Clean Station can clean itself with one tap, pump dirty water into the waste tank, without the need for frequent disassembling and washing. Perhaps not the most romantic of smart tech gift ideas, but it might reduce the arguments about whose turn it is to do the vacuuming!

Buy now on Amazon for £599

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20. Google Nest Hub

A smart display that works as a home assistant, video chat tool, and entertainment hub. Catch up on Netflix shows, watch YouTube videos, listen to music on the enhanced speaker, relive your favourite Google Photos, and more. Keep listening, from room to room. The enhanced speaker delivers 50% more bass than the original Nest Hub. Create groups with other Nest speakers and displays for brilliant sound in every room. You can even use Quick Gestures to control many Nest Hub features. Play or pause a song or video, snooze an alarm, and stop a timer.

Buy now on Amazon for £90

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21. Echo Studio

A smart speaker that delivers premium sound and integrates with Alexa. Echo Studio now features spatial audio processing technology for a wider and more immersive audio experience. For stereo formats, spatial audio processing technology creates a wider and more enveloping sound stage. Its five speakers produce powerful bass with improved clarity, dynamic midrange and crisp highs. Dolby Atmos technology adds space, clarity and depth. Stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer and more. Automatically senses the acoustics of your space, fine-tuning playback for optimal sound. Ask Alexa to control Zigbee-compatible devices or to play music, read the news and answer questions. Use your Alexa devices like an intercom and talk to any room in the house using Drop In and Announcements.

Buy now on Amazon for £249

22. Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance Starter Kit

Add smart lighting to any room with a variety of colours and effects. Everything you need is included in this starter kit. Simply connect your Bridge to your router, screw in your new Philips Hue lights and take advantage of smart home lighting via the ‘Philips Hue’ app.

Buy now on Amazon for £165

23. Wyze Cam v3 Smart Security Camera

A budget-friendly security camera with HD video quality and motion detection. An all-new Starlight Sensor records night time video in full, vivid colour. The Starlight Sensor can see full colour in environments up to 25x darker than traditional video cameras and the new f/1.6 aperture captures 2x more light and has an IP65 rating so you can confidently install it outside in the rain or inside in the kids’ room. Compatibility – Android 5.0+, iOS 9.0+. Wyze Cam records video when motion or sound is detected and sends an alert straight to your phone. 

Buy now on Amazon for £65

24. Tile Pro 2024

A smart tracker to help keep track of keys, bags, and more. Protect lost or stolen stuff and make family life easier. Attach to valuables like car keys, golf bags and camera gear. Discreetly trigger an SOS alert to your loved ones in unsafe situations. Ring your misplaced Tile, or track it down in the free app. This is one of the most practical smart tech gift ideas for people that have a habit of misplacing things!

Buy now on Amazon for £35

Smart tech gift ideas for camping

25. Anker 100w Solar Panel Charger

A portable solar charger for eco-friendly device charging. The solar panel converts up to 23% of sunlight into solar energy and effortlessly charges solar systems even on cloudy days. The lightweight solar panel features a USB-C and a USB-A output to charge 2 devices simultaneously. Simply position the solar panel with the adjustable mount so that it receives just the right amount of sunlight.

Buy now on Amazon for £99

26. Jackery Explorer 1000 Generator

Powers devices using charge from AC power or solar energy, ideal for off-grid enthusiasts. Jackery’s new, upgraded Power Station features 50% increase in power output in comparison to the old E1000 model,. It charges 7.5x faster, with impressive 1 hour fast charging. The LiFePO4 battery has 4x longer lifespan, supporting 4,000 life cycles and retains over 70% capacity. CE certified, combined with full fire and shock resistance – ensuring quality and maximum safety. Boasting mega 1500W AC output and 3000W surge peak, it supports home appliances, from air conditioners to induction cookers. It features 100W PD Fast USB-C charging (input & output) for efficient recharging, with generous 1070Wh capacity, and is small in size – saving space. Equipped with 6 charging ports (2 USB-C, 1 USB-A, 1 DC Car Port and 2 Pure Sine Wave AC Ports), Jackery’s Explorer 1000 V2 powers multiple devices simultaneously. Weighing 23.8 lbs with an ergonomic handle, it’s easy to carry on the go, with built-in LED lights, ideal for camping, hiking, and emergencies.

Buy now on Amazon for £899

27. Goal Zero solar charging kit

A compact solar energy charging unit and battery for small devices. The upgraded Venture 35 Power Bank joins forces with the Nomad 10 Solar Panel to provide an endless supply of rugged, portable power. Perfect for outdoor recreation and emergency use, the 9600 mAh power bank is equipped with a dustproof/waterproof IP67 rating, an 18W USB-C Power Delivery port, and two USB output ports for charging multiple devices at once. Recharge the Venture 35 from the wall or connect to the Nomad 10 to power up from the sun while away from the grid. Can withstand submersion up to 1 meter of water for at least 30 minutes. 

Buy now on Amazon for £160

28. Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 multi functional light & charger

Perfect for camping and outdoor events. Directional and adjustable LED light, up to 600 lumens. Recharge the internal battery from any USB port, from the sun with a Goal Zero solar panel, or use the built-in hand crank to charge up in an emergency. 1 minute of crank can power the light for 10 minutes on a low setting. Internal lithium battery boasts 5200 mAh with a USB output, enough power to charge phones, headlamps, tablets, LED flashlights and all your other camping or survival gear and equipment. Collapsible legs provide a stand for maximum light dispersion . A built-in handle allows for easy carrying and hanging.

Buy now on Amazon for £44

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29. Alpicool 20 Litre Mini Fridge

The Alpicool C20 car refrigerator can be a fridge or freezer and can cool to 0℃(32℉) in 30 minutes. With a temperature memory function and 3 different levels for battery protection to protect your vehicle battery without run down. The refrigerating system will stop operating when it reaches the set temperature and will restart when the temperature in the box rises. Reliable construction, thick and high density foam insulation. Who doesn’t like a cold drink in when you’re camping the summer!? This is one of our coolest smart tech gift ideas.

Buy now on Amazon for £169

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30. Mophie Powerstation 10K Wireless Power Bank

A portable power bank for keeping devices charged on the go. Contains a 10,000 mAh internal battery for up to 2 full phone charges. Charge up to two devices thanks to the USB-C and USB-A ports.

Buy now on Amazon for £17

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Smart tech gift ideas for the garden

31. Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller

Saves water and energy by intelligently adjusting irrigation schedules. Rachio 3 is the top-of-the-line product from the highest-rated WiFi sprinkler controller brand. Download the Rachio app to care for your garden remotely with your smartphone, tablet or laptop, use a connected home system or run zones directly from the controller itself. Set your own schedules or input details like plant type and sun exposure to let Rachio automatically water your garden with exactly what it needs to thrive, and not a drop more. Weather Intelligence automatically adjusts your irrigation schedule based on comprehensive forecasts in your exact location. Using satellite, radar and weather station data from more than a quarter million sources, Rachio makes sure you’re never caught watering in the rain, wind or snow. Reduce your water bill by up to 50% while keeping your garden healthy. Works with top smart-home platforms, including Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant.

Buy now on Amazon for £296 (8 zones)

32. Green Feathers Battery Powered Solar Bird Box Camera

This solar powered camera harnesses energy through its built-in solar panel, which charges its internal battery. For someone who likes watching wildlife this is one of the best smart tech gift ideas. The battery powers the camera and enables it to capture and transmit video footage using low power WI-FI. Simple set up – the app makes it easy to get up and running. Comes with a 4m cable to connect to the Solar Panel to allow for optimal positioning in a location with maximum sunlight. With up to 10m infrared night vision capabilities and the natural colouring of the Camera, you can rest assured you can capture all your feathery friends in high definition any time of the day with no disruption to them or their routine. Receive instant notifications to your smart phone or tablet with the latest in PIR motion detection technology.

Buy now on Amazon for £279

Smart tech gift ideas for entertainment

33. Sony PlayStation VR2

The latest in VR gaming, perfect for PlayStation owners. Enjoy stunningly vibrant 4K HDR visuals, 4 in compatible games, a vast 110º field of view and state-of-the-art graphical rendering, all made possible by the power of PS5.  Experience revolutionary PlayStation VR2 Sense technology with eye tracking, headset feedback and 3D Audio, which combines with the new intuitive controllers to create deeply realistic sensations and emotions in compatible games.

Buy now on Amazon for £496

34. DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone

A compact, high-quality drone for taking stunning aerial photos and videos. Film in 4K HDR Video for crystal clear aerial shots. With Dual Native ISO Fusion, Mini 3 enables the capture of details in highlights and shadows, both day and night. Striking vertical videos are ready to Share – with true vertical shooting, you can easily capture tall landmarks like skyscrapers and waterfalls. And after capturing, it’s in the perfect orientation to post to Instagram or TikTok, making it one of the most fun smart tech gift ideas.

Buy now on Amazon for £459

35. AirPods 4

AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.

Buy now on Amazon for £169

36. Anker Soundcore Liberty 4

Noise-cancelling earbuds for top-tier sound quality and comfort. Liberty 4 NC noise cancelling earbuds have a high sensitivity in-ear sound sensor, an oversized driver, and an innovative noise isolation chamber that cancels up to 98.5% of noise for peaceful travel. Not everyone listens the same, so use HearID 2.0 to find the perfect sound profile for you. If you want to mix it up, the EQ is fully adjustable or choose from 22 presets to match your audio.

Buy now on Amazon for £70

37. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones

Comfortable headphones with excellent sound quality and long battery life. Enjoy premium music quality all-day long thanks to the headphone’s audiophile-inspired 42mm transducer system and aptX Adaptive. Personalised sound via the Sennheiser Smart Control App – Adjust the sound to your individual listening preferences via the integrated equaliser, presets and sound modes for a unique sound experience. The four digital beamforming microphones ensure high-quality voice pick-up and automatically suppress wind noise for optimised calls and easier access to the voice assistant.

Buy now on Amazon for £199

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38. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Premium headphones for immersive sound and noise reduction. 11 levels of active noise cancelling let you enjoy music, podcasts, videos & calls without distractions. Crisp, clear details. Deep, full bass. These wireless headphones produce exciting, lifelike sound that’s full and balanced at every volume level. A revolutionary microphone system adapts to noisy and windy environments so your voice always sounds crystal clear on calls. With easy access to voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant for music, navigation, weather, and more, and intuitive touch control on the earcups — you can stay connected without reaching for your phone.

Buy now on Amazon for £194

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39. Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones

Superior noise cancellation and sound quality for the audiophile in your life. Sony’s flagship wireless headphones with unbeatable noise cancellation, crystal-clear sound quality, industry-leading call quality, luxurious comfort, and more. Now with four mics on each earcup, unwanted sound is eliminated more accurately. Auto NC Optimizer ensures noise cancelling is optimised for your environment. 

Buy now on Amazon for £294

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40. HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Gaming Headset

A top-tier wireless headset for serious gamers. Up to 300 hours battery life. HyperX Dual chamber drivers, PC compatible. Integrated audio control, detachable noise-canceling microphone and LED indicator.

Buy now on Amazon for £150

41. Roku Express 4K

Energy-efficient streaming device compared to traditional cable boxes. The latest and greatest streaming device for movie buffs and TV show lovers. Streams HD, 4K Ultra HD, and HDR with sharp detail and vivid colour optimised for your TV. Dual-band Wi-Fi for a smooth streaming experience with faster wireless performance, even with multiple devices connected to your network. Enjoy live TV, news, sports, movies and TV episodes on thousands of free and paid channels like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney +, ITV Hub, All4, My5, Apple TV+, BT Sport, Prime Video, NOW and many more.

Buy now on Amazon for £30

42. Nanoleaf Lines Smart Light Panels

Customise any space with these smart lighting panels, controlled via an app. Get all the colors you could ever dream of, create all the cool Scenes you could ever think of. Plus, get instant reliable control of your Thread-enabled devices, like Nanoleaf Essentials Bulbs and Lightstrips, with no additional hubs. This is one of our recommended smart tech gift ideas for kids and teenagers.

Buy now on Amazon from £90

43. Anker Nebula Capsule Smart Mini Projector

A compact projector for on-the-go movie nights and presentations. The advanced IntelliBright algorithms deliver a remarkably bright 100 ANSI-lumen image. Recommended for use in dimmer environments. Equipped with a powerful omnidirectional speaker, this mini projector pumps out sound all around. If you, or your loved ones, are into movies this is one of the best smart tech gift ideas.

Buy now on Amazon for £199

44. Oculus Quest 3 VR Headset

The ultimate gift for gamers and tech lovers to dive into virtual reality. The Meta Quest 3 (512GB) is a cutting-edge virtual reality headset designed for immersive gaming and interactive experiences. With a sleek design and advanced features, it offers 512GB of storage, ensuring ample space for apps, games, and media. The Quest 3 boasts improved optics, enhanced processing power, and a comfortable fit, making it an ideal choice for users looking to explore virtual worlds with high-quality visuals and responsive controls. It operates wirelessly, offering seamless VR experiences without the need for a PC or external sensors.

Buy now on Amazon for £615

45. Sonos Roam Smart Speaker

A portable, powerful speaker with voice control and incredible sound quality. Hands-free ease with Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa. The Sonos Roam is a portable smart speaker that delivers rich, room-filling sound in a compact, durable design. Featuring Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, it allows seamless streaming from a variety of sources, including voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. With its lightweight build and water-resistant rating, the Roam is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. It offers up to 10 hours of battery life, making it perfect for on-the-go listening, and can be easily paired with other Sonos devices for a whole-home sound experience. The fact that it works with Alexa and Google Assistant means it can be used as part of a smart home setup, as well as when you’re traveling, making it one of the most versatile smart tech gift ideas.

Buy Now on Amazon for £139

46. Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8 Speaker

A high-quality Bluetooth speaker with stunning design and sound. Because Onyx Studio 8 is designed to pair audio with any Bluetooth device and music is designed to be shared, you can switch your playlists with the speaker by connecting two devices to the speaker at the same time to change your playlists at any point and keep the music going.

Buy now on Amazon for £247

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47. JBL Flip 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Durable, waterproof, and delivering powerful sound for music on the go. Whether you’re hanging out at the park, relaxing on the beach or lounging by the pool, the IP67 waterproof and dust-proof design means you can bring your speaker anywhere.

Buy now on Amazon for £88

48. Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Portable Speaker

A small, portable speaker that doesn’t compromise on sound. Engineered to deliver true 360° sound for consistent, uniform coverage from a bluetooth speaker. SoundLink Revolve-plus II plays louder and deeper with up to 17 hours from a rechargeable lithium-ion batteryl. Charging is easy via the Micro-B USB port.

Buy now on Amazon for £249

49. Bose Smart Soundbar 900

A soundbar that turns any living room into a theater-like experience. Ultra Soundbar with Dolby Atmos and Voice Control is a top-of-the-line wireless speaker, surround sound system for TV and so much more. AI Dialogue Mode balances voice and surround sound for ultra-crisp vocal clarity, so you’ll never miss what your favourite characters are saying again with this surround sound speaker. With six transducers, including two custom-engineered upward firing dipole speakers, it will feel like your space is filled with sound from every direction, even overhead. Control your entertainment, daily tasks and access information using your voice with Amazon Alexa, making this one of the best smart tech gift ideas for people that already use Alexa.

Buy now on Amazon for £899

50. Razer Blade 16 Gaming Laptop

A high-performance laptop for gaming or heavy multitasking. Packed for pure performance with 1.50 gPD (Graphics Power Density), the Razer Blade 16 delivers up to 30 % more graphic power per cubic inch than any other 16” gaming laptop on the market.

Buy now on Amazon for £2699

51. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9

A tablet with high-resolution display, great for work or play. Built to withstand the elements and accompany you on your open-air adventures. The included S Pen is IP68 water and dust-resistant just like the Galaxy Tab S9 series, and has enhanced tip sensitivity for less accidental clicks. Intelligent outdoor algorithm that detects the sun’s glow and shifts to match for clear screen vision in brightly lit areas. Revved-up performance and power savings for champion-level gameplay. The graphics engine powers true-to-life reflections and shadows in 3D gaming environments.

Buy now on Amazon for £799

Smart watches – smart tech gift ideas

52. Fitbit Charge 6

A fitness tracker that monitors heart rate, sleep patterns, and more. Compatible with iOS 15 or higher & Android OS 9.0 or higher. Works with Google Maps, Google Wallet, Youtube Music Controls, Call, Text and Smartphone App Notifications. The vibrant colour touchscreen has customizable clock faces, timer and stopwatch.

Buy now on Amazon for £139

53. Garmin Fenix 7 Pro

A rugged smartwatch with advanced fitness and outdoor tracking features. with unique Power Glass and solar charging lens for extra long battery life. Your LED flashlight will guide you safely to your destination even at night. Waterproof up to 10m. Control this high-quality sports watch as you wish, either with the keys or via the touch display.

Buy now on Amazon for £550

Creative smart tech gift ideas

54. Logitech StreamCam

A high-definition webcam for gamers, streamers, and remote workers. Get superior clarity with full HD 1080p at 60 fps. Logitech StreamCam offers the ultimate streaming experience for both creator and audience with smooth motion and precise video. The webcam uses USB Type-C to ensure efficient video transfer speeds. AI-enabled facial tracking in Logitech Capture delivers accurate focus and exposure. Your content looks professional produced, with crisp, clear results. Shift into portrait mode in Logitech Capture by turning StreamCam 90° – perfect for Instagram and Facebook stories.

Buy now on Amazon for £75

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55. Logitech MX Master 3S Mouse

An ergonomically designed mouse with smart controls for productivity. Use the MX Master 3S wireless computer mouse to work on any surface, even glass. With 8000 DPI sensors and customizable sensitivity the MX Master 3S Bluetooth mouse features quiet clicks, delivering the same satisfying feeling but with 90% less click noise. Remarkable speed, precision and near silence. Program your buttons and optimise your workflow with App-specific profiles in the upgraded version of Logi Options.

Buy now on Amazon for £71

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56. Wacom Intuos Pro Drawing Tablet

A creative tool for artists and designers, perfect for digital drawing. Black, wireless graphics tablet with an active area of 8.7 x 5.8 inch – Perfect digital drawing pad with a variety of possibilities: whether professional graphic design, photo editing, illustrating or remote working. Thanks to battery-free Wacom Pro Pen 2 with 8,192 pressure levels & 60° tilt recognition, your Wacom drawing tablet ensures maximum precision & natural feeling. Compatible with macOS 10.12 & Windows 7 or later versions.

Buy now on Amazon for £315

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57. Nikon Z8 Mirrorless Camera

A professional-grade camera for photography enthusiasts. Packing a host of features into a lightweight body, the all-new Z8 gives hybrid video/stills creators astounding flexibility with which to bring their vision to life. If you’re looking for a professional camera this is one of the best you will find, hence it’s the only one to make it onto our list of smart tech gift ideas.

Buy now on Amazon for £3885

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58. Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera

Capture memories with a retro instant camera that prints photos immediately. Fully loaded with easy-to-use modes and controls, the super playful Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera is bursting with joy, creativity and colour. The mini 12 features automatic exposure and flash control, so you can simply aim and click. No messing around with settings, or remembering to turn the flash on; just joyful one-off snaps every time.

Buy now on Amazon for £114

59. Cricut Maker 3 Smart Cutting Machine

A versatile tool for creative DIY projects. Cuts 100+ materials from cardstock, vinyl and iron-on to glitter paper and bonded fabric. Compatible with smart materials for cuts up to 12 ft (3.6 m) in one go. Upload and cut your own designs or choose from the cricut design space library.

Buy now on Amazon for £228

60. Epson EcoTank ET-2860 Printer

Uses less energy and fewer consumables with high-efficiency ink tanks. Perfect for anyone looking for low-cost-printing, this A4 inkjet printer has refillable ink tanks, with one set of bottles having the equivalent of up to 72 cartridges. Additional benefits include mobile printing, Wi-Fi, copy and scan. Save up to 90% on printing costs with high yield ink bottles, the integrated ink tanks are easy to fill thanks to the specially engineered ink bottles. With no cartridges to replace, and flexible connectivity features, this is the perfect printer for anyone looking for high-quality prints at an incredibly low cost-per-page.

Buy now on Amazon for £169

These smart tech gift ideas include some of the best gifts for people that like smart home tech and energy saving gadgets. Whether you’re looking for smart tech gift ideas for him or her, one of the ideas above is bound to be a hit. If you’re looking for some bargains check out our post on smart home deals and see the full list of smart home offers on Amazon.

If you want more energy saving ideas check out our comparisons of the best smart plugs and the best smart radiator valves, or pick something from our list of top 10 energy saving ideas.

The post The Top 60 Smart Tech Gift Ideas appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

The smart meter rollout began in 2011, so the first generation of smart meters were installed a long time ago and many in home displays have now been lost or broken and are out of warranty.

If you want to understand more about the details of smart meters and the UK rollout, see our blog on smart meters explained. Recently we have heard from several readers asking “can I get a new smart meter monitor?” and “can I buy a smart meter in-home display?”.

What’s the difference between a Smart Meter and an IHD?

To be clear on the terms here: A smart meter is the device which records the amount of energy consumed in the home and sends data to ‘the cloud’ and your energy provider. An In Home Display (IHD) is the remote monitor which displays the data on a small screen so you can see how much energy you are consuming. Smart meters come with a free in home display when they are installed but if you need a new one you can get a smart meter in home display replacement.

Can I buy a replacement Smart Meter In Home Display?

The good news is: Yes, it is easy to get a new or replacement In Home Display for your smart meter. You will need to know what type of smart meter you have to ensure the replacement in home display you buy is compatible, if you’re unsure see our blog on smart meters explained.

How do I get a replacement Smart Meter In Home Display?

The simplest way to replace your smart meter display is to buy an ivie Bud.

Whether you have a broken or missing in home display, or simply want to upgrade your old one, ivie Bud makes it easy to track, compare and adjust how you use energy, so you can cut your energy costs. 

The ivie Bud works with any energy supplier but not all smart meters so, use the handy compatibility checking tool before you order, it only takes a moment. 

Buy now for £49.99 + delivery

Use code BUDBDAY3 to save 33% on the ivie Bud in-home display + FREE delivery until 25 March 2025.

Free energy saving app with your smart meter display

The best bit about buying an ivie Bud as a smart meter in home display replacement is that it comes with a free energy saving app. The ivie app uses your smart meter energy data to give you personalised energy savings tips, reports and challenges – and you can even earn rewards.

The ivie app breaks down your energy usage by activity and works out easy ways where you can cut down and save. On average, ivie app users reduce their monthly electricity use by 18% and their gas use by 24%. Plus, when you have less energy than expected on a given day or complete challenges, you’ll earn ivie points which you can use to enter weekly competitions to win things like a £25 Amazon voucher!

Find out more about the ivie app (available via the App Store and Google Play)

Earn £200 for sharing your feedback!

As part of their Energy Sure project ivie are looking for households interested in trialing the next generation of energy tariffs. If you have a heat pump, an EV charger, or both, you could enjoy significant savings compared to the energy price cap and receive up to £200 in cash incentives for giving them your feedback.

By participating in the Energy Sure project you will get exclusive access to the latest features in the smart ivie app and the ability to manage your whole home energy in one simple app.

• Get personalised energy saving insights
• See and control your energy usage in real time
• Manage your home EV charging
• Make the most of your heat pump
• See and control your solar and storage system

Check out the Energy Sure project.

You might also be interested in our reviews of energy monitors, the best smart radiator valves and how the best smart plugs can help you monitor and reduce energy.

See also our list of smart tech gift ideas.

The post Smart meter In Home Display replacement appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

The best plugs also help you monitor energy usage, improve energy saving, and can be used as timers to turn appliance on and off at set times of the day plus, some can be controlled when you’re away from home. 

The main restriction with smart plugs is that they only work for devices that can be left in the ‘on’ position, then switched on and off by controlling the power from the socket. Anything that needs to be turned on at the device won’t come on just because you turn on the socket, so a smart plug won’t be much use with these types of devices.

Monitoring energy use with a smart plug

The best plugs also offer energy use and cost monitoring. Devices left on standby when not in use can account for up to 16 percent of your electricity bill so, by turning off devices at the socket, a smart plug cut down on wasted electricity and save you money. 

How to choose the best smart plug

There are hundreds of options available so choosing the best smart plug for your smart home depends on a range of factors. The most important aspect is how you can control the plug, because you probably want it to work with your existing smart home appliance and to control it through the same app that you use for other devices. If you’re already an Apple user you want one that is compatible with HomeKit, Google users will want one which is compatible with Google Assistant, and Amazon users will want one which is compatible with Alexa.

Other factors to consider are energy monitoring and of course, price.

Our recommended smart plugs are as follows:

• Best budget smart plug – Tapo P100 Mini – £8.79 – Buy now on Amazon
• Best budget smart plug with energy monitoring – Yuin – £13.00 – Buy now on Amazon
• Best smart plug with energy monitoring – Eve Energy – £39.99 – Buy now on Amazon
• Best smart plug for HomeKit – Eve Energy – £39.99 – Buy now on Amazon
• Best smart plug for Alexa – Amazon smart plug – £24.99 – Buy now on Amazon
• Best smart plug for Google Assistant – Yuin – £13.00 – Buy now on Amazon
• Best smart plug for Hue users – Philips Hue – £26.99 – Buy now on Amazon
• Best smart plug for Hive ecosystem – Hive Active – £35.29 – Buy now on Amazon

Eve Energy

The best smart plug for HomeKit and energy monitoring

The Eve Energy smart plug is one of the best you can buy – although it won’t work with Alexa or Google Assistant. It’s very simple to use, monitors the energy consumption of the devices plugged into it – and if you provide price details from your energy provider – the total cost of energy used too. 

The Eve Energy connects over Bluetooth, or Thread smart home technology  – if you have a HomePod Mini or an Apple TV – so you’ll be able to control it even when you’re not at home. Thread is more stable than Wi-Fi and puts an end to smart home devices failing to respond. Compared to the rest of the market it seems like an expensive option but it’s a high quality device, has excellent energy monitoring, and the ability to create schedules too.

Belkin WeMo WiFi

The best smart plug for HomeKit, if energy monitoring is not required

If you’re using HomeKit, but aren’t worried about energy monitoring, the WeMo WiFi is ideal. But, due to some odd regional specification, in the UK it wont works with Alexa or Google. 

The Belkin Wemo is a compact plug, it’s simple to use and includes the ability to set schedules so it turns on or off automatically, and also features ‘Away mode’ – which randomises the times the plug switches on and off – to simulate occupancy. It has a manual power buttons, and LED that illuminates when the plug is switched on. Its main drawback is the lack of energy monitoring.

Amazon smart plug

The best smart plug for Alexa

If you’re already an Alexa user, then the Amazon smart plug makes good sense. It is not the cheapest on the market, but it integrates well with Alexa routines – so setting up automations for your smart home is as simple as other Alexa tasks. 

The Amazon smart plug is quite large compared to other plugs which could be a drawback if space is limited around your sockets. It connects to the internet over Wi-Fi, so it can still be controlled even when you’re not at home and is simple to set-up.

It doesn’t provided energy monitoring, neither is there an ‘Away mode’, and it doesn’t work with Google Assistant or HomeKit.

Philips Hue smart plug

The best smart plug for Philips Hue users

If you are after a plug to control lamps and other lights the Philips Hue plug is a great choice. It integrates with any Hue smart lighting you already have in your home, and can be controlled through the Hue app, Alexa, Google Assistant or HomeKit.  

It’s one of the more expensive models of smart plug, considering it doesn’t offer energy monitoring. But, if you already have a Hue bridge, it makes a lot of sense and can be controlled when you’re away from home.

Hive Active Plug

Specifications

The best plug for Hive ecosystem

Hive is one of the most affordable ecosystems to get into – cheaper than Philips Hue, if you’re interested in building up a smart home which isn’t reliant on Google, Apple or Amazon.

The Hive Active plug requires either a Hive Active Heating thermostat or Hive Hub, but if you own either of those, it’s simple to set up and use. You can create complex schedules too, with up to six time slots per day, control the plug using the Hive app on your phone, or link it to a Hive switch or sensor. It also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit.

The Hive Active Plug is quite bulky and can have some issues during set up, so you may need patience!

IKEA TRÅDFRI Wireless Control Outlet

The IKEA TRÅDFRI is not a pretty plug, but it’s reliable and a reasonable price. It’s controlled via the IKEA Home Smart app. Once it’s set up, it can be controlled via Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri but, unlike most smart plugs, which connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network, it requires the Tradfri gateway and a Tradfri ‘steering device’, which makes it a less attractive choice. It also lacks features such as ‘Away mode’ and energy monitoring.

Meross Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini

The Meross Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini is the company’s latest smart home device which can be controlled using Meross’s own app, HomeKit, Google Assistant or IFTTT. It’s a super-compact design and connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network to let you set schedules and timers for the plug to switch on and off, or use sunrise and sunset times to activate schedules, which is a nice feature. But it doesn’t have any energy monitoring features.

Hey Smart Plug

Hey! is a new UK smart home brand which stands out mainly for its stylish packaging – although that’s not really a reason to buy their products – the main reason is a the great prices. If you’re just after the basics this is a worthwhile option at just £15. It’s a nice, compact design that won’t obstruct the plug socket next to it and can fit in places some larger plugs can’t. It connects straight to your wifi without the need for a hub and can be controlled via the Hey app, Alexa or Google Assistant.

Humax Wi-Fi

Best budget smart plug with energy monitoring

Yuni’s smart plug is beautifully compact, and won’t obscure adjacent sockets. It has a button on the left-hand side to manually turn on and off the connected device, which is useful if you have it on a strip.

Set up via the Smart Life app is simple: press the button on the plug for five seconds, tell the app the blue light is flashing and it pairs over Bluetooth, then asks for your Wi-Fi password and you’re done. Plus, it works with Alexa and Google Assistant too, as well as IFTTT. The Smart Life app also tells you how much power is being consumed in real time, and the total amount of energy used ‘today’ and overall, a nice set of energy monitoring features. It also features schedules for turning power on and off, countdown timers and – most usefully for lights – schedules based on sunset and sunrise.

Tapo P100 Mini

Best budget smart plug

Tapo is a sub-brand of TP-Link and the P100 Mini is one of the most affordable smart plugs on the market. It has a simple design, which is reasonably compact, although it’s still a bit more bulky than some of the more expensive options. It features schedules and timers and there’s even an ‘Away mode’ which turns devices on and off randomly, to make it look like you’re at home. There’s also a button on the plug if you want to switch it manually.

It works with Google Assistant and Alexa, but not with HomeKit or the Kasa app, so it isn’t ideal if you already have TP-Link smart plugs or other smart devices. Overall, unless you’re already locked into a different ecosystem, this is definitely one to consider.

Check out the best smart radiator valves for your home, see how much you could save on energy and also check if you can save on broadband.

Some newer smart plugs feature in our list of smart tech gift ideas.

The post Best smart plug appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

Pros

• Monitors energy consumption on a per-circuit basis and solar PV generation
• Costs of power can be based on your specific tariff rates
• Works with Emporia’s smart plugs
• No subscription fees

Cons

• Energy usage reports are calendar based, so won’t necessarily match your billing period
• No in app consumption comparisons, so you need to download the data to compare one time period with another
• Circuit level monitoring does not provide device level consumption data

Buy now on Amazon – £270 with 8 sensors

Quick review

The Emporia smart home energy monitor is one of the best energy monitors for homes with solar panels. It’s simple to install and provides detailed data for up to 16 separate circuits helping you to identify where and when you consume and generate the most power. 

Emporia smart home energy monitor features

• Works with most 2 or 3-phase 4-wire electrical systems (up to 240v and less than 600A). Does not work with 3-phase/3-wire systems (delta systems with no neutral)
• Each circuit you want to monitor needs a clamp meter to be installed. The basic system comes with 8 x 50A sensors, and you can add 8 more sensors to monitor up to 16 circuits in total
• Provides 24/7 real-time energy monitoring via phone based (Android or Apple) app. Real time monitoring requires a 2.4GHz wifi internet connection
• Can also monitor solar PV to provide net metering
• Vue sensors provide 1-second data and are accurate to ±2%
• 1 second data is retained 3 hours, 1 minute data is retained 7 days, 1 hour data is retained indefinitely
• Export data at any time via the app
• Includes DIY instructions, but a professional electrician is recommended

Detailed review

The Emporia Vue has recently been updated and the current model is the Gen 2. As with the original, this smart home monitor provides energy tracking in both directions. It can monitor electricity consumption on up to 16 different circuits in your home, showing you exactly where you’re using the most energy and if you have, or are planning to get, solar panels it will measure how much energy you generate as well.

There aren’t many products on the market which offer the ability to monitor up to 16 different electrical circuits in your home. The Emporia smart home energy monitor provides much more detail than a standard smart meter in home display and can even show your consumption and production in real-time.

Buy now on Amazon – £270 with 8 sensors

Emporia smart energy monitor UK installation

Installing the Emporia smart energy monitor system is fairly straightforward. The Emporia Installation Guides are built into the Emporia App, but you can also download them below. 

The main installation challenge is often getting power to the Vue itself. To do this you will need to shut off your mains supply and connect the wires to an unused spur on your fuse board. If you don’t have an unused spur, a wire-tap pigtail is included in the box that lets you borrow power from a different spur or breaker. But don’t be perturbed, Emporia’s instructions are easy to follow.

The only other issue can sometimes involve the antenna for the Vue’s Wi-Fi connection. The antenna needs a good signal in order to work well, but as long as your fuse board is not too far away from your router, or encased in metal or concrete you should be ok.

The final point to note is that, if you’re adding sensors on every circuit space for the sensors can sometimes be a challenge.

The final step is to tap the button in the app to indicate that you’ve installed your Emporia Vue, heard its power up tone, and you’re ready to proceed. Your phone will connect via Bluetooth to the system and then you’ll connect to a nearby Wi-Fi router. Make sure you have your Wi-Fi name and password to hand.

Emporia smart home energy monitor manuals

The Emporia Installation Guides are built into the Emporia App, but you can also download them here:

• Emporia VUE Smart Home Energy Monitor installation guide (PDF 1.8MB)
• Emporia VUE Smart Home Energy Monitor single-phase wiring supplement (PDF 227KB)
• Emporia VUE Smart Home Energy Monitor solar supplement (PDF 162KB)

Emporia smart home energy monitor app

The Emporia app is available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play and provides clear energy use analysis and recommendations to help you save money and reduce carbon.

The app does have some scope for improvements. While the instant view per second renders a nice graph, it becomes slightly cumbersome when you switch view to minutes and hours. It would be nice if you could change the graph style and tap on a graph bar to dig deeper for more details.

It’s also not easy to go back several months to find power spikes but this is easily done by exporting the data to csv and analysing it on our computer. 

The Vue doesn’t connect to other smart home systems or IFTTT, which could be useful if you want to set up alerts if power consumption climbs higher than expected or spikes at odd times. But, with enough feedback these are things which Vue may add in future versions of the app.

Manage solar generation via the Emporia smart home app

You can also manage what your solar energy is used for via the Emporia smart home app. By setting your connected devices to automatically turn on (via Emporia smart plugs – £38 for 4 on Amazon, work with Alexa and Google) when excess solar energy is being generated you can maximise your use of solar energy. Devices, such as a solar power diverter can be turned on in priority order until the generation is optimally consumed in the home. Plus you can use the app to limit the energy consumption of connected devices during peak hours, helping you to cut down your bills.

Connect the Emporia smart home energy monitor to Home Assistant

Home Assistant is an open source home automation tool created by a worldwide community of DIY enthusiasts. You can connect your Emporia smart home energy monitor to Home Assistant by following these instructions. 

Conclusion

For the price, this is a great energy monitor for solar PV owners, which really lets you get to grips with both your energy production and consumption on a circuit by circuit basis. It’s simple to install and provides detailed data for up to 16 separate circuits helping you to identify where and when you consume and generate the most power. 

Buy now on Amazon – £270 with 8 sensors

See our reviews of other smart home energy monitors and smart plugs.

The post Emporia smart home energy monitor review appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

What is a Smart Meter and how do they work?

A smart meter is a new power meter that measures and records the amount of electricity, and gas if you use gas, that is used in a home and sends the data back to the energy provider in real-time. This information is used by the energy provider to bill their customers accurately. The meters provide both the customer and the energy provider with detailed information about their energy use, helping you to become more energy efficient.

Smart meters are installed by the energy provider and the installation typically takes around two hours. They come with a digital display that shows you how much energy you’re using in real-time and at different times of day, so you can adjust your energy usage accordingly.

Smart meters also allow for the remote monitoring of energy use. This means that the energy provider can monitor your energy use remotely, without having to send a meter reader to your home. This helps to reduce costs and improve customer service.

Benefits of a Smart Meter

Smart meters have a range of benefits for both energy providers and consumers. For energy providers, they allow for more accurate billing, as well as improved customer service. They also allow for remote monitoring of energy use, which can help to reduce costs.

For consumers, they allow for greater insight into their energy use via an in home display, so they can make more informed decisions about how to save energy. In home displays provide detailed information about how much energy is being used during different times of day, so you can adjust your energy usage accordingly. Plus, they allow for more accurate billing, as the energy provider can read your meter remotely, without having to send a meter reader to your home.

UK Smart Meter Rollout Target

The UK government set a target to install 53 million smart meters in homes across the country by the end of 2020.

The national roll-out began in 2016, and was meant to finish in 2020. However, installations were paused at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and suppliers have been given additional time. They now have until the end of 2025 to install them in all remaining homes and businesses with annual installation targets.

The two different models of smart meters: SMETS 1 vs SMETS 2

There are two different models of smart meters: SMETS 1 and SMETS 2.

SMETS 1 meters are the earlier model and are being phased out by energy providers. They are not compatible with all energy providers, so can’t be used if you switch energy providers.

SMETS 2 meters are the latest model of smart meter and are compatible with all energy providers, so can be used if you switch energy providers.

Until 2019, the majority of the meters installed were first-generation SMETS1 meters. These had a series of technical problems – not least of which was that they lost their smart capabilities if you switched energy provider!

Energy companies were encouraged to stop installing these by March 2019 and install second-generation smart meters (SMETS2) instead. So far, more than 11 million second-generation meters have been fitted. 

Are Smart Meters Still Free in the UK?

Yes, smart meters are still free in the UK. The UK government has set up a scheme to help people get smart meters installed for free. This scheme applies to all households in the UK, regardless of whether they are on a prepayment meter, have dual fuel tariffs or are on an Economy 7 tariff. Smart Energy GB run the consumer engagement campaign for the smart meter rollout in the UK and their website answers a lot of FAQs about smart meters.

Am I eligible for a smart meter?

Most homes and businesses are eligible for a free smart meter, but the various energy companies are rolling them out in different regions at different times. Check this website to see if and when you can get one for your home or business.

How do I get a smart meter?

If you’re eligible for a smart meter, you’ll need to contact your energy supplier to arrange for one to be installed. They’ll be able to tell you what type of meter you’re eligible for and arrange for an engineer to come and install it. Check this website to determine availability in your area.

Do Smart Meters use a lot of electricity?

No, smart meters use very little electricity. The amount of electricity they use is comparable to that of a digital watch. So, if you’re worried about your energy bills increasing as a result of having a smart meter installed, there’s no need to worry.

What’s the difference between a Smart Meter and an In Home Display (IHD)?

A smart meter is the device which records the amount of energy consumed in the home and sends data to ‘the cloud’ and your energy provider. An in home display is the remote monitor which displays the data on a small screen so you can see how much energy you are consuming. Smart meters come with a free in home display when they are installed but if you need a new one you can get a smart meter in home display replacement. You can also connect a number of different apps to your smart meter so that you can monitor and analyse your consumption remotely on your phone or tablet.

What are the downsides of a Smart Meter?

The main downside of smart meters have been removed by the new SMETS2 versions, which are compatible with all energy providers. So, if you switch energy providers they will still work. Other concerns involve evidence that smart meters can be hacked, but there is very little evidence that proves this is possible with the newer SMETS2 smart meters.

Conclusion

Smart meters are a great way to gain insight into your energy use, as well as helping to reduce your energy bills. They’re free in the UK and use very little electricity.

If you’re looking to gain more insight into your energy use and save money on your energy bills and thinking of buying a home energy monitor, a smart meter could be a good, free alternative. Or you could consider getting a smart plug with energy monitoring, which will allow you to compare the energy consumption of different devices in your home.

The post Smart Meters Explained appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

What is a home energy monitor?

A home energy monitor is a device that helps track electricity usage in the home. They can monitor the amount of electricity used by each appliance and the overall energy consumption in the house. Some monitors can even be connected to the internet allowing you to monitor electricity usage remotely.

The main purpose of a home energy monitor is to help homeowners save money, and cut carbon, by informing you about your energy usage. Home energy monitors can be used to identify appliances that are using too much electricity and to set limits on how much electricity can be used at certain times of day.

Benefits of a home energy monitor

There are a number of benefits to installing a home energy monitor, from saving money on your electricity bills to reducing your environmental impact. By tracking your energy usage you can identify areas where energy can be saved and reduce your energy consumption.

In addition to saving money on electricity bills, a home energy monitor can also help reduce a household’s environmental impact. By monitoring electricity usage and adjusting it accordingly, homeowners can reduce their carbon footprint and help protect the environment.

Home energy monitors can also help homeowners identify potential problems with their appliances or wiring. If an appliance is using more electricity than it should, some monitors can alert the homeowner so they can take action to fix the problem.

Saving electricity

Home energy monitors wont reduce your electricity bills on their own. But by tracking electricity usage, often down to the level of each individual appliance, homeowners can identify areas where energy can be saved and adjust their usage.

Homeowners can also take advantage of cost saving programs offered by their utility companies. Many energy companies offer time-of-use rates, which charge different amounts for electricity depending on the time of day. By monitoring their electricity usage with a home energy monitor, homeowners can take advantage of these lower rates and save money. See our post on smart electricity tariffs for more details.

Home energy monitors vs Smart meters

Many people are confused about the difference between home energy monitors and smart meters. A home energy monitor is a device that measures electricity usage in the home, while a smart meter is a device installed by your energy supplier that measures electricity and gas usage in the home and sends the data to the energy supplier to help them provide accurate bills. Smart meters also come with In Home Displays – see our post, smart meters explained.

Home energy monitors are typically installed by the homeowner and can measure overall electricity usage or the usage of specific appliances. Smart meters, on the other hand, are installed by your energy supplier and measure overall electricity usage in the home.

Either type of device can help you reduce energy usage by becoming more aware of your energy consumption. The main difference between home energy monitors and smart meters is that home energy monitors enable you to track electricity usage, while smart meters enable your energy supplier to track your energy usage too. If you have a smart meter but don’t have an In Home Display you can order a smart meter In Home Display replacement.

How to choose a the right device

When it comes to choosing the best home energy monitor, there are a few factors to consider.

First off – do you need one!? If you have smart meter a basic energy monitor will not give you much more information – and if you don’t have a smart meter you may want to consider getting one instead of an energy monitor since smart meters are free in the UK and provide very similar data. See the first of our top 10 energy saving tips for how to get a free smart meter and In Home Display.

Secondly, consider what you want to monitor and the the type of data the monitor provides. Some monitors provide detailed data about electricity usage for each electrical circuit in your house and can also monitor solar energy production, while others provide more basic information. If you’re only interested in a few devices and would also like to benefit from remote switching (turning appliances on and off via your phone) you may want to consider a smart plug with energy monitoring instead – which you could also use for monitoring multiple devices by plugging in a power bar with multiple sockets.

Finally, look out for recurring fees. Most energy monitors are sold for a one-off fee but others which provide more detailed data stored in the cloud can have a subscription fee.

Best home energy monitors

Our recommended energy monitors include:

Best plug in energy monitors for a single device:

• Mecheer Electricity Usage Monitor – £12 – Buy now on Amazon
• MFLABEL Power Meter Plug Energy Monitor – £12 – Buy now on Amazon

Best smart plugs with energy monitoring:

• Meross Matter Smart Plug Mini with Energy Monitoring. Works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, WiFi Plug with Voice Remote Control – £16 – Buy now on Amazon
• Eve Energy UK Smart Plug & Power Meter. Works with Apple HomeKit, Bluetooth & Thread – £40 – Buy now on Amazon
  

Best full home energy monitor:

• Aeotec Home Energy Meter – £110 – Buy now on Amazon
• Voltaware Smart Home Energy Monitor, AI-Powered Appliance Recognition, Real-Time Insights, Easy 5-Minute Installation, Compatible with All Standard UK Homes – £149 – Buy now on Amazon

Best energy monitors with solar / net metering:

• Emporia Smart Home Energy Monitor – £199 – Buy now on Amazon

See our detailed review of the Emporia Smart Home Energy Monitor.

Installation

Installing a home energy monitor is a relatively simple process. Most monitors are plug-and-play devices that don’t require any wiring. All you normally need to do is to install a clamp meter around the cable which runs into your fuse board or electricity meter, which feeds usage data to the energy monitor.

Tips for using a home energy monitor

Once a home energy monitor is installed, there are a few tips homeowners can follow to get the most out of the device.

First, check the data regularly. By monitoring your power usage regularly, you will identify appliances and times of day when you are using the most energy and where energy can be saved by adjusting your usage accordingly.

Find out how your energy company bills you at different times of day and try to avoid energy usage during peak hours. Many energy companies charge higher rates for electricity used during peak hours, so it’s important to monitor usage during these times and adjust accordingly.

Smart energy monitors in the UK

Home energy monitors are a great way to save money on electricity bills and reduce your environmental impact. By monitoring your electricity usage and adjusting it accordingly, you can save money on your electricity bills and help protect the environment. Once you’ve chosen a home energy monitor, make sure to follow the tips for using it to get the most out of the device.

Read more about how the best smart plugs can help you monitor and reduce your energy consumption and our review of the best smart radiator valves.

The post Home Energy Monitors: A Guide to Saving Money and Energy appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

The BBC published a list of top 5 tips to save energy at home and help the planet, but the advice includes big ticket items like replacing your boiler and installing heat pumps, which are too costly for some people and not an option for people in rented accommodation. So our list of energy saving tips focuses on the easy wins, which anyone can follow to save energy at home this winter.

Britain’s buildings create a fifth of the country’s carbon emissions, so we urgently need to reduce our energy consumption to help us all save money and to meet the 2050 net zero emissions target.

Top 10 energy saving tips to save money

(Estimated savings are based on an average English 3 bed home with a gas heating and a gas price of 10.3p/kWh and electricity at 34p/kWh, as per the Oct 2022 price guarantee)

1. Get a smart meter or energy monitor – estimated saving: £180/year
2. Draught-proof your entire home – estimated saving: £125/year
3. Tweak your boiler settings – estimated saving: £120/year
4. Turn the thermostat down – estimated saving: £100/year
5. Install radiator thermostats – estimated saving: £90/year
6. Swap baths for shorter showers – estimated saving: £95/year
7. Ditch the tumble dryer – estimated saving: £70/year
8. Wave bye-bye to standby – estimated saving: £65/year
9. Cut down on kitchen costs – estimated saving: £50/year
10. Turn off lights you don’t need – estimated saving: £25/year

1. Get a smart meter or energy monitor – estimated energy saving: £180/year

As the saying goes “You can’t improve what you don’t measure” so, if you want to reduce your energy consumption the first thing you need to do is measure how much energy you’re consuming. The cheapest way to get an energy monitor is to register for a smart meter, which will provide you with many benefits including no more estimated bills, and an energy monitor for free. Apply for a smart meter.

If you have a smart meter but don’t have an In Home Display you can order a smart meter in home display replacement.

If you can’t get, or don’t want a smart meter, buy a home energy monitor like the OWL+ energy monitor and start tracking what you use and what you spend so you’re more informed and can start to determine which activities are costing you the most. The Energy Saving Trust report that energy use drops by between 5 and 15% in the first year of using an energy monitor, which makes this the most cost effective action you can take to save energy.

2. Draught-proof your entire home – estimated energy saving: £125/year

Heating your home but letting the warm escape makes no sense whatsoever, so one of most obvious way of saving energy is to draught-proof all doors and windows – and anywhere else where heat might be escaping.

Hold a lit candle or a lighter up close to the edges of your doors and windows to test for leaks, being careful not to burn anything. If the flame gets blown about you know there’s a leak. Anywhere you can see daylight getting in means that precious warm air is escaping. Work your way around every edge of every external door and all your windows checking for leaks and make a note of the lengths of the gaps you need to seal.

Buy foam draft proofing tape for windows and the edges of doors. The thick squashy version is by far the best as it expands after it has been squashed (like a memory foam mattress) so will block gaps of varying widths. Expanding foam draft proofing tape like this is essential for older windows where the gaps are uneven.

If you have an open fireplace with a chimney, find a way to block the chimney when it is not in use.

Use brush strips or wiper strips for the bottoms of doors. If you have windows which don’t open but are letting air escape, fill the gaps with sealant. When you’ve completely sealed all your doors and windows work you way around each room looking for other places heat might be escaping: gaps between floorboards, around skirting boards, loft hatches, where pipework enters the ceiling or floor are all likely to cause leaks. Fit a brush or flap to the inside of your letter box and install a key hole cover. Visit the Energy Saving Trust’s page on draught proofing for more ideas and instructions.

3. Tweak your boiler settings – estimated energy saving: £120/year

There are several cost-free easy wins to make your boiler more efficient:

• Bleed you radiators, so that the boiler can do its job more efficiently – here’s how to bleed radiators.
• Turn down the hot water temperature. Octopus Energy says a temperature of about 55 degrees should be enough. There should be a dial on the front of your boiler – usually indicated by a little tap icon.
• Reduce the flow temperature – this is the temperature of the water that circulates through your radiators. There should be a separate dial for this on the front of your boiler – usually indicated by a radiator symbol.
• Check your boiler pressure – If it’s too slow, your boiler will not be operating at its most efficient. Generally, a pressure between 1.0 and 2.0 bar is ideal. Newer boilers will have a pressure gauge on the front and usually have instructions to increase the pressure on the back of the boiler cover. On older boilers, it may be harder to find. Check your boiler manual if you can’t find it. See how to increase your boiler pressure.

4. Turn the thermostat down – estimated energy saving: £100/year

For each degree you turn your thermostat down you can expect to save about £100 /year in a typical 3 bed home. The Affordable Warmth standards recommended that living room temperatures should not fall below 21°C (70°F) and other occupied rooms should be heated to 18°C (65°F) but a lot of UK homes have the thermostat set above 18°C.

Your home’s temperature can be a contentious issue but if your home is at 18°C or above you’re certainly not going to be cold, especially with a jumper on. People also argue that it might be better to leave the heating on low all day, rather than just turning it on when you need it, but The Energy Saving Trust is adamant you should only have your heating on when required. We reviewed some of the best smart thermostats, but you don’t need one to save money by turning your thermostat down.

5. Install radiator thermostats – estimated energy saving: £90/year

Now we’re working at home more we don’t always need to heat the whole house but can concentrate heating on one or two rooms, which is much more efficient. Thermostatic radiator valves are an extra control which you can use to set the temperature of each individual room. When the temperature in a room rises above the setting on the radiator valve, it will stop water flowing through the radiator so your boiler does not need to work so hard. This does require a bit of investment, but even if you’re in rented accommodation you could take the radiator valves with you when you leave! Radiator thermostats come in at several different price points but even the simplest Drayton valves at just £25 will save you more than they cost sin a year. At the other end of the price range the tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat works superbly.

6. Swap baths for shorter showers – estimated energy saving: £95/year

This one is pretty obvious, because heating water is an expensive business. Swapping just one bath a week with a 4-minute shower could save you £20 a year. If you already take showers instead of baths then keeping your shower time to just 4 minutes could save a typical 3-bed household £95 a year. Consider getting a shower timer to keep track of how long the water has been running.

7. Ditch the tumble dryer – estimated energy saving: £70/year

Tumble dryers burn huge amounts of energy for what is essentially a completely avoidable activity. With a little planning you should be able to avoid using a tumble dryer completely by washing clothes in advance of when they’re needed and drying things outside to dry or on racks inside if outside is not an option. Hanging wet clothes on radiators is not a good plan as it causes you boiler to work harder, which means it will consume more fuel. Position your clothes racks near the radiator instead, or use a radiator mounted drying rack.

8. Wave bye-bye to standby – estimated saving: £65/year

We’ve written about switching off standby to save money before, and the dubious claims this could save you £147/year. But with energy bills going up the amount you can save from turning appliances off at the socket is increasing. We estimate an average 3 bed house with a usual amount of appliances could save about £65/year by avoiding standby mode on all appliances. Almost every gadget can be turned off at the plug without upsetting their programming, although some TV recorders may need to be left plugged in to keep track of programs you want to record.

The best way to wave bye-bye to standby is using smart plugs which allows you to turn off multiple appliances at the same time. If you use a smart phone or smart speaker you can easily set up ‘scenes’ so that whenever you leave the house, or go to bed you can say “goodbye” and “good night” to turn off all the devices in your home with your voice. Check out our guide to the best smart plugs.

9. Cut down on kitchen costs – estimated saving: £50/year

Kitchen appliances use a lot of energy, especially the power hungry devices such as the oven and kettle. Boiling only as much water as you need instead of a full kettle can save around £15/year. if your kettle needs replacing consider one which only heats one mug of water, such as the Breville HotCup.

Electric ovens consume 1,000-3,000 Watts but a slow cooker, such as the Morphy Richards Easy Time, only uses 165W. So even if it needs to stay on for six or seven hours to cook a stew, it will use much less energy than keeping the oven on for a few hours.

Microwave ovens are even more cost-efficient. Five minutes cooking in an 800W microwave oven costs just 3.17p, based on the October price cap compared to 23.8p for half an hour in a 1,000W oven.

Other obvious changes can also add up to big savings over the course of the year, like running the dishwasher less, opening the freezer and oven door less and for shorter periods and even defrosting your freezer can save you money because it will not need to work so hard.

10. Turn off lights you don’t need – estimated saving: £25/year

This is the old classic – and every energy savers’ easy win. Even kids can develop the habit of turning off unused lights. If you’re able to invest a little LED lights uses about half the energy of traditional energy-saving bulbs so you will recoup your investment pretty quickly and definitely see money in the long run.

Lepro LED bayonet bulbs are one of the best choices to replace standard 60W bayonet style bulbs, or choose EDISHINE dimmable bayonet bulbs if you want to be able to dim the lights. Philips LED CLA 50W GU10 LED bulbs are some of the best bulbs to replace old recessed halogen bulbs.

We hope these energy saving tips help you reduce your energy consumption. If you have other tips about how to save energy at home please add them below and will update the guide accordingly.

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These ‘vampire’ devices are typically those such as televisions, games consoles or microwaves that passively use electricity even when not in active use.

In its research, British Gas claims that televisions are the most expensive item to leave on standby, costing around £24.61 annually, followed by set top boxes (£23.10 annually) and internet routers (£18.89 annually).

Other devices such as washing machines, printers or mobile chargers were found to cost less than £5 on a yearly basis when left on standby.

However, Twitter users have questioned some of British Gas’ calculations, especially following a 2013 ruling from the EU mandating that devices including TVs and microwaves use no more than 0.5 Watts or less per hour while in standby mode.

I looked into these claims when they were made last year.

It is mostly nonsense.

Here's what I found https://t.co/caGhqehX40

Sadly, the BBC don't link to the original British Gas research.
Pushing responsibility onto the consumer is, ironically, gaslighting. https://t.co/rOxlyAposL

— Terence Eden (@edent) April 27, 2022

One analysis suggested that the measures taken to reduce energy drain from standby devices would not even save £30 for most users.

Absolute Radio presenter Ross Buchanan added: “Shifting the responsibility of rising bills onto the consumer rather than the government or the energy companies is pretty tasteless regardless of whether your ‘research’ is accurate (it’s not).”

As part of its findings, British Gas conducted a survey which found that almost one in three respondents (28 per cent) are already stressed about paying their energy bills this year, with half (50 per cent) saying they are already seeing an increase in their energy bills.

Furthermore, three in four (75 per cent) of people aged 55-64 said they would switch off appliances to save money on bills, compared to just over one-third (35 per cent) of 18 to 24-year olds who found the idea less appealing.

Marc Robson, an energy expert at British Gas, said: “With household costs on the rise, there are some actions we can take to reduce our energy usage at home which will really help the bank balance and the environment.

“Almost a third of total heating costs in the home are wasted through the roof and the walls and with vampire appliances this figure is almost half of our electricity bills on wasted energy. Just switching some of these off can really help save straight away and those with a smart meter will be able to see the impact of this in real time. Turn it down or turn it off is a great motto for fighting the vampires.”

British Gas profits have soared by 44 per cent over the past year, while its owner Centrica has seen its profits more than double, thanks to sharp rises in the cost of oil and gas.

Check out these smart plugs as a way to kill off ‘vampire’ devices and reduce electricity bills:

• Status Remote Control Sockets (3 sockets and 1 remote)
• DEWENWILS Remote Control Sockets, (3 sockets and 1 remote)
• ZHITONG Wireless Remote Control Sockets (5 sockets and 2 remotes)
• Amazon Smart Plug (works with Alexa)
• Tapo Smart Plug – works with Alexa or Google Home
• Bye Bye Standby

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The three companies will be integrating solar, battery energy storage and energy management solutions to increase consumer self-consumption and energy savings.

Huawei will offer its inverter and solar energy solution for integration with Lightsource Lab’s home energy management kit Tribe. Midsummer will distribute the integrated solution to its customers across the UK.

What is Tribe?

Tribe is a community of smart energy users who utilise an App to optimise energy flows within the home. The Hub and the App work in harmony to ensure you maximise use of the solar energy you’re generating and take advantage of low cost electricity available from the grid.

The Hub optimises your home’s major energy loads, like your battery system, your EV charge point and your air conditioning unit, making sure they’re always operating when energy is cheapest. The Hub diverts excess solar energy to significant loads to ensure you are utilising every last ray of sunshine that generates electricity for your home, while the App gives you complete visibility and control. The technology leverages weather data, consumer’s previous energy usage and generation data and data from utility companies to maximize onsite energy generation and usage.

Lightsource Labs will be working with Midsummer and utility companies including UK Power Networks and Western Power Distribution to expand grid flexibility using Tribe.

Ben Kott, CEO of Lightsource Labs, said: “With an increasing number of flexible loads in the home and the launch of innovative time-of-use tariffs, the opportunity to orchestrate and optimise connected devices to improve self-consumption and minimise energy bills is growing.”

Jamie Vaux, Commercial Director for Midsummer, comments: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Lightsource Labs on launching Tribe in the UK. Managing and optimising home energy flows is the key to making homeowners’ energy assets work for them, and something that they are looking for – especially if it can improve their savings and learn their needs.”

Michael Rae, Channel Director for Huawei, adds: “We are excited to be part of this innovative offering for UK solar customers as a result of the extensive interoperability testing which has been conducted by the R&D teams at Huawei and Lightsource Labs. Huawei’s One-Fits-All Residential Smart PV Solution comprises inverter, energy storage, optimiser, power sensor, etc. to provide up to 30% more energy yield, and equipped with AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) function to detect arc faults and shutdown the inverter in 0.5 seconds.”

Visit the Tribe website

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ONZO’s energy disaggregation technology details exactly how devices in homes consume energy and drive energy bills. By adding this extra intelligence to geo’s market-leading Whole Home Optimisation capability, which uses machine learning to enable homes to fully exploit their energy tariff, households will now be able to automatically obtain the biggest possible energy savings, whilst minimising waste and household carbon emissions.

geo’s technology is being provided to around 50% of UK homes under the Government’s smart meter rollout, as well as to tens of thousands of homes in the Netherlands and Nordics, in the form of in-home energy displays, and Onzo’s service is currently used in a quarter of a million homes, with more than 7,000 new users joining monthly. This significant footprint represents a crucial foundation from which to realise the full benefits of smart meter deployment.

Commenting on the acquisition, Steve Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer at geo, said, “It’s great to be joined by the innovative and creative team at ONZO. Combining our two businesses adds real strength to geo’s expertise and extends our leadership in the Energy IoT and data science environments. It also allows us to provide even greater savings to the millions of geo and ONZO customers across Europe.

“2021 is going to be an exciting time for geo and our partners: we commenced the delivery of our new EV charging and home heating optimisation capabilities earlier in the year. And as we complete the integration of ONZO’s capabilities, we will introduce the ability for the millions of households to automatically reduce their energy consumption further still through Whole Home Optimisation.”

“We’re looking forward to being able to bring even greater benefits from our combined offering to geo and ONZO’s existing customers and to helping our industry partners lead the way in the race to achieve Net Zero.”

Rob Merrington, Managing Director of ONZO commented, “Becoming part of the successful geo team is a perfect platform for ONZO’s evolution.  It’s clear there is genuine synergy within the current product suite provided by both businesses, and a significant opportunity for future developments, that will benefit both GEO and ONZO’s current and future customers.”

geo also announced the conclusion of a successful funding round.

The raise will see strategic investors the Low Carbon Investment Fund, Schneider Electric and West Coast Capital join the business and will allow geo to accelerate its mission to enable every home to achieve energy and carbon savings through Whole Home Optimisation.

Commenting, Steve Cunningham said, “We are pleased to welcome our new investors, including [the Low Carbon Investment Fund, Schneider Electric and West Coast Capital], to our business as we set out on the next step of geo’s journey. Each brings a unique set of capabilities and perspectives with them, which will collectively allow us to accelerate the deployment of our Whole Home Optimisation system across the UK and Europe.

“geo’s positioning at the centre of the home energy management ecosystem makes it a very valuable proposition, significantly reducing energy consumption and therefore accounting for less CO2 emissions,” commented Axel de Megille on behalf of the Low Carbon Investment Fund.

The news has been welcomed by customers of both companies, with Richard Hughes, Director of Sales & Marketing for EDF’s Customers Business Unit, commenting, “We’re very pleased to see this step from geo and ONZO. Our work with both companies over the last few years has been very successful. The world of smart energy management is maturing rapidly, moving from theory to reality. We are excited to see how the combined capability of geo’s smart energy gateways and ONZO’s energy disaggregation and home energy optimisation can help EDF customers save money on their bills and help Britain achieve Net Zero.”

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