Smart home deals for Cleaning

Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum Cleaner

• Features: 8,000 Pa suction, dual mops, AI obstacle avoidance, auto mop washing, and self-emptying.
• Discount: 28% off. Buy now on Amazon for £579

Dreame X40 Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum Cleaner

• Features: 12,000 Pa suction, self-cleaning mop, extensive cleaning capabilities.
• Discount: 27% off. Buy now on Amazon for £949

Eufy L60 Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Self-Empty Station

• Features: Hair detangling technology, ultra-strong 5,000 Pa suction, and laser navigation.
• Discount: 26% off. Buy now on Amazon for £259

Smart home deals for Energy-Efficient Climate Control

Tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat (3-Pack)

• Features: WiFi-enabled multi-room control, easy installation, and compatibility with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant.
• Discount: 44% off. Buy now on Amazon for £112

Tado° Wireless Smart Thermostat Starter Kit V3+

• Features: Boiler and hot water control, energy-saving capabilities, and voice assistant support.
• Discount: 37% off. Buy now on Amazon for £85

Pro Breeze 20L/Day Smart Dehumidifier

• Features: Laundry drying, automatic humidity sensor, and sleep mode.
• Discount: 30% off. Buy now on Amazon for £153

Smart home deals for Next-Level Connectivity

TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro Mesh Wi-Fi 6E System

• Features: Coverage up to 2,900 ft², support for 200+ devices, and 8K streaming compatibility.
• Discount: 30% off. Buy now on Amazon for £349

Tapo Smart Plug (4-Pack)

• Features: Energy monitoring, Alexa and Google Home compatibility, and remote control.
• Discount: 45% off. Buy now on Amazon for £27

Smart home deals for Enhanced Security and Monitoring

Eufy Security Video Doorbell E340

• Features: 2K HD video, dual cameras, color night vision, and no monthly fee.
• Discount: 41% off. Buy now on Amazon for £95

Eufy Security Floodlight Camera E340

• Features: 3K resolution, 360° pan and tilt, and dual-band WiFi.
• Discount: 27% off. Buy now on Amazon for £159

Other Smart home deals

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen)

• Features: Smart energy-saving thermostat with sleek design.
• Discount: 28% off. Buy now on Amazon for £159

Shark NeverChange5 Air Purifier

• Features: HEPA filter, auto mode, and ultra-quiet operation.
• Discount: 40% off. Buy now on Amazon for £149

Smart home technology simplifies everyday living, enhances energy efficiency, and adds a layer of security to your space. With these incredible smart home deals, there’s never been a better time to invest in your home.

Hurry though! These deals are only available for a limited time. Explore the full list of smart home deals to transform your home today and our top 60 smart tech gift ideas.

The post Smart Home Deals – Save Big on Smart Living appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

• 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 Solar iBoost is a solar power diverter designed to maximize the use of electricity generated by your solar photovoltaic (PV) system, helping you save on energy bills by redirecting surplus solar energy to heat your water. It allows households with solar panels to make the most of their solar energy by automatically diverting excess electricity to their immersion heater, rather than exporting it to the grid. This way, homeowners with a hot water tank can save on gas or electric water heating costs.

Key Features of Solar iBoost

1. Smart Energy Diversion
   The Solar iBoost automatically detects when excess electricity is available and then directs it to heat your water, ensuring that you only use ‘excess’ solar electricity to heat your water.
2. Wireless Monitor
   A wireless display allows you to keep track of energy savings in real time, showing you how much energy is being diverted to your immersion heater and how much you are saving on water heating.
3. Easy Installation
   The device integrates easily into most existing solar PV systems and requires minimal technical setup. It connects between the solar inverter and your immersion heater with the help of a qualified electrician.
4. Boost Function
   For times when solar production may be low, or if you want to heat water outside of solar production hours, the device includes a manual boost button. This ensures you always have hot water when you need it, while still prioritizing solar energy.
5. Future-Proof
   Designed to work with both current and future technology, the Solar iBoost is compatible with battery storage systems and can work alongside other energy management systems in your home.

Pros and Cons of Solar iBoost

Pros:

• Maximizes Solar Efficiency: Redirects surplus solar power to heating water, increasing self-consumption.
• Reduces Heating Costs: Reduces your dependency on grid energy for hot water, leading to substantial savings.
• User-Friendly: Wireless monitoring and simple controls make it easy for homeowners to track and adjust usage.
• Eco-Friendly: Reduces your overall carbon footprint by making use of renewable energy instead of fossil-fuel-based electricity or gas.

Cons:

• Requires Hot Water Tank: Only works for homes with a hot water cylinder equipped with an immersion heater.
• Seasonal Effectiveness: Performance can be limited in winter months when solar energy production is lower.
• Initial Investment: There’s an upfront cost for the device and installation but the payback period for a Solar iBoost in an average UK home with solar PV generally ranges between 3 to 5 years.

How Does Solar iBoost Compare?

The Solar iBoost is one of the market leaders for energy diverter products, you can see some of the alternatives on our page covering solar power diverters. Each system has its unique benefits, but the iBoost stands out for its simplicity and is very popular. Other models have additional compatibility with electric vehicle chargers and battery systems, so users interested in broader functionality may want to explore other options.

Installation and Cost

Getting the Solar iBoost installed by a professional installer will cost between £100 and £200 in the UK, depending on the complexity of the setup and your location. The installation is straightforward and should take around 1-2 hours.

The best price we have found for the product itself is £300, although stock levels seem to vary and prices can be higher when there is less stock available.

Buy the Solar iBoost+ on Amazon

Is the Solar iBoost Worth It?

Solar power diverters ideal for solar PV users looking to improve their self-consumption, reduce their energy bills, and cut carbon. Homeowners who have both solar panels and an immersion heater with a hot water tank can see significant savings, especially over a few years. It’s a straightforward, effective solution for using surplus solar power without complex setup or configuration.

Final Rating

FAQ

• Will Solar iBoost work with battery storage systems?
  Yes, the Solar iBoost is compatible with many battery storage systems and can operate in tandem with them.
• What happens on cloudy days?
  On low solar production days, the iBoost may not be able to heat water effectively, but the Boost function allows you to manually top up as needed.
• Is Solar iBoost suitable for all solar systems?
  Most modern solar PV systems are compatible with Solar iBoost, but a qualified installer can confirm compatibility based on your setup.
• Where can I find the installation and operating manual?
  You can download the Solar iBoost manual here, which includes installation and operating Instructions.
• How complex is the installation?
  The installation is not complex and could be done by a competent DIYer – see the video below.

Conclusion

The Solar iBoost is a reliable and efficient tool for households looking to maximize the value of their solar investment. It’s easy to install, simple to use, and can deliver substantial savings over time by using your home’s free solar energy. It is an excellent investment if you have a compatible setup, a hot water tank, and want to reduce your reliance on the grid while lowering your utility costs.

Check out some of the other solar power diverters available, and smart radiator valves to reduce heat in unused rooms.

The post Solar iBoost Review: Maximize Your Solar Energy Usage appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

What are smart radiator valves?

Smart radiator valves connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network and allow you to control the temperature of each radiator via an app or other remote control. The valves work by regulating the amount of hot water that is allowed to flow through each radiator, which allows you to easily adjust the temperature of each room in your home.

Smart radiator valves also have other features and capabilities, such as being able to detect when a window is open and automatically shut off the heating in that room. You can set schedules for the radiator valves to control when each radiator is on or off so you don’t have to worry about manually adjusting your radiators every day.

Thermostatic Radiator Valves, or TRVs are similar products which control individual radiators but are not ‘smart’, meaning you cannot control them from your phone or other devices.

Advantages of smart radiator valves

There are many benefits to using smart radiator valves, such as more accurate room-by-room heating control, energy savings, and convenience.

Smart radiator valves can help you save on energy costs by automatically adjusting the temperature to specific levels and even switching off a radiator when a room is unoccupied. You can also set schedules for the radiator valves to specify when each radiator will be on or off – and have different schedules for different days or months, or occupation patterns for example a ‘work day schedule’ and ‘weekend schedule’ so you don’t have to worry about manually adjusting the radiators.

Smart radiator valves also provide a very convenient way to control the temperature of each radiator from your smartphone or other remote control so you don’t have to work your way around the house to manually adjust the temperature of each radiator.

Are smart radiator valves worth it?

If you are looking for a simplified way to control the temperature of each room in your home independently, then smart radiator valves are a great option. But whether they’re truly worth the investment depends on why you want them and how you use them.

If you already have Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) which allow you to control the temperature of individual radiators manually, and you use them regularly then it’s unlikely you’ll make additional financial savings from smart radiator valves.

Some brands of smart radiator valves claim that up to 30% savings on your heating bills are possible, which is way higher than the 10-12% savings that Nest claim you’ll achieve with their Learning Thermostat.

If you think about it this makes sense. A smart thermostat will control your whole house’s heating, turning the heating up or down for all rooms at the same time. But, if used well, smart radiator valves should enable you to avoid heating some rooms completely some of the time, hence the larger savings.

However, the 30% saving would be in an ideal case and the reality is likely to be lower. So, whether smart radiator valves are worth it depends on their usage and how you program them. The vast proportion of the savings will come from not heating unused rooms, which you could achieve with regular TRVs anyway, if you’re happy to adjust them manually.

Environmentally, if your heating system runs on oil or gas there will definitely be come carbon savings but it takes energy to produce smart valves and you will create waste with the old valves you remove.

Do I need smart radiator valves on every radiator?

No, you don’t need to have smart radiator valves on every radiator. You can choose which radiators you want to have smart radiator valves installed on, depending on your individual requirements.

Which smart radiator valve is best?

There are many different smart radiator valves available on the market, so it can be difficult to choose the best one for your home. To help you make the best choice, we’ve complied the smart radiator valve reviews below detailing some of the best smart radiator valves that are currently available.

Only a handful of smart radiator valves work independently of a smart thermostat, home hub or other bridge, so if you don’t have and don’t want a smart thermostat one of the first 5 options below will be best. The TP-Link Kasa Smart Valve is currently the best value at just £44 on Amazon although it does not work with Apple HomeKit. If you want a smart valve that does work with HomeKit then the meross Smart Valves are the best option at £53 on Amazon.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive solution, with a bridge which will work with a smart thermostat, then the tado° Starter Kit (currently just £135 at Amazon) is one of the best options which works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, And Google Assistant.

Smart radiator valves reviews

meross Smart Valves – £53 on Amazon – Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant and SmartThings

The meross smart radiator valves are probably the best option on the market for price, functionality and compatibility. This starter kit includes a radiator thermostat and meross hub and will work with 98% of TRVs. Control the system alongside you other smart home devices via your preferred app or with voice commands. In the meross app, you can see the daily room temperature and set schedules for different rooms. The smart hub can support up to 16 smart thermostats and the system also supports open-window detection and will send a notification on phone while the room thermostat will stop heating for 30 minutes to avoid wasted energy. The meross package contains 1 Smart Radiator Thermostat + 1 Hub + connection adapters for Danfoss RA / Danfoss RAV / Danfoss RAVL / Giacomini / Caleffi / M28 radiators. Additional valves are just £39 making meross one of the most cost effective options.

Buy now – £53 on Amazon

TP-Link Kasa Smart Valve – £44 on Amazon – Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Radiator Thermostat Starter KIT is another good option if you don’t have or want a smart thermostat, as it allows you to control all your radiators in each room from your phone from anywhere without the need for an additional hub or bridge. The usual retail price for the starter kit is £90 but there’s a deal on Amazon (at the time of publishing) which makes this the cheapest quality option on the market. Additional valves at £40. The Kasa valves allow you to set heating schedules, work with voice Control via Alexa or Google Assistant and have a frost protection setting to keep your house safe in winter. Just replace your old radiator valve with Kasa and follow the step-by-step in-app guide but check your existing radiator valve carefully to ensure compatibility.

Buy now – £44 on Amazon

Hive 7004240 – £45 on Amazon – Works with Hive app

The Hive 7004240 radiator valves also work without a smart thermostat, so you don’t need the Hive active heating to use them. Whatever system you have, you can manage these valves via the Hive app. They are also easy to install, simply unscrew your existing TRV head and replace it with the Hive radiator valve. If you already have a Hive thermostat for heating and/or hot water (£135 or £440 respectively) adding some Hive smart radiator valves makes a lot of sense to add greater control to your system, plus then you’ll be able to control the radiator valves via Alexa, Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant.

Buy now – £45 on Amazon

Eve Thermo – £70 on Amazon – Works with Bluetooth, Thread and Apple HomeKit

The Eve Thermo is another great option if you don’t have or want a smart thermostat or other bridge. You can use these valves directly via Bluetooth, Thread or Apple HomeKit. Use schedules to heat individual rooms or your entire home automatically to suit your routine – independently of your iPhone and internet connection. They even offer ‘open window detection’, have a simple to use ‘vacation mode’, valve protection, and a whole lot more.

Buy now – £70 on Amazon

Eqiva 142461A0 – £50 on Amazon – Works with Bluetooth

The Eqiva 142461A0 smart radiator valves work directly without a hub or bridge via bluetooth and can be controlled via the free Apple (from iOS 8.3) or Android (from version 4.4) app. They can also be operated directly without a smartphone. Up to 7 switching intervals can be defined and the boost function heats up radiators quickly. Up to 5 Radiator thermostats per room can be combined and controlled via app.

Buy now – £50 on Amazon

tado° Starter Kit – £135 at Amazon – Works With Alexa, Apple HomeKit, And Google Assistant

The tado° Starter Kit is a great option for those looking for a reliable and easy to use smart heating setup. This kit comes with 2 tado° Smart Radiator Thermostats, tado° Internet Bridge, 2 AA batteries, Set of adapters, USB power supply, UK power adapter / EU power adapter, USB cable, Ethernet cable, and detailed welcome and setup guides. Once you have the starter kit you can buy extra smart valves at £50 each.

Buy now – £135 at Amazon

Netatmo NAV-UK – £192 at Amazon – Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant

The Netatmo NAV-UK Smart Thermostat + Smart Radiator Valve is another great option for those looking for a reliable and easy to use smart heating system. The kit only includes one smart valve but you can buy additional valves for £72.50 each.

Buy now – £192 at Amazon

Honeywell evohome – £380 at Amazon – Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT

The Honeywell evohome is another option to get smart heating. The evohome allows you to create and individually control up to 12 heating zones with remote access via the Total Connect Comfort (TCC) app or the full-colour touchscreen. Users can quickly gain control of exactly where and when the property is heated and remote access via a tablet or smartphone keeps you in-the-know. You can buy extra valves for £65 each. They are battery powered with a two-year battery life and a battery low reminder visible on both the radiator controller screen and the evohome controller screen. The flip-up screen is backlit and can be positioned so that it can be easily viewed or folded away flat.

Buy now – £380 at Amazon

Drayton Wiser – £396 at Amazon – Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT

The Drayton Wiser starter kit allows you to take full control of your heating system via your phone on a room-by-room basis. The Wiser App allows you to easily control your home’s temperature room-by-room whilst also viewing your system’s heat report from anywhere in the world. Additional smart valves are £49. The kit comes in different versions for combi or conventional boilers and the radiator valves are also available in black or white. The kit comes with 1 x Smart Room Thermostat, 1 x Heat Hub and 5 x smart radiator valves.

Buy now – £396 at Amazon

Conclusion

Smart radiator valves are a great way to keep rooms at the perfect temperature and avoid wasting energy on heating unoccupied rooms. They are very convenient, as you can control the temperature of each radiator from your smartphone or other remote control.

Nearly every brand offers professional installation for around £120 so if you’re not confident installing radiator valves yourself you will need to factor this into the price. Ask your local smart home installation company for a quote.

If you’re only looking for one or two valves and don’t want a smart thermostat the TP-Link Kasa Smart Valve is currently the best value at just £44 on Amazon although it does not work with Apple HomeKit.

If you want a smart valve that works on its own with HomeKit then the meross Smart Valves are the best option at £53 on Amazon.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive solution, with a bridge which will work with a smart thermostat, then the tado° Starter Kit (£135 at Amazon) is one of the best options which works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, And Google Assistant.

Read our other reviews about the best smart plugs and the best home energy monitors and check out our list of 60 smart tech gift ideas.

The post The Best Smart Radiator Valves for Your Home 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.

Smart plugs are a brilliant way to make a home smarter and should be easy to manage, but sometimes smart tech can be less smart than we’d like! If you change your Wi-Fi settings, or need to connect a Meross smart plug to a new Wi-Fi network you may hit a problem. Sometimes the recommended reset steps will work ok, but other times they fail completely. However there is a solution…

The first thing to try is a factory reset:

How do you reset a Meross smart plug?

Press and hold the button for 5 seconds until the LED flashes between amber and green.

Go to HomeKit, the Meross app, or your Alexa app, depending on which system you are using and follow the steps to add a new accessory. This will require you either scan the QR code on the side of the plug or enter the code manually, then wait a few minutes and the smart plug should pair with the app.

If the factory reset fails and the plug wont connect to the app read on.

How to change Meross smart plug wifi

Several readers have commented that the above process does not always work to connect a Meross smart plug to a new Wi-Fi network. If the factory reset process still fails after a few attempts, and the LED indicator on the plug is definitely flashing orange and green when you’re trying to pair and your phone is connected to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network follow the instructions below:

Unplug the smart plug. Wait 24 hours and try again.

Sometime the Meross smart plug can get caught in a loop and fails to connect to a new Wi-Fi network. But, if you power it off and wait for a while (several hours at least in our experience) the plug will forget any previous settings and once you put it back into pairing mode (slowly alternating between amber and green) it will pair successfully with a new Wi-Fi network.

Meross smart plug LED indicator meanings:

• Solid amber: Initializing/Firmware upgrading
• Slowly alternating between amber and green: Ready to pair
• Fast flashing green: Wi-Fi connecting
• Solid green: Connected to home Wi-Fi/Successfully paired
• Solid red: No internet connection
• OFF: Your receptacle is not powered on/The smart plug is not turned on

Meross smart plug button options:

• Press the button to turn the smart plug ON or OFF.
• To factory reset the smart plug, press and hold the button for 5 seconds until the LED flashes between amber and green.

Using a smart plug to monitor energy consumption is a great way to check out the costs of running different appliance. Check out our reviews of the best smart plugs with energy monitoring.

Buy more Merros Smart Plugs – 4 pack £30.99 (12% off)

You might also like our review of the best smart radiator valves.

Check out our list of smart tech gift ideas.

The post Connect Meross smart plug to new Wi-Fi appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

Smart Home Manager is a free app for AT&T customers which helps manage their home internet. It lets you do things like find your Wi-Fi password, change your Wi-Fi network name, check the number of devices currently connected to your network, set parental controls, and even look for solutions to common technical issues.

Is the app free?

Yes, the app is free – but you need to be an AT&T customer to use it. You can download it for free from the App store or Google Play.

What does Smart Home Manager do?

Smart Home Manager doesn’t directly control smart home devices such as smart plugs or lights, but it does enable AT&T customers to control certain aspects of their home Wifi including features such as:

• Parental controls to manage user access & screen time
• Track each device’s data usage
• Virtual assistant
• Invite guests to your Wifi network via email or text
• See your internet service status
• Find weak Wi-Fi spots in your home
• Utilise speed tests to check your network performance
• Get recommendations for changes you can make to optimise your home network

How do I access Smart Home Manager?

To access SHM, download the app from the App store or Google Play, or visit https://www.att.com/shm/ and sign in with your AT&T User ID and password. 

How do I identify an unknown device?

Within the app, select ‘Network’ at the bottom and click ‘Connected devices’. This will list all of the devices connected to your Wifi network, along with their data usage. Select a device for more details. Here you can personalise and manage features for a specific connected device. Select the 3 dots at the top right of the screen and you can edit the name of the device, add it to a Profile, run a security scan, or block the device if you do not recognise it, or want it connected to your network. You can even prioritise devices if you want them to have faster connection speeds than other devices. 

Change your Wifi password via the app:

Your AT&T Wi-Fi gateway will come with a default Wi-Fi network name and password, but ou can change either one via the Smart Home Manager app:

• Sign in to Smart Home Manager
• Scroll to the My Wi-Fi card and choose Change next to the name or password
• Select X to clear existing info, then enter a new name or password
• Select Save
• Reconnect your devices with the updated network info

Find out more in the video below:

The post Smart Home Manager 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.

The post Top 10 energy saving tips appeared first on Smart Home Energy.

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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