With the cost of living rising, it's more important than ever to keep energy costs low in our homes. If your bills are getting unmanageable, you've likely considered everything from solar power to eco bulbs. But how do you know which energy saving devices will work best for your home?
To aid you in your search, we've detailed all the key information on saving energy in your home, whether that's cutting the cost of heating, lighting or electronic appliances. We've even compiled a list of the top 10 best energy saving devices currently available from UK retailers such as Amazon, Argos and John Lewis.
Quick List - Top Energy Saving Devices
Eco-Worthy
Power Major Devices at Home or on the Road With This Complete Solar Panel Kit
Emporia
Monitor Energy Usage From Your Smartphone With Helpful Tips for Cutting Costs
Control the Heating of Your Home With Scheduling and In-App Controls
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Table of Contents
Heating can be the biggest drain on our energy supply, so this is probably going to be your main consideration when shopping for energy saving devices. If you want full control over the heating of your home, a smart thermostat will allow you to time your heating to switch on and off according to your schedule straight from your smartphone.
If you live in a small apartment or only need to heat one room, a smart radiator thermostat could be what you're looking for. They tend to be cheaper than thermostats designed to control your entire home, and they're easier to install too. These include all the same functions and can be linked up if you buy multiples of the same device.
Cut down on heating costs with an Energy-Efficient Heater!
A simple switch to LED bulbs can make all the difference to the cost of lighting your home. Although they're slightly more expensive than traditional bulbs, they use approximately 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer before requiring a replacement, so the investment is more than worth it!
For lighting your garden, solar power is an infinite resource that you can use to your advantage. While you're out enjoying those warm summer evenings, there's no cosier way to brighten up an area than by filling it with solar-powered lights. They come as ground spikes, strings, or even in novelty shapes and colours, so you can be sure to find a design that suits your garden decor.
Find the perfect set from our ranking of the 10 Best Solar Garden Lights!
Electronic devices are a drain on our power supply that we don't often consider, but they all certainly add up! For charging smaller devices such as phones and tablets, you can purchase solar power banks that recharge in the sun. Not only are they ideal for when you're out of the house, but they also help to cut back on mains power usage at home.
When you do need to use mains power, you can purchase smart wall sockets which can be plugged in between your devices and the wall. These offer various energy-saving functions such as monitoring energy usage, timing devices to turn on and off, or even controlling your devices from your phone or tablet via connected apps.
Installing an energy monitor can help to track and manage energy usage across multiple devices in the home. The initial cost can be a little more expensive than the other devices we've suggested, but the potential savings are much larger overall. Once it's hooked up to your circuit panel, the readings can be viewed on your smartphone or computer, including tips on how to lower your overall bills.
If you like the sound of the solar devices we've suggested so far, a solar panel setup for your home could be another great investment. Luckily, the cost of solar panels has dropped significantly since they first started hitting the market, but the initial cost is still fairly high. You may also need to pay extra for installation if you're not qualified to install them yourself.
Keep your devices running on the go with our Best Portable Solar Panels!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Eco-Worthy Solar Power System | ![]() | Power Major Devices at Home or on the Road With This Complete Solar Panel Kit | |
2 | Emporia Smart Home Energy Monitor | ![]() | Monitor Energy Usage From Your Smartphone With Helpful Tips for Cutting Costs | |
3 | Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation | ![]() | Control the Heating of Your Home With Scheduling and In-App Controls | |
4 | ECO Energy Saving LED Light Bulbs | ![]() | Drastically Reduce the Costs of Lighting Your Home | |
5 | TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug | ![]() | Monitor Mains-Powered Devices Via Your Smartphone or Home Assistant | |
6 | kilponen Solar Power Bank | ![]() | Charge Handheld Electronics With a Solar-Powered Battery Pack | |
7 | GIGALUMI Solar Lights Outdoor | ![]() | Illuminate Outdoor Spaces With the Cosy Glow of Solar-Powered Lighting | |
8 | Defender 24 Hour Segment Timer Switch | ![]() | Schedule Power Supply to Your Appliances With This Low-Maintenance Timer | |
9 | tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat | ![]() | Control the Heating in Small Spaces Using Alexa, Google Assistant or the Tado App | |
10 | MECHEER Electricity Usage Monitor | ![]() | Smart Socket Energy Monitor That Identifies Which Appliances Are Draining the Most Power |
This means they'll be powerful enough to run all your mains-powered electronics, such as TVs, refrigerators and plug-in lighting. The setup has also been praised by campervan dwellers as a great source of electricity on the road. Plus, it comes with a 1-year warranty and an after-sale service team who can talk you through everything you need to know about installation.
The real-time data is available to view through the iOS or Android app, where it's broken down into appliance, energy use and cost. The app will even send you notifications to help you better understand where you can cut back on costs.
The device will turn your heating on, off, up or down at specific times to suit your schedule. If your plans change, you can always use the app to control the heating from anywhere at any time.
The bulbs are available in warm and cool white tones, with varying degrees of brightness. They even come with the option of screw or bayonet fittings, so you can be sure to find a bulb that will suit your needs.
It will allow you to set timers to turn the power on and off when needed, or you can go off schedule and control the power supply manually through the app. Plus, you can share management permissions with multiple devices, so the whole family can keep on top of their energy usage.
Since it's designed for charging small batteries, it won't save as much energy as some other devices, but if your family runs a lot of handheld electronics, it can certainly help cut back on charging costs.
The inbuilt light sensor reserves power during daylight hours, so that the lights can shine for up to 8 hours once it gets dark. Just be aware that they won't be as bright as mains-powered outdoor lighting, so you may need to buy multiple sets if you want to light a large garden.
The only drawback is that it's not a smart device or app compatible, so you won't be able to control the power remotely once you've left the house. If you're shopping for a particularly tech-averse household, however, this could be seen as an advantage.
With this smart thermostat, you can take control of heating specific radiators from the smartphone app, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It will sense when the desired temperature has been reached and adjust the heating supply accordingly, so your home's temperature will remain constant.
It's ideal for small living spaces or households that tend to mainly occupy one room for most of the day. If you have multiple rooms that need to be monitored, you can purchase more than one and link them up via the household WiFi network.
The large LCD display is easy to read, with 180° viewing, so you can take readings from behind the refrigerator or under furniture. Unfortunately, unlike other smart socket devices, this monitor cannot control the power supply, so won't be ideal if you want to set timers or turn devices on and off remotely.
Written and researched by Alicia Byrne
No. 1: Eco-Worthy|Solar Power System
No. 2: Emporia|Smart Home Energy Monitor
No. 3: Google|Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation
No. 4: ECO|Energy Saving LED Light Bulbs
No. 5: TP-Link|Tapo Smart Plug
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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