Smart Home, Smarter Bills: Top Energy-Efficient Tech for Homes

Smart home devices do way more than let you catch the delivery guy awkwardly posing with your parcels or keep tabs on what your dog really gets up to while you’re at work. Sure, that’s fun, but the real magic happens when these gadgets start cutting down your bills.

But how do you actually turn your regular old house into an energy-saving, eco-friendly powerhouse? And what even makes a home truly smart, beyond just telling Alexa to play your favourite playlist? If questions like these have been bouncing around your head, you’re in the right spot. 

So let’s dive in and see what it takes to join the smart home revolution – your wallet (and the planet) will thank you for it.

Why Choose Energy-Efficient Smart Home Tech?

Investing in smart technology is one of the simplest ways to build an energy efficient house. It’s more than just having cool gadgets – it’s about reducing waste, cutting costs, and making life easier.

• Lower energy bills by automating heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances so you’re only using power when you actually need it.
• Shrink your carbon footprint by using less energy, which means fewer emissions from your household.
• Enjoy more comfort and convenience with a home that automatically adjusts to your schedule and preferences.
• Take advantage of rebates and incentives that many councils and energy providers offer when you upgrade to energy-saving tech.

Top Energy-Efficient Smart Home Devices

So now you know why it’s worth creating a more sustainable home. But how do homeowners setting up a smart home actually make it happen? 

Here are our top six tips to get you started.

1. Smart Thermostats

A smart thermostat monitors your home’s temperature and your daily habits, such as when you wake up, leave, and return, to determine how and when to automatically adjust heating or cooling to conserve energy. This means that instead of heating or cooling your home while no one is there or at night while everyone is asleep, your smart thermostat will only use energy to keep you comfortable when you need it.

The most popular and effective smart thermostats, like Nest or Ecobee, allow you to monitor and adjust temperature remotely through your mobile device so you can make adjustments on the go. Plus, many come with features like zoning, which allows you to heat or cool specific areas or rooms of your home instead of the whole house.

It’s like having a personalised climate control system for each room in your home. (Cool, right?)

2. Smart Lighting Systems

Lights that turn on and off automatically when you enter and exit a room, respectively. No more walking into a dark room or leaving the lights on by accident. Motion sensors can take care of that for you.

Dimmers and scheduling, so you can adjust the brightness of your lights depending on the time of day or activity (bright and bright for work or cooking, soft and warm for movie night or bedtime). You can even program your smart lights to mimic your daily routine or turn on and off at specific times when you’re not home to make it appear like someone is, providing added security.

Most smart lighting options are also compatible with energy-efficient LED bulbs, which use significantly less energy and last much longer than traditional light bulbs, saving you money on energy costs and maintenance in the long run. A proper down light installation can instantly modernise your space, cut energy costs, and give you a sleek look that works beautifully with smart systems.

3. Smart Plugs & Power Strips

Energy vampires are devices or appliances that continue to draw electricity even when they are turned off, this is sometimes referred to as “phantom power”. Phantom power can go unnoticed, but it is a sneaky way your energy bills get higher without you even realising.

Smart plugs and power strips are a game-changer when it comes to cutting phantom power use.

If you’re looking to get Victorian power upgrades, these smart plugs and power strips can be a smart addition. They give you the power to remotely control or schedule your plugged-in appliances to turn off when you don’t need them. Forgot to turn off your heater or television before leaving the house? No problem. Simply use your phone to shut it off remotely.

4. Smart Water Heaters & Leak Sensors

Smart water heaters help you monitor and manage your energy use and adjust heating based on your actual needs. This means you’re not using energy to heat water unnecessarily.

Water leak sensors, on the other hand, monitor your pipes and alert you if a leak is detected. This allows you to catch issues early on before they become a major problem or cause water waste. It’s an easy way to protect your home and your wallet (and the environment).

5. Smart Blinds & Window Solutions

Automatic blinds, which can be programmed to close when the sun gets too hot in the afternoon, reducing heat gain and keeping your air conditioner from working harder than it needs to. Or open up in the morning to let in the warm morning sunlight without you having to lift a finger.

It’s a small upgrade that can make your home more comfortable, save you money on energy bills and add a touch of modern convenience to your everyday life.

6. Energy Monitoring Systems

What whole-home monitors do is, instead of leaving you to guess where your electricity is going, they show you in real-time exactly how much power each of your appliances are using. Through an app on your phone, you can tell at a glance which appliances are the most energy-efficient and which are energy hogs. (Turns out, it’s often the fridge or your ancient heater, but sometimes it’s also that big flat screen TV on standby.)

Armed with this knowledge, you can make better decisions about which appliances to unplug and which to only run during off-peak hours.

How Much Can You Save?

So what kind of savings are we actually talking about? It depends on your home and how many smart upgrades you make, but most homeowners see a noticeable drop in their energy bills. For example, switching to smart thermostats and LED down lights alone can trim your heating, cooling, and lighting costs by 20–30%. Add in smart plugs, water monitoring, and an energy management system, and those savings only grow.

Sure, there’s an upfront cost to getting all this set up, but the long-term payoff is hard to ignore. Lower power bills month after month, fewer surprise breakdowns, and a home that’s more comfortable and easier to run.

If you’re curious about what this could look like for your place, why not chat with the friendly team at Approved Electrix? They’d be happy to talk you through options, give you an idea of costs, and help you figure out the best way to start saving.