Following this week’s Ofgem announcement that the energy price cap will rise once again in April, households are on the lookout for ways to save on their energy bills.
The regulator has confirmed that from April 1, the average bill for households in England, Scotland and Wales on a standard variable tariff will go up by £9.25 a month, amounting to an extra £111 a year. With this being the third time in a row that the price cap has risen and energy prices not expected to drop significantly any time soon, it may be worth investing in some upgrades for your home to help reduce your energy usage and save money on your household bills in the long term.
One of these most talked-about gadgets is a smart thermostat – but how exactly do they work, how much do they cost, and which brand is worth buying? We have rounded up all the information you need from experts about whether a smart thermostat is right for you and which ones to look at.
How does a smart thermostat work?
Smart thermostats link your home heating system up to the internet, enabling you to control it through an app on your phone whether you want to turn your heating on, off, up or down. Some models are equipped with settings that can learn your habits or detect when you leave and return home to adjust automatically, while others also have the likes of safety and holiday modes to help protect your pipes while you’re away.
Makers of smart thermostats claim that they can cut down your energy bills by making it easier to monitor and adjust your heating compared to a traditional thermostat, so if you find yourself turning up your heating when you’re chilly and then forgetting about it, investing in a smart thermostat is likely to save you money. Many models are also designed to maximise energy efficiency in other ways, including by providing users with energy reports to help see where they can reduce usage.
Experts at Uswitch advise: “The ability to remotely control a home’s temperature appeals to those with hectic schedules. For instance, if you have a late-running meeting, there’s no reason to heat an empty home – or maybe you’re on holiday and realise you’ve forgotten to turn off the heat. Smart thermostats mean that resolving any heating errors takes just a few taps on your smartphone.”
(Image: Google)
Which smart thermostat should I buy?
With a range of different brands on the market, it can be difficult to know which smart thermostat you should opt for. Here are some of the top picks recommended by tech and energy experts to help you make the decision.
Martin Lewis’ website MoneySavingExpert highlights Google Nest, British Gas brand Hive, and Tado as three of the main smart thermostat brands, all of which are backed by or partnered with major tech and energy firms. The latest model of the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, priced at £275.74 on Amazon, was branded “the best smart thermostat you can buy” by after being tried and tested by experts at TechRadar.
“It’s not cheap, but for us the latest iteration of the Nest Learning Thermostat is worth every penny,” the experts said. “We spent months testing it, and were thoroughly impressed by its sleek new design and AI-enhanced scheduling that makes it easy to keep each room at the optimum temperature.”
The Boiler Installation Experts also named the Google Nest Learning Thermostat as their top recommended choice, while the Hive Active Heating Thermostat came in as a runner-up. Priced at £119 on the Hive website or £129 from the likes of Amazon and Toolstation, this is a more budget-friendly choice while still being a trusted brand.
According to Hive, their thermostat can cut energy bills by up to £175 a year – “simply tell it how you like your heating and hot water, and we’ll do the rest,” the brand promises. Its features include a heating boost, frost protection, geolocation alerts and a holiday mode, as well as a saver mode that can automatically adjust your schedule to keep you within budget.
Meanwhile, experts at Home Smarter crowned their number one choice as the Tado Wireless Smart Thermostat, which is even cheaper at £109.30 on Amazon or is currently on offer for the reduced price of £86 on the Tado website. The experts described this model as “a convenient and energy-efficient way to manage your home heating”.
The Tado Smart Thermostat also has the added bonus of self-installation, with an online guide to help you fit it at home yourself. Other models, including Nest and Hive, require a professional to install it, so you will need to factor this in when considering the upfront cost of your new smart thermostat.
These are just a few of the bestselling choices, but are plenty more smart thermostat brands out there, with some of the top-rated options on Amazon including the Honeywell T6R Wireless Smart Thermostat for £165.54, the Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat for £210.22, and the Drayton by Schneider Electric Smart Room Thermostat for £83.94.
What are some other ways I can cut down my energy bills?
If you don’t have the budget to invest in a smart thermostat, here are some top tips from the Energy Saving Trust on how to reduce your energy bills:
- Switch off appliances in standby mode
- Draught-proof windows and doors
- Turn off lights when you leave a room
- Use your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle
- Avoid using a tumble dryer
- Swap baths for showers
- Avoid overfilling your kettle
- Only run your dishwasher when it’s full
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/smart-thermostat-buying-guide-experts-31086393
