Energy efficient devices for your home

Written by Adam Turner for Australian Seniors

As the world strives to meet net-zero carbon targets, everyone has to do their bit. Installing the right tech around your home makes it easy to use energy and water more wisely. “It requires taking a holistic view of your home,” explains 

Pickr.com.au editor Leigh Stark. “Rather than a household full of smart gadgets, you want a truly smart home where things work together, so look for devices that talk to each other and work with your smart assistant of choice.”

Heating and cooling can account for up to 60% of overall household energy use in Australia, making it a great place to start. “Smart controllers save energy by automatically adjusting your home’s heating and cooling so they operate more efficiently,” Leigh says. “Rather than just running on fixed schedules, they can check the real-time conditions in your home.” Many also offer geofencing – using your smartphone’s GPS to detect when you are nearing or leaving your home and then automatically turning your heating/cooling on or off.

Energy monitors and power point timers

Smart energy monitors make it easy to identify power hogs around your home. They sit in-between an appliance and the wall socket to track exactly how much electricity the appliance uses. “Once you have a clearer picture of how much energy your major appliances use, and when they use it, you can look for ways to improve,” Leigh says. “You might replace some appliances with newer energy-efficient models, while keeping others but using them more efficiently. 

“Smart timers can help, automatically switching appliances on and off as required – perhaps taking advantage of your energy supplier’s off-peak rates.” Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs also helps curb power bills, as can smart lighting options that run on timers or only come on when someone arrives home or walks into the room.

Water saving tips for the garden 

Outdoors, smart watering systems can check the weather forecast and even measure the moisture in the ground to make sure your garden gets exactly what it needs. 

“Rather than always sticking to the same routine, these smart devices know exactly when the sun rises and sets each day, so they can automatically adjust themselves during the year,” Leigh says. “Ensuring that your garden gets just the right amount of water, all year round, goes a long way to reducing your bills and your home’s impact on the environment.”