Smart home gadgets can do more than respond to voice commands or automate your household — they can also save you money. It might require a hefty initial investment, but once your smart home is up and running, it’s not uncommon to see big reductions across most of your utility bills. If you’re looking to save a few extra bucks every month, here are some easy ways to save money with smart home devices.
Upgrade to a smart thermostat
Arguably the best way to save money on your energy bills is by switching to a smart thermostat. These come in all shapes and sizes, but your best bet is to spring for a premium model that offers advanced learning capabilities — such as the Nest Learning Thermostat. Products in this category give you the best control of your HVAC system, as they’ll actively monitor your usage and suggest ways to be more efficient.
If you don’t want to spring for a smart learning thermostat, you can still save a bit of cash with a budget smart thermostat. Almost all of these offer more features than a traditional thermostat, allowing you to easily set schedules, sync with other smart devices, and monitor how much energy you’re using on daily basis.
Reduce your water consumption with a smart sprinkler controller
Chasing after a perfectly manicured lawn isn’t easy, and it often comes at a price. Whether you have a professionally installed sprinkler system or a DIY system built off your outdoor water faucet, adding a smart sprinkler controller to your setup is a great way to cut down on your water bill. If you have an in-ground system, adding a smart sprinkler controller that comes with a WaterSense verification is all but guaranteed to reduce your monthly expenses. These gadgets actively monitor your local weather patterns and will skip a scheduled watering session if it’s recently rained. You can also track a bunch of useful statistics to help optimize your watering system, making it easy to reduce your water bill without much effort.
If you’re running a DIY system built around your outdoor water spigot, then a smart hose timer can help automate your schedule and reduce your water consumption.
Monitor your energy usage with smart plugs
Smart plugs aren’t the most glamorous of smart home gadgets, but they serve an important purpose. Not only can they be used to give any electronic device a bit of “smarts,” but they give you an easy way to monitor how much electricity you’re using. Some will even offer suggestions on how to cut down on your energy needs. At the very least, they’ll let you quickly turn devices on or off before heading out on vacation, and give you a tangible way to see what appliances are costing you the most on your bill.