With energy costs continuing to rise, energy-saving devices have become an easy way to take back control of our gas and electricity bills. These smart devices not only make life more convenient but also help cut down on wasted energy by managing how your home uses power more efficiently.
While there’s often an upfront cost to buying these gadgets, the long-term savings can easily outweigh the initial investment. From smart plugs to voice-controlled lighting, these tools offer simple ways to lower your energy consumption and save money.
To help you get started, we’ve rounded up the best online retailers where you can find a wide range of energy-saving devices that suit your needs and budget.
Where to buy home energy-saving devices
To get the most out of your devices, it's worth exploring some key energy-saving tips, such as scheduling them to run only when needed and monitoring usage remotely. Adopting these tips and tricks can make a real difference to your energy bills and help your smart devices work even harder for your home.
The best energy saving devices
Smart home tech is designed to make your life easier while saving you time and money. These clever devices can connect to Wi-Fi, so you can control them right from your phone, no matter where you are, making them a practical and efficient way to manage your home. Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular energy-saving devices:
Smart Plugs
Smart plugs are a simple yet effective way to make your home more energy-efficient. These devices plug into your existing sockets and connect to your home’s Wi-Fi, allowing you to remotely control appliances and electronics from your phone. You can schedule when devices turn on or off, or simply switch them off if you forget to do so before leaving the house.
Many smart plugs also monitor the energy usage of connected devices, giving you insights into which appliances consume the most power. This helps you identify vampire devices – electronics that continue to drain power even when they’re not in use.
LED & Smart Lighting
Smart lighting allows you to control your lights remotely, adjust brightness, and even change colours, all from your phone. Paired with energy-efficient LED bulbs, this combination helps you save on both electricity and bulb replacement costs. The best LED bulbs use up to 85% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer, making them an eco-friendly and cost-effective upgrade.
Smart lights take this a step further by letting you automate lighting schedules, ensuring lights are only on when needed, and you can control them even when you’re not home. This added control reduces unnecessary energy usage and gives you the convenience of managing your home’s lighting remotely.
Smart Thermostat/Heating Controls
A smart thermostat allows you to adjust heating and cooling based on your schedule or real-time occupancy, ensuring your HVAC system only runs when needed.
“Smart heating controls can learn your schedule, adjust to the weather, and even know when you're away," explains Joanna O'Loan, knowledge manager at Energy Saving Trust. "You can also control your heating by telling your smart speaker what you want. The cleverest systems will learn from how you set your heating, how you adjust it and how you occupy the home. They’ll start to predict your behaviour and heat your home differently as a result."
Joanna O'Loan
In her role within the insight and evaluation team at Energy Saving Trust, Joanna O’Loan makes sure the organisation translates its energy efficiency and low carbon research into practical and consistent actionable advice for homeowners.
Smart radiator valves give you greater control over your home’s heating by allowing you to adjust the temperature in individual rooms rather than heating the entire house. They can be programmed to turn the heating off or down when it’s not needed, helping to save energy in unused spaces.
However, as Joanna from the Energy Saving Trust explains, while these devices can reduce energy use, "they might also increase usage by turning the heating on or up earlier, keeping you more comfortable but not necessarily cutting your carbon footprint."
For greater efficiency, many systems, including smart TRVs, incorporate features like load and weather compensation. Joanna notes that these functions "adjust the boiler’s flow temperature based on external factors, optimising how your heating system works. You don’t need a smart thermostat to benefit from this, but it’s one of the easiest ways to add compensation and boost efficiency in an existing system."
Where to buy
There are plenty of options when it comes to shopping for energy-saving devices, whether you're looking to buy online or pick something up in-store. Below are some recommended retailers with great selections to help you reduce your energy use.
Amazon offers a vast selection of energy-saving devices, making it a go-to for smart plugs, thermostats, and smart lighting. It also provides user reviews and fast delivery (next day if you sign up for an Amazon Prime account), making it easier to find reliable smart home products that fit your needs.
Meross Smart Plug With Energy Monitoring
Connect these smart plugs to your phone to track energy usage and control devices remotely, ensuring nothing stays on unnecessarily.
Google Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation
This smart thermostat learns your schedule and adjusts the temperature automatically, helping you save money on your energy bill.
Avatar Controls Smart Bulb Alexa Light Bulbs
These LED smart bulbs with dimming features and voice control, offer millions of colours to choose from.
Argos
Argos is well known for its affordable technology and its easy click-and-collect service. Offering a range of energy-efficient solutions, Argos focuses on practicality without compromising quality. Here are some of our top picks for smart energy-saving devices:
Philips Hue Smart Lighting Bridge
The Philips Hue Bridge is the central hub that controls up to 50 Hue lights via the app. Manage your lighting remotely and integrate with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.
Philips Hue B22 White Smart Filament Bulb With Bluetooth
This stylish LED bulb adds a touch of vintage charm to your home lighting, while offering full control via your phone. It’s also compatible with most smart home systems.
Philips Hue Smart Lightstrip Plus 2m With Bluetooth
This flexible light strip can be shaped and attached to any solid surface using adhesive backing. Choose from 16 million colours to create the perfect ambiance for any room.
Appliances Direct
Appliances Direct has a solid range of energy-saving devices, from smart plugs to thermostats. They’re known for competitive pricing, so it’s a great place to pick up smart home devices without overspending.
Smart Thermostatic Towel Rail Heating Element
This clever device let's you dry towels without using your heating system. It features 5 temperature settings, precise control, a boost function, and frost protection.
White Dimmable Smart Wi-Fi Bulb
Set a regular schedule to control your light's brightness and timing automatically, and manage your lighting with voice commands through Alexa and Google Assistant.
electriQ WiFi Energy Monitoring Smart Plug
This WiFi smart plug allows remote control via your smartphone, schedules device operation, and monitors energy usage to help you save on electricity bills.
B&Q
(Image credit: Hive Store)
B&Q is a go-to for DIYers looking for budget-friendly energy-saving solutions. Their range of smart home devices can be purchased online for in store and offers everything from LED lighting to thermostats.
Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valve Head
This self-regulating smart radiator valve controls hot water flow into individual radiators, allowing you to manage heating room-by-room.
Hive Smart Heating & Hot Water Thermostat
The Hive smart heating and hot water thermostat is for use with systems and conventional boilers as a new install with smart features. You can control all your heating and hot water remotely.
Wireless Wifi Smart Plug
Easily control your devices with this WiFi smart plug, compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. Manage appliances remotely via the "Smart Life" app.
Wayfair
Known for stylish home decor, Wayfair offers a wide range of smart home products that blend both function and design. From energy-saving smart lights to helpful motion sensors, their selection is perfect for modern homes looking to reduce energy consumption while maintaining a sleek aesthetic.
Wifi Controlled Recessed Lighting
Create the perfect atmosphere with these dimmable, smart recessed ceiling lights. Control millions of colours and shades using the WiZ app, Alexa, or Google Home.
Wall Mounted Smart Door/Window Sensor
This smart sensor alerts your smartphone when doors or windows open and allowing warm air out. It offers easy wire-free installation and works on drawers and cabinets, too.
Carlette Led Smart Flush Ceiling Lights
This stylish ceiling light provides energy-saving, dimmable lighting with colour-changing options. It's ideal for living rooms and bedrooms and can be controlled via app.
All of these devices are a great way to lower your monthly bills by controlling the appliances that use the most electricity and energy in your home. Whether it’s smart plugs or thermostats, these gadgets help cut down on wasted power, making your home more efficient and cost-effective.
Get the Homebuilding & Renovating Newsletter
Bring your dream home to life with expert advice, how to guides and design inspiration. Sign up for our newsletter and get two free tickets to a Homebuilding & Renovating Show near you.
Gabriella is an interiors journalist and has a wealth of experience creating interiors and renovation content. She was Homebuilding & Renovating's former Assistant Editor as well as the former Head of Solved at sister brand Homes & Gardens, where she wrote and edited content addressing key renovation, DIY and interior questions.
She’s spent the past decade crafting copy for interiors publications, award-winning architects, and leading UK homeware brands. She also served as the Content Manager for the ethical homeware brand Nkuku.
Gabriella is a DIY enthusiast and a lover of all things interior design. She has a particular passion for historic buildings and listed properties, and she is currently in the process of renovating a Grade II-listed Victorian coach house in the West Country.
![Avatar Controls Smart Bulb Alexa Light Bulbs B22 Bayonet, Colour Changing Wifi Led Lamp Bulbs 9w Set of 2 Bulbs [energy Class F], White](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/odn9bgo23jUdWAASKdvQUi-1200-80.jpg.webp)
