Energy-smart homes: 6 ways to reduce your bills and carbon footprint

Published on 15 December 2025 by:

Jessica Rawstron

Smart Energy Engineer, British Gas

Saving energy is good for the planet, and saving energy can save you money, so it’s good for your pocket too. And smart home technology is one of the simplest ways to save energy at home.

Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, estimates that the typical household in England, Scotland and Wales uses 2,700kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas in a year¹. The amount of energy you actually use could be higher or lower than the average. Your bills will show exactly what you’re using, and our average energy bill guide helps you understand how your usage compares.

Cutting your energy use can cut your bills, and smart home technology like the clever eco-tech from our friends at Hive can help you do just that. Check out these smart home gadgets to get you started.

Smart home key takeaways

• Energy saving smart home devices can help you save money
  
  
• A smart home thermostat like those from our friends at Hive can help you save on heating
  
  
• Premium Hive+ membership could save even more with personalised energy saving tips
  
  
• Enjoy room-by-room control with thermostatic radiator valves
  
  
• Smart lights can save energy, and help with security by making it look like there’s someone at home
  
  
• Keep an eye on how much energy you’re using with a smart meter
  
  
• Smart plugs can get you out of the energy hungry standby habit and make any appliance smart

How can smart home devices save you energy?

Smart home devices are connected by the internet, so that you can control them remotely from your phone. They’re simple to use, and you can connect them so that they work automatically around you. It may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but 45% of people in the UK already use smart home devices². And it’s expected to hit nearly 85% by 2026, according to Statista.

With many smart home devices, you can see exactly how much energy you’re using – and sometimes how much it’s costing you. By becoming more aware of how and when you use energy, it can help you see where you can save. And because smart home devices offer remote control, you can switch things off while you’re on the go so they can help you to stop wasting energy if plans change.

1. Take control of your heating with a smart thermostat

Whether you’re at home or out and about, a smart thermostat lets you control your heating with your smartphone or tablet so you can save money. Hive thermostats are Which? recommended and work with your existing heating system. You can choose between the best-selling Hive Thermostat, or the more affordable Hive Thermostat Mini that has all the same features but is smaller and sleeker.

If you forget to switch your heating off before you go out, or you’re going to be home later than planned, just tap the app to turn it off. No more energy or money wasted on heating an empty home. And you can set your own schedule so the heating’s only on when you need it. It’s super handy too. All comfy on the sofa, but feeling a bit chilly? Just tap the app to boost your heating without even pressing pause on your boxset!

Whether you’re at home or out and about, a smart thermostat lets you control your heating with your smartphone or tablet so you can save money. Hive thermostats are Which? recommended and work with your existing heating system. You can choose between the best-selling Hive Thermostat, or the more affordable Hive Thermostat Mini that has all the same features but is smaller and sleeker.

If you forget to switch your heating off before you go out, or you’re going to be home later than planned, just tap the app to turn it off. No more energy or money wasted on heating an empty home. And you can set your own schedule so the heating’s only on when you need it. It’s super handy too. All comfy on the sofa, but feeling a bit chilly? Just tap the app to boost your heating without even pressing pause on your boxset!

2. Turn your heating down by just one single degree

According to the experts at the Energy Savings Trust, turning down your thermostat by just one degree can generate big savings – typically about 10% on your energy bill³. It doesn’t mean freezing your way through winter though – just go for the lowest comfortable temperature, which is typically between 18 and 22 degrees.

Hive+ is an even smarter way to save, and helps you get the most out of your Hive thermostat. Joining unlocks exclusive access to Hive’s most advance money-saving tools, so you can monitor your energy usage 24/7 and spot quick ways to save. Hive+ can give you tailored tips to save that are personalised to your home or even learn your heating habits then tweak your settings automatically if you prefer. You can set budgets and make sure you stay within them – and lower your carbon footprint too.

3. Control the temperature of every room with TRVs

With Thermostatic Radiator Valves you can have exactly the temperature you want in every part of your home – so no more shivering your way through the crossword in one room while someone else is sweating it out on an online Zumba class in another. Hive Radiator Valves are super easy to fit, and a quick tap of the app lets you set the temperature room by room.

You save energy and money by only heating the space you’re using. Teen off to uni? Switch their radiator off during term time while the rest of the house stays cosy. All gathered in the living room for movie night? Not only can you turn off the radiators in the rest of the house, but you can also set them to come on 10 minutes before the film ends so everyone’s toasty when they go to bed.

4. Swap out your regular light bulbs for smart ones

Traditional light bulbs were invented over a century ago and were extremely inefficient, only converting about 5% of the electricity they use into visible light. The technology has come on leaps and bounds since then, and today’s LED lights can significantly reduce your home’s carbon emissions.

Going for smart Hive Lights can help you save even more energy and money. Popped upstairs to grab something and got distracted? A quick tap of the app turns off the living room light without traipsing downstairs again. You can set schedules remotely too, which is great for security as it can look as if someone’s at home when the house is empty, as well as turning them on and off and adjusting the colour or brightness.

5. Install a smart meter to monitor your energy use

You know roughly how much energy you use each month, but do you know what that breaks down to each day? With a smart meter, you can keep an eye on your energy use – and cost – in pretty much real time.

Armed with that info, you can see where you’re spending – and where you can save. That could be by running your washing machine at a time when the tariff’s lower – like during PeakSave Sundays - or taking shorter showers to save water and energy. You can even set a budget, and check if you’re on track to stay within it, which will help you change your habits and lower your bills.

6. Get out of the standby habit with smart plugs

According to the Energy Savings Trust, you can save a few pounds a month⁴ by not leaving your appliances in standby mode when you’re not using them. Most can be switched off at the wall without issue (although check your satellite or digital TV recorder instructions, they may need to be left on to keep track of what you want to record).

But if it’s a faff to reach the plug each night, standby mode is often the much easier option. The Hive Plug allows you to switch appliances off at the wall with just a quick tap of the app – no more contortions to the back of the cupboard or behind the sofa to get to it!

Powering the future with British Gas

Smart tech is a really simple way to turn yours into an energy-smart home – and it’s affordable too. Many devices cost under £100, so are one of the best ways to save energy at home.

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