Prices and data updated 30/03/2022
With increasing energy bills looming in 2022, it’s more important than ever before that we find out ways to save money, and the effort should start at home. Saving money on your energy bills is a great way to boost the balance in your bank account, reserving funds for things that are more important for you and your family.
But saving energy around the house is about so much more than saving a few pennies (or hundreds of pounds) on your household bills. With the international climate crisis dominating the headlines, many people are looking for ways to go easier on the environment. Preventing the unnecessary waste of energy is something that every household can do with ease.
The devices below will often mean spending more money upfront, but the long-term benefits will be worth it.
Why invest in energy-saving tech?
With fuel prices, household bills, and living costs rising sharply in 2022, there’s never been a better time to invest in energy-saving technology – and the UK have been quick to jump on the energy-saving trend. We can see a gradual rise in interest for energy-saving tech beginning in the back end of 2021, according to Google trends – continuing from a sharp rise earlier in the year.
Most people choose to invest in energy-saving tech so that they can reduce their carbon footprint in sensible and straightforward ways. Energy-saving gadgets are designed to carry out typical household functions without users noticing the difference. You can expect the items on this list to run smoothly and effectively, all while saving energy and money.[i]
In addition to helping heal the planet, saving energy just makes good sense (and good cents). That’s right – you’ll save money each time you use these gadgets, which can really add up over time.
Of course, in many cases, the best thing you can do for the planet is to use your existing gadgets until they are defunct and no longer repairable. Even if you can find a model that would save you some pennies (or even pounds) in energy each month, the environmental cost of shipping, packaging, and sourcing the new product nullifies the energy savings. Instead, keep these gadgets in mind and make your purchase when your existing one goes kaput.
Best energy-saving gadgets for 2022
Here are some of the best energy-saving gadgets for 2022. Some require a hefty investment, while others are a reasonable alternative the next time you need to replace an existing household appliance. With just a few simple tweaks to your daily routine and some new gadgets, you’ll be ready to save money and energy.
1. Make a more efficient cuppa with a Russell Hobbs 21600 Glass Energy Efficient Kettle
In most houses, it seems that the kettle is boiling from dawn ’til dusk, making countless cups of tea, coffee, pot noodles, and more. But your kettle could be costing you extra energy – and money. The next time you need to replace your kettle, consider going for an energy-efficient model.
We like the latest Russell Hobbs glass model, which also has a one cup setting, so you never waste extra water or electricity, and boasts a 66% increase in energy efficiency over typical kettles. Not to mention, its glass design and blue light give it a futuristic and stylish look that will upgrade your kitchen.
Switching to an energy saving kettle could save you £20 – £25 a year
2. Heat your shed or small space with a Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool fan heater
Heating a shed in winter can be a tough challenge, and space heaters are often a good solution.[iii] Although it comes with a pretty price tag (£399), this Dyson space heater gives you a lot of power and efficiency for your money.
Why should you consider it, even at this price point? The Dyson runs silently and comes complete with the brand’s ‘Jet Focus’ control that maintains a consistent and powerful airflow. Did we mention how easy it is to clean? With no blades or visible elements, it just takes a damp cloth to tidy it up. Plus, it doubles as a cooling fan for the heat of the summer.[iv]
While this is an excellent choice for a garden shed heater and is perfect for adding warmth to a room in your home, radiant underfloor heating can be an even better choice. Over time, energy savings help mitigate the cost of the installation. Underfloor heating suppliers can give you shed insulation tips, and more information about this energy-efficient option for your home.
3. Light up your home with Philips Hue Smart Light Bulbs
Sure, energy-saving bulbs can help you save a little bit of cash and electricity, but the light they cast doesn’t look or feel very nice. Thankfully, energy-efficient LED light bulbs look great, and only require a slightly larger investment.[v]
You’ll save even more on your lighting bill if you connect your bulbs to your home’s smart home system. Starting from £69.99, the Philips Hue Starter Kit gives you everything you need to set up your home lighting and control everything from your smartphone. They cast lovely light, last up to 25,000 hours of use, and use 85% less energy than typical light bulbs. Spectacular!
These bulbs can save you around £35 a year. That’s a meal at a restaurant – not bad for swapping a few lightbulbs!
4. Revolutionise your shower with the Rymerce Ionic Handheld Shower Head
Do you feel guilty about taking long showers? Despite their relaxing and calming effects, showers use up a lot of water and can run up your electricity bill. Reducing your shower energy consumption is easier than you might think.
The Rymerce Ionic Handheld Shower Head uses 30% less water than typical showerheads and maintains intense water pressure by more than 200%, all by forcing water through micro pinholes and the mineral balls visible in the clear handle.
This shower costs £25, but is frequently on sale. It will save you £20 – £30 per year.
5. Prevent energy wastage with an Oridget Digital Daily Programmable Timer Plug Socket
When you leave your small appliances plugged in, and your plugs switched on, you’re wasting money and energy.
We especially love the Oridget Digital Daily Programmable Timer Plug Socket for our smartphones. It only takes a few hours to charge your phone completely, so you can set your plug timer to switch off in the middle of the night. You’ll get a fully charged phone without needlessly wasting energy. In addition to charging your phone, use the timer plug socket for flicking on a space heater, turning on a humidifier, or switching your TV plug off throughout the night. They’ll only set you back around £22 per plug.
6. Use the Energenie Smart Plug Adaptor to take control of your plugs with your smartphone
In the event that you’re not using a timer plug socket, or if you want even more control, you need a smart plug adaptor. Sometimes your timer settings aren’t consistent, and you need (or don’t need) the plug when you thought you would. While you can wander around your home and switch off all of the outlets, that takes ages, and you’re sure to miss one or forget.
Instead, connect your plugs wirelessly to the Energenie Smart Plug, which allows you to turn your plugs on and off from your smartphone. You don’t even need to be at home to have full control. You can get a 3-pack for just £32.00.
7. Control your home’s heating with a Nest Smart Thermostat
This entry on our list can really save you some serious cash. By watching your heat consumption and reducing wherever possible, you can slash your heating bill by more than 10%. However, to start saving, you need to stop heating empty rooms and allowing heat to leak out of draughty windows.
Take control of your heating needs with a Nest Smart Thermostat, starting from £199 and going up to £219 – a small investment to save money over the years. Over time, this clever gadget learns about your daily habits and starts to take control of your heating needs, even using your phone GPS location to switch off the heat when you’re out.
You can expect savings of up to £350 per year, which helps you quickly recoup your initial costs.
8. Monitor your devices with a Geo Minim Plug-in Energy Monitor
This entry on our list is truly the piece de resistance, as it oversees all of your energy usage throughout the entire house. An energy monitor helps you stay on top of the house much more effectively than waiting all month for your bills to arrive. Instead, keep an eye on it in real-time. Just place it in a high-traffic area, check the readings, and adjust your energy usage as needed.
Retailing at around £44.95, the Geo Minim Electricity Energy Monitor will help you save up to £50 per year.
BONUS – Install a Chimney Sheep to prevent your money from going up the chimney
This is a 2022 bonus, because while we can’t quite justify calling the Chimney Sheep a ‘gadget,’ it does such a tremendous job at saving heat that we just have to include it on the list! The Chimney Sheep is a draught excluder, which means it blocks heat from escaping up your chimney.
While this may not seem like a pressing concern, a draught excluder can save you a cool £75 each year.
There you have it – our 2022 list of the best energy-saving gadgets. Which are you most excited about testing out?
Reference list
Gallizzi, B. (2020). Energy-saving gadgets | money.co.uk. [online] www.money.co.uk. Available at: https://www.money.co.uk/energy/guides/energy-saving-gadgets[Accessed 16 Nov. 2020].
Is, T. (2014). How much energy can you save? [online] This is Money. Available at: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2642839/How-energy-save-From-simple-tricks-long-term-gains-cut-bills.html [Accessed 16 Nov. 2020].
Laver (2019). Heating a Shed in Winter: Tips and Solutions | Arnold Laver Blog. [online] www.laveronline.co.uk. Available at: https://www.laveronline.co.uk/blog/2019/12/heating-a-shed-in-winter-tips-and-solutions/ [Accessed 16 Nov. 2020].
Morrissy-Swan, T. (2018). The best electric heaters for portable use around the house. The Telegraph. [online] 7 Nov. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/recommended/home/best-electric-heater-portable-use-around-house/ [Accessed 16 Nov. 2020].
Ovo Energy (2019). The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Energy Saving Light Bulbs | OVO Energy. [online] Ovoenergy.com. Available at: https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/energy-guides/energy-saving-light-bulbs.html [Accessed 17 Nov. 2020].
[i] https://www.money.co.uk/energy/guides/energy-saving-gadgets
[ii] https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2642839/How-energy-save-From-simple-tricks-long-term-gains-cut-bills.html
[iii] https://www.laveronline.co.uk/blog/2019/12/heating-a-shed-in-winter-tips-and-solutions/
[iv] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/recommended/home/best-electric-heater-portable-use-around-house/
[v] https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/energy-guides/energy-saving-light-bulbs.html
