Some smart thermostats are able to learn your routine and preferred temperatures, and program themselves accordingly.

Those who already use heating controls well Getting a smart thermostat as well could offer further savings, but if you already use a timer to schedule your heating you'll save less than someone who doesn't. If you want a connected thermostat system but your home doesn’t have the best wifi connection, consider this WundaSmart device. It’s fully smart – it lets you control temperatures in up to 30 different zones via an app and set geo-fencing perimeters to turn off the heating if you leave an area – but anyone with temperamental wifi will be glad to know that the thermostat also won’t stop working if the signal drops.For Alexa and Google Assistant-based smart homes, the TP-Link Kasa KP303 smart power strip is a worthy choice if you need several smart plugs in one location. It’s easy to use and even has a handy Away mode that will turn the plug on and off at random time. That's ideal if a radio or lamp is connected to one of the outlets, and you want to to help deter unwanted intruders. To use this feature, you'll need a thermostat that supports zonal heating and you will have to buy either an extra thermostat or another connected device such as a smart radiator valve. With two thermostats you could have different settings upstairs and downstairs. With smart radiator valves, you can control each room's temperature and schedule individually. The ability to learn your routine The Kasa app lets you set schedules to turn your device on or off based on time, sunrise or sunset. You can create a timer to have something run for a set length of time (handy for a space heater) or turn something on in a set amount of time (like your electric blanket just before you sit down for dinner).

The Hive Active plug requires either a Hive Active Heating thermostat or Hive Hub, but once you have that, it's simple to set up and use. You can create a schedule (with up to six time slots per day), trigger the plug using the Hive app on your phone, or link it to a Hive switch or sensor.It also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit. Also consider if you need the ability to monitor how much energy a device connected to the smart plug is using, and if so, does the smart plug work out the subsequent cost if you enter your energy tariff details, too. Before selecting the right smart thermostat for you, there are some aspects to consider.As we’ve already mentioned, there are two types of smart thermostats to consider. Smart thermostats that control your system as a whole are usually more affordable and easier to install than smart thermostats that offer zonal control. However, you may find you’re still heating or cooling rooms that you’re not using and subsequently wasting energy and money. The original Hive Thermostat remains a great choice but the latest model, the Thermostat Mini, is smaller, slimmer, arguably prettier, and considerably cheaper while having almost as many features. Be aware that a smart thermostat doesn't solve underlying lifestyle choices or poor property insulation issues. While a learning thermostat can help, if you're likely to forget to use the app, or want your heating on full blast all the time, then you're unlikely to save money with a smart thermostat. Similarly, if you have a poorly insulated property it may be better to improve the energy efficiency of your home first.

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Instead of a rechargeable battery or mains power, the Thermostat Mini requires four AAA batteries (included). The separate receiver is simple to install if you’re confident though, which helps keep costs down. Can you easily reset the smart thermostat? If you leave, you won't want the next tenants to be able to access your account or data. So make sure the smart thermostat you install can be easily reset and you can delete your account from the smartphone app. Some smart thermostats also monitor how you heat your home and learn your routine, allowing you a more hands-off approach to scheduling your heating. They might look like an ordinary adaptor or extension lead, but they can do so much more, connecting to your wifi and letting you manage your gadgets from an app on your phone. With smart plugs, it's also important to consider the number of outlets a smart plug offers. The majority will have one, but if you have several devices close together than you want to control from your smartphone, a power strip, which can have up to four smart outlets in one device, will be a more cost effective solution.