What is home heating technology?

Technology is enabling home-owners to have more control over the systems within their homes than ever before. Sure, some of these connected home devices can be a bit gimmicky, does your bin really need to be connected? Others, such as home heating and home lighting devices, can be genuinely useful, help reduce bills and deliver in-the-hand convenience.

What is heating technology?

Heating technology typically consists of smart meters, smart thermostats and integrated smart heating systems. They all need an internet connection and they all perform different tasks for the home-owner. The overall aim of the technology is to deliver energy-savings (after an initial installation setup cost on some equipment) and to deliver consumer convenience. New build homes use the latest insulation, glazing and other building materials to deliver a smart design solution to efficiency. These advances in technology are now offering a new route to increased energy efficiency.

What is a smart meter?

Smart meters have been a common piece of kit in America for some time. Here in the UK, a Government ordained roll out of the technology has seen a rapid rise in the uptake of smart meters. A smart meter is used to take a digital meter reading of your gas and electricity usage.

The Government set itself an ambitious target of fitting every home with smart meters by 2020. However, you do have the right to refuse a smart meter should you not want one.

According to Smart Energy GB, the independent organisation behind the UK-wide smart meter rollout, at its simplest, a smart meter is “an in-home display screen that shows you exactly how much energy you're using in pounds and pence, in near real time and will bring an end to estimated bills”.

Your supplier digitally receives information from the smart meter in order for them to provide an accurate bill. So there’s no longer any need to let a stranger into your home to provide a verified reading.

What is the difference between a smart meter and a smart thermostat?

A smart thermostat is not required to be fitted by any Government legislation, nor does it send information to your energy provider. It is up to you if you want to include the technology in your home to help reduce bills and increase convenience. A smart meter is plug and play whilst a smart thermostat requires installation from a registered engineer.

What is a smart thermostat?

Smart thermostats and smart heating systems are essentially devices that integrate into your home heating system, and via a wireless connection to your internet router, enable you to control your heating from your phone. You can adjust settings, monitor temperature levels and receive threshold alerts.

You can integrate smart thermostats into other home control technology systems, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home. This enables you to control your heating through voice activation. And of course, the smart thermostats all have an app that enables you to control your heating and more from your phone. Out for the night but want to return to a warm home? Simply boost your heating for an hour before you get back.

Do smart thermostats save money?

Home automation producer Nest, suggest “smart thermostats can create an annual 10% to 12% savings on heating”. It is also thought that by paying more attention to your heating use, you will likely use less energy and save money. Combining this technology with modern day building materials and the energy efficiencies of a new build home could help reduce your ongoing energy costs too. To ensure your energy consumption is minimised, all new build properties have to comply with energy efficiency regulations and are built with superior insulation.

It’s worth doing your research into the smart heating system you need for your property. Different sized properties and house types will have different needs and you may also need to consider what other home tech you have that you might want to integrate. Here is a useful review of various smart heating technology products on the market.