7 Smart Home Devices than Could Help Lower Your Utility Bills

7 Smart Home Devices That Could Help Lower Your Utility Bills

Reduce your energy waste with these innovative upgrades.

By Timothy Dale 

 

Published on June 11, 2026

Credit: 

Saklakova / Getty Images

A house is operated by a series of appliances and systems, each responsible for a different aspect of convenience and care, including heating, lighting, power, water, cleaning, cooking, and more. While they might be what's most comfortable to use, older technology often lacks modern conveniences, such as temperature monitoring, leak detection, and occupancy sensors.

By investing in new devices, you can take advantage of these features to save more on your energy bills each month and reduce waste. Use this guide to discover the smart tech upgrades that are actually worth the money.

1. Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats let you control your home's heating and cooling with an app on your phone or via voice commands through a connected smart hub. This device can also learn your daily routines and set specific heating and cooling schedules to reduce overall waste, which can often save homeowners between $100 to $200 annually. If you are still not convinced, you can always ask your local HVAC tech for more information about smart thermostats and whether your home would benefit from installing one.

2. Leak Detectors

Unseen leaks can cause significant damage, especially in areas of the home where you rarely spend time, such as the basement. Additionally, an active leak often results in costly damage. With a smart leak detector, you can set one up near washing machines, water heaters, or under sinks, where they can detect leaks immediately and send a notification to your phone, letting you take action as soon as possible.

Just having these leak detectors is often enough to help you save money, since many home insurance plans offer a premium discount when they're installed. However, not all insurance companies offer the same discounts, so it's important to speak with your insurance rep first.

3. LED Smart Lights

Installing LED smart lights is an excellent way to reduce electricity usage in high-use areas of the home. You can connect them directly to your phone or via a compatible hub and set up automatic timers that turn the lights on and off at specified times, so that even if you forget, you won't be spending money to light the house all day while the sun is up.

You can also pair smart lights with occupancy sensors. As the name implies, these sensors are designed to detect whether the room is occupied. If the room is not occupied, the lights will automatically turn off. When used correctly, smart lights can save 20% to 40% on lighting costs, amounting to about $20 to $75 per year for the average household.

4. Smart Plugs and Power Strips

In some cases, the "smart" version of a specific item isn't visually appealing. But when you invest in smart plugs and power strips, you can easily connect your standard devices to your smart home network. The smart plugs and power strips can then be controlled through your phone or a connected smart home hub, allowing you to set operating schedules or turn off appliances and devices remotely.

This can help you to cut electronics that would otherwise remain in standby mode, using phantom energy all day long. By eliminating phantom energy loads from idle electronics, you can potentially save up to $100 annually.

 

5. Energy Monitoring Systems

In some cases, simply seeing where you are wasting money can help you develop better energy habits. This is where it is recommended to invest in a smart energy monitoring system that can provide real-time information on the energy your home is using and where it is being used.

However, it's important to keep in mind that for these systems to be effective, the entire home should use smart devices or be connected through smart plugs to a central hub, ensuring that no energy-using devices are left out of the monitoring display. When an energy monitoring system encourages beneficial changes to your energy habits, it can translate to over $300 in energy savings for high-usage households.

6. Smart Irrigation Controllers

If you have an irrigation system, investing in a smart irrigation controller is an excellent way to reduce water waste and increase your annual savings. These smart systems adjust the watering schedules based on weather forecasts, so you aren't watering the lawn when it is pouring outside. They can also allow you to remotely turn the system on or off and set specific operating schedules. Average annual savings are often reported between $150 and $300, though this depends on local water rates and property size.

7. Smart Appliances

Of course, it will cost more to purchase a smart appliance than a similar appliance that lacks smart technology, but the potential long-term savings can quickly offset this initial price difference. Smart appliances, such as washers, dryers, and dishwashers, can be programmed to run only during off-peak hours, helping you save on electricity costs.

They can also be used to optimize energy use for loads based on each load's contents, so you aren't using more energy than necessary. This allows these devices to reduce the energy they would otherwise use each time they run, saving you up to 10% on appliance energy costs.

Get the Most Out of Your Smart Devices

There are many ways you can ensure you get the most out of your smart devices, especially if you have more than one in your home or are looking to add more in the near future. Check out these helpful tips to make the most of your devices' benefits.

• Centralized control: Use a single ecosystem (like Google, Apple, or Alexa) to manage all devices, ensuring compatibility across platforms.
• Create routines: Automate daily tasks, such as turning off all lights and locking doors when you say "Goodnight."
• Use smart plugs: Turn non-smart appliances, such as lamps and coffee makers, into smart devices.
• Organize naming: Use a consistent naming convention, like "Living Room Lamp", for easier voice control. 
• Update software regularly: Enable automatic updates to keep devices secure and functional.
• Use Geofencing: Program lights, cameras, and HVAC systems to activate when you're in range.
• Multi-timer display: Use smart displays to manage multiple kitchen timers simultaneously. 
• Check for rebates with utility providers: Energy companies often offer rebates for smart thermostats, LED bulbs, and smart plugs.