Energy crisis drives the adoption of smart technology

UK homeowners are turning to smart home technology to reduce their energy bills, according to a new report from Drayton and Schneider Electric. 

 

The study of 2,000 British homeowners found that almost 74% have adapted their behaviour over the last 12 months to use less energy during the energy crisis, with 26% of people measuring or tracking their energy usage and 14% investing in a smart thermostat to control their heating, both to reduce energy bills. 

 

The most popular smart technology devices, smart thermostats and smart energy monitors rank highly in the UK (second and third respectively), beaten only by voice assistants. 

 

In addition, UK homeowners made a series of more traditional changes to their lifestyle and behaviours to decrease their energy consumption, with 52% of respondents lowering the temperature of their heating at home and 41% limiting their usage of hot water. 

 

The findings form part of Schneider Electric’s global study of more than 9,000 homeowners, tracking their attitudes and behaviour towards energy efficiency and sustainability. The energy crisis dominated the survey’s results, particularly when looking at UK homeowners’ top concerns, with energy efficiency ranking first (+14 points year-on-year). The study found that British homeowners are concerned about reducing their energy use, so much so that they are willing to invest an average of around £1,250 in energy efficiency measures in the next 12 months.

 

The research also showed that smart technology users were twice as optimistic about achieving net zero ambitions, compared to those who are yet to invest. 51% of the UK’s population believe it is important for homes to become more sustainable but levels of optimism around achieving this have fallen compared to the 2021 survey results. 

 

Jeremy Palmer, General Director at Drayton, comments, “A real positive of this study was just how many UK homeowners (71%) believe it is important to reduce their carbon footprint. However, it is concerning to see the impact of the energy crisis and it is shocking to hear that 43% of UK homeowners would sacrifice their comfort in an attempt to reduce energy use and keep bills down. 

 

“It is clear that more needs to be done to educate homeowners about the cost-effective ways they can improve their energy consumption without having to make these sacrifices. For instance, by upgrading their heating system with the introduction of smart thermostats and multi-zoning, homeowners can still enjoy a warm home, without having to overspend by heating empty rooms. Whilst 34% of respondents consider smart technology an easy way to reduce energy use, there continues to be an opportunity here for installers to educate and help customers implement energy-saving measures that will have an immediate and tangible impact on their bills, without compromising comfort.”