02 April 2024 , 07:30
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This April a handful of household staple bills will go up in price to cover inflation rates, including mobile, broadband, council tax, and TV costs. For once energy tariffs are left off the price hike list but that doesn't mean customers will pay any less.
From April 1 Ofgem has dropped the price cap by an average of 12.3% meaning some customers will pay £20 a month less from today, Easter Monday. However, as Martin Lewis' team at Money Saving Experts points out, standing charges are going up meaning most payers won't feel a relief on their wallets anytime soon.
What you pay for gas and electricity facilities will be increasing to £334 a year, that's just under £30 a month, for all direct debit customers. So it's safe to say scrimping on energy usage will still be a top priority for many billpayers, and these three devices could help you do exactly that.
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There are a number of gadgets out there can that help you use less energy, and save money off your bills in the process. From controlling your home's temperature form the ease of your phone, setting personal schedules (to ensure you're not wasting any consumption) to easy kitchen cost-cutting appliances.
Smart plugs + sockets
- Hive has taken 25% off its smart plugs this April - BUY HERE
From Tapo to Hive and Google Nest these simple plug-in gadgets sit between your appliance and the wall socket to track each output of energy - you can connect to Wi-Fi and even to the Alexa app to track exactly how much energy you are using.
Not only does this help users identify where they can cut down on usage, but it also doubles up as a smart appliance - as you'll be able to control the device through the Tapo or Hive app.
As well as the Hive Plug, the Tapo Smart Plug is another well-known device used for tracking energy appliance usage, in fact, it's one we've reviewed ourselves here at The Mirror.
Smart Plugs, like Tapo being used here, track how much energy a plug-in device is using (Harriet Morphy-Morris)"These pieces of plug-in tech may look underwhelmingly simple, which was my first impression when I opened the box, but they boast a range of home improvement qualities that’ll take your home to a smart hub", said our reviewer.
The plugs are designed to stay on 24/7 monitoring the usage and any gaps where users may be able to change device settings to make small energy savings. As our review explains: "I chose to monitor our living room TV and the dehumidifier/fan in the bedroom, simply because I knew we'd use them the most over the next few days.
"The Tapo P100 plugs are designed to stay on at all times, so you can control the devices around the house. Away Mode, a feature that intelligently simulates someone being home by turning the plugged-in device (like a lamp) on and off, makes it appear that someone is home, even when you're not.
"You can see the energy figures for each plug by clicking the 'show more' option on the Tapo app, which is where I found out our dehumidifier costs us 3p to run for the whole night, not bad in my opinion.
"To get the figures enter your average price per kWh under the 'bill of this month' tab, it'll then work out the numbers depending on how much kWh of energy the device uses." You can buy a Tapo Smart Plug, here, at Amazon for just £8.99.
Airfryers
Air fryers, like this Ninja Foodi Dual Zone model, will help cut energy costs in the kitchen thanks to their speedy cooking times (Ninja)Cooking meals in a fraction of the time needed for conventional ovens, even cooking dinners in less time so ovens take to pre-heat, investing in an air fryer is one way to reduce your kitchen energy costs.
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It's purely down to time, as these plug-in worktop appliances need a lot less run time. And brands like Ninja, which will not only save you money each time you cook, are available to buy for a lot less as we speak.
Ninja has dropped £70.99 off the price of its Foodi Max Dual Zone model, dropping the price down to £179. With two draws you can cook completely different meals at once and make the most of it's six different functions from roast, bake, air fry and rehydrate (to name a few).
Smart thermostats
This is another chance where you can make the most of Hive's current Spring Sale, as both its Hive Thermostat and Hive Thermostat Mini are cut in price. Now offering bill payers a convenient way to keep track of their home's temperature., and the ability to make cuts if they ever feel they're spending too much.
Smart thermostats let you control every inch of your home's heating (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Smart thermostats allow you to control your heating wherever you are, from the ease of a mobile app similar to the perks offered with the smart Tapo and Hive plugs above. This means you don’t have to rely on a fixed schedule, which can often be less cost-effective.
Installing a smart thermostat means you'll be able to adjust your heating to fit in with your own routine, so making sure the hot water is ready for your 6am shower and turned off by 9am when you know the house is empty, for example.