In these unprecedented times, saving as much money as you can is of vital importance. Equally important is doing your bit to reduce your carbon footprint. The constant advancement of technology makes it easier for us to track, change and reduce our energy consumption. We have compiled a comprehensive list for you to compare the best energy saving apps that will help keep your consumption, and your bills, as low as possible.
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There are so many energy saving apps on the market that it can be difficult to know where to begin. These are a some of the best free energy saving apps around:
Energy Cost Calculator
If you are keen to save energy, but don’t know which appliance is consuming the most energy, this app is perfect for you. Enter the energy consumption of the appliance, how long you’ve had it for and it’s cost per Watt. The Energy Cost Calculator will give you cost/usage by day, month or year, as well as CO2 emissions information. It also allows you to see how much you could save by comparing energy use.
Bear in mind that it is not 100% accurate as it does not have access to your tariff information. For a free app, though, it is definitely useful, giving you an indication of where you might be overspending and helping you use your appliances more efficiently.
iOS and Android users can download Energy Cost Calculator today on their respective app stores.
Joulebug
Joulebug brings a fun, rewarding approach to sustainability. Its main purpose is to help you develop sustainable habits that you carry out every day. It encourages you to replace actions that consume energy with more green ones.
Joulebug rewards you with features similar to a game. This fresh approach is exciting and your efforts are rewarded with trophies. It also allows you to share your accomplishments with your friends and compete against each other in challenges. With its slick design and layout, this app provides iOS and Android users with an innovative approach to energy efficiency.
Energy Consumption Analyzer
Available to Android users, Energy Consumption Analyzer makes it so easy to see accurate readings of your daily energy consumption. The app works by asking you to manually input your metered data, which it uses to gives you lots of metrics on your gas, electricity and water usage. The app lets you colour-code data and add comments to readings so you can visualize where you are spending too much money – information you can use to get better energy deals in the future.
This app is perfect for people who don’t have a smart meter, or live in a property that cannot yet successfully use a smart meter. But beware, this app can be slightly overwhelming at first and there is a lack of clear instructions.
Smappee
The Smappee app is free for Android and iOS, but it does need the Smappee Energy Monitor to fully work. The hardware costs £229, which is considerable. In return though, users get a whole wealth of information at their fingertips, from standby energy consumption of your devices to projecting costs for your utilities. As is the standard with energy apps these days, you can also control energy use remotely via smart devices and plugs, perfect for when you are not home. Finally, it is accredited with the seal of approval from WWF!
British Gas Smart App
British Gas really pulled out all the stops with this one. This app is for British Gas customers so it technically isn’t free.
It doesn’t just provide billing information. If you’re a smart meter customer it can link with your smart meter. You can then set budgets, monitor your energy usage and get insights on which parts of your home are using the most energy. This app is a one-stop shop for everything you could need, including calling out an engineer and making bill payments. There is also a feature where you can earn rewards such as cinema tickets and restaurant deals.
If it sounds like something you’d like to use, then this might be a reason to switch to an energy deal from British Gas.
Hive
Smart home technology is taking over and energy efficiency apps are getting on board. You can now control the majority of your appliances from your smartphone. With Hive you can also add paying your bills to this list.
Hive states that it can save customers up to £130 a year. With such a huge saving it is no wonder Hive is one of the best green apps around. However, the hardware isn’t cheap – it costs around £199 and must be installed by a British Gas engineer.
You certainly do get your money’s worth though. Notable features include: