Be wise about smart appliances 

Before buying new appliances, such as a smart dryer, research how the features work to understand whether they are beneficial to your lifestyle and help lower energy use. Photo: Samsung

Smart appliances—such as refrigerators, washers, ovens, thermostats and water heaters—connect to the internet and can be controlled using your smartphone, tablet or voice-assistant device. 

Many smart appliances allow you to see how much energy each device consumes. That information can be helpful to better understand your energy habits and identify where energy may be going to waste. 

Smart thermostats are a popular choice for managing energy use and reducing energy waste, since heating and cooling systems are usually a home’s biggest sources of energy consumption. 

Most energy savings from a smart thermostat come from automating temperature adjustments while you are sleeping or away from home. If you are already good at manually adjusting your thermostat, you likely won’t see big savings, but you might prefer the convenience of a programmable device you can control on an app. 

Hot water heaters 

The second-highest energy user in most homes is the water heater. Smart heat pump water heaters and hybrid heat pump water heaters have smart controls, enabling you to save more energy. These water heaters may let you monitor energy use, change settings and check hot water availability. They can also be set to vacation mode when you’re leaving the house for a trip. Not all heat pump water heaters have smart technology, so be sure to check before buying. 

While smart appliances can be beneficial, do some research before upgrading to understand how the features work and whether they benefit your lifestyle. In some cases, you’re better off improving your energy habits with the appliances already in your home.

Smart questions

Whether smart appliances are right for your home depends on your preferences and types of appliances you already have. But the better question to ask might be whether smart appliances are right for you. Do you like the newest tech and typically keep your phone within arm’s reach? Do you enjoy the convenience of calling out commands to Alexa? Or do you prefer less technology or something in between?