Energy-saving smart home kit
Updated
A certified smart thermostat, three energy-monitoring plugs, a standby-cutting power strip and optional LED smart bulbs: the shopping list that targets heating, cooling and standby power, with realistic prices.
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Before you buy
This kit follows the ENERGY STAR idea of a smart home energy management system, which needs a certified smart thermostat, two certified smart lights or switches that measure energy use, and a plug load monitor or control such as a smart plug or power strip. ENERGY STAR does not quantify savings for the package, so be cautious about promises.
What pays, and what does not
- Thermostat. ENERGY STAR reports an average of 8% on heating and cooling costs, about $50 a year, for certified smart thermostats. The Department of Energy says up to 10% a year from a 7–10°F setback for 8 hours a day. This is the item with the largest payoff. Estimate yours with the smart thermostat savings calculator.
- Monitoring plugs. They do not save energy by themselves. They find waste: an old freezer, a space heater that stays on, a console in instant-on mode. Once you have found it, move the plug.
- Standby strip. The saving depends on what is behind it. A console in instant-on at roughly 10 W costs about $16 a year in standby at 18¢ per kWh; a TV at 1 W costs about $1.58. Use the standby savings calculator before you buy more than one.
- LED smart bulbs. The Department of Energy says residential LEDs use at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting. The savings come from the swap, not from the smart feature. Run the numbers in the LED bulb savings calculator.
Before you buy
- Check the thermostat wiring first; see smart thermostat without a C-wire. Line-voltage electric heat needs a line-voltage thermostat, and turning off power at the breaker is the first step. Hire a licensed electrician if you are unsure and follow local code.
- Look up utility offers on the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder; see rebates and utility programs.
- Pick one ecosystem for the plugs and bulbs (Matter, Zigbee or Wi-Fi) so the app shows everything in one place.
- Keep always-on gear out of the plan: routers, refrigerators, alarms, cameras and medical equipment.
Core items
ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat
$80–$280Heating and cooling are the biggest controllable part of most energy bills. This is where the savings are: lower temperatures when you sleep and when no one is home.
What to look for: ENERGY STAR certification, support for your system type (heat pump, 2-wire, line voltage), a C-wire or included adapter, away detection, utility program compatibility
See options on AmazonEnergy-monitoring smart plugs × 3
$12–$30They show what your refrigerator, a second freezer and your entertainment center really draw, so you act on measurements, not guesses. Move them to the next suspect once you have the number.
What to look for: watts and kWh reporting, 15 A rating, history kept in the app, UL or ETL listing, the protocol you use (Wi-Fi, Matter or Zigbee)
See options on AmazonSmart power strip that cuts standby
$25–$60Puts a TV stand or desk on one switch so a console, sound bar and boxes lose standby power together. It can be a master-controlled strip or a smart strip with individual outlets.
What to look for: master and controlled outlets or individually switched outlets, surge protection, a 15 A total rating, always-on outlets for the gear that must stay powered
See options on AmazonNice to have
LED smart bulbs for the busiest rooms × 4
$8–$20Replacing incandescent or halogen bulbs saves energy; the smart part adds schedules and dimming. Skip this item if your bulbs are already LEDs.
What to look for: lumens that match the old bulb, a color temperature you like, Matter, Zigbee or Wi-Fi to match your system, low standby power in the spec sheet
See options on AmazonPlug-in 24 VAC adapter for the thermostat
$15–$35Provides a C-wire connection when the thermostat’s power adapter is missing and you cannot open the furnace.
What to look for: 24 VAC output, compatible with your thermostat’s instructions, long enough cord for the wall
See options on AmazonPlug-in power meter for one-off checks
$15–$30A no-account, no-app way to measure a device that must not sit on a smart plug, such as a sump pump or a medical device.
What to look for: watts and kWh display, 15 A rating, readable display
See options on AmazonStep by step
- Photograph your thermostat wiring, check compatibility with the maker’s tool, then install the thermostat with the system’s power off at the breaker or furnace switch.
- Set a schedule with a 7–10°F setback overnight and while away, then turn on away detection.
- Plug each monitoring plug into a wall outlet and connect a refrigerator, a second freezer or the entertainment center. Disable any on/off schedules on the refrigerator plug.
- Leave them for 24 hours, read the kWh and multiply by 365 to estimate a yearly total.
- Put the TV stand or desk on the standby strip, with the router and any DVR on the always-on outlets.
- Replace incandescent bulbs in the rooms with the longest hours first, and set schedules and dimming.
- Review the numbers after a month and move the plugs to the next device.
Cheaper or upgraded versions
Budget version, about $50–$120: skip the smart thermostat for now. Buy a plug-in power meter, one monitoring plug and a master-controlled strip, and change the console power mode in the menu. Add a $25–$60 programmable thermostat if you have none.
Upgrade, a few hundred dollars more: add a whole-home energy monitor installed by a licensed electrician (a whole-home energy monitor), smart thermostat room sensors, and a hub for local control. Worth it for large homes or when time-of-use rates make timing matter.
Frequently asked questions
Which smart home devices actually save energy?
A smart thermostat saves energy by lowering temperatures when you are asleep or away, and LED bulbs by using less power than incandescent. Smart plugs and monitors save money mainly by revealing waste you can fix or cut.
Is an energy monitor worth buying?
A monitoring plug is worth it if you will move it around and act on what it finds. The standby saving it reveals is often $5–$30 a year per device group, so use a cheap plug-in meter first.
How long does it take to pay back?
It depends on the thermostat and your climate. With ENERGY STAR’s average of about $50 a year, a $150 thermostat pays back in about three years; with a $100 utility rebate, in about one year.
Do I need a hub?
No, if you use Wi-Fi plugs and a Wi-Fi thermostat. A hub or Matter controller helps when you add many devices and want automations to keep working during an internet outage.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR — Smart home energy management systems
- ENERGY STAR — Technical bulletin: ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver — Thermostats
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver — LED lighting
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Pulling the plug on standby power