Real‑world examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency

The best examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency in 2024–2025

When people ask for examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency, they usually get a vague answer: “Use smart devices to save energy.” That’s useless. Let’s talk about specific, real‑world setups that are actually cutting bills and emissions right now.

The best examples include systems that do three things at once:

• Automate boring tasks (like turning things off)
• Respond to real‑time data (price, weather, occupancy)
• Coordinate with each other instead of acting like isolated gadgets

Here’s how that looks in practice across heating, cooling, water heating, lighting, appliances, and even your car.

Smart thermostats and connected HVAC: the flagship example of smart home efficiency

If you want a single example of smart home technology for energy efficiency that consistently pays off, it’s the smart thermostat paired with efficient HVAC.

Modern smart thermostats (think Google Nest, Ecobee, Resideo, and utility‑branded models) do a lot more than run a simple schedule:

• They use occupancy sensors or your phone’s location to adjust temperatures when you’re away.
• They learn how fast your home heats and cools, so they don’t overshoot.
• Many tap into local weather forecasts and utility price signals.

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that adjusting your thermostat 7–10°F for 8 hours a day can cut heating and cooling costs by about 10% a year. Smart thermostats automate that adjustment instead of relying on your memory. (Energy.gov)

Real example: A family in Phoenix pairs a smart thermostat with a high‑efficiency heat pump. The thermostat pre‑cools the home in the early morning when outdoor temperatures and grid demand are lower, then lets the temperature drift up a few degrees during the peak afternoon. The result: the home stays comfortable, the AC runs less during the most expensive hours, and their summer electric bill drops by double digits.

This is one of the cleanest, most proven examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency because it targets heating and cooling—the biggest energy hog in most U.S. homes.

Smart heat pump water heaters: invisible savings in the garage

Another underrated example of smart home technology for energy efficiency is the smart heat pump water heater. These units already use far less electricity than traditional electric resistance heaters, but the smart layer matters too.

Connected heat pump water heaters can:

• Heat water when electricity is cheaper or cleaner (off‑peak hours)
• Reduce power draw when your utility sends a peak alert
• Coordinate with rooftop solar, soaking up surplus midday generation

Many models now integrate with utility demand response programs. In some regions, homeowners get bill credits or one‑time rebates for letting the water heater automatically shift its heating schedule. The U.S. Department of Energy highlights heat pump water heaters as one of the highest‑impact upgrades for cutting home energy use. (Energy.gov)

Real example: In the Pacific Northwest, a homeowner with time‑of‑use rates sets their smart water heater to heat mainly between midnight and 6 a.m. The tank is well‑insulated, so hot water is still available all day, but the energy cost is significantly lower. The user doesn’t think about it; the app and utility do the coordination.

This is a textbook example of smart home technology for energy efficiency: you get savings without changing your daily habits.

Smart plugs, power strips, and appliance monitoring: killing standby waste

Not every upgrade needs to be a big‑ticket item. Smart plugs and power strips are some of the simplest examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency that almost anyone can use.

Here’s what they can do:

• Track the real‑time and historical energy use of whatever is plugged in
• Cut power to TVs, game consoles, and office gear when not in use
• Follow schedules or occupancy rules so devices aren’t on 24/7

Many people underestimate standby power—those small but constant draws from electronics that never really turn off. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has documented how standby loads can add up to 5–10% of residential electricity use. (LBNL.gov)

Real example: A remote worker plugs their dual monitors, docking station, and speakers into a smart strip. When their computer goes to sleep or they leave the home office, the strip cuts power to everything but the router. Over a year, that can mean dozens of kilowatt‑hours avoided, especially in setups with multiple displays and speakers.

Smart plugs are modest but very real examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency—especially in homes loaded with electronics.

Smart lighting: occupancy, daylight, and the end of “Did you turn the lights off?”

Smart lighting is often marketed for mood and color, but the stronger examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency focus on automation, not aesthetics.

Energy‑saving features typically include:

• Occupancy and vacancy sensing: lights shut off when no one’s in the room
• Daylight sensing: lights dim automatically when sunlight is strong
• Whole‑home scenes: one tap or voice command turns off all non‑needed lights

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that LED lighting already uses at least 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and lasts much longer. Adding smart controls multiplies those savings by cutting unnecessary runtime. (Energy.gov)

Real example: In a two‑story home, hallway and bathroom lights often get left on all night. Motion‑sensing smart switches automatically shut them off after a few minutes of no movement. Over a year, that’s hundreds of hours of lighting avoided, with no one having to nag anyone else.

While lighting isn’t the biggest load in modern homes, smart lighting is still one of the clearest, everyday examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency that people actually notice.

Smart appliances: refrigerators, washers, and dishwashers that listen to the grid

Smart appliances have a reputation for being gimmicky (“Why does my fridge need Wi‑Fi?”), but there are now real examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency in this category—especially when paired with time‑of‑use rates or demand response.

Energy‑aware appliances can:

• Delay or shift cycles to off‑peak times
• Run high‑demand tasks (like heating water in a dishwasher) when electricity is cheaper
• Respond to utility signals to briefly reduce load during grid stress

Real example: A smart dishwasher is loaded after dinner but doesn’t start immediately. Instead, it waits until off‑peak hours (say, after 9 p.m.) when the utility’s rates drop. The homeowner sets a simple rule in the app: “Finish by 6 a.m.” The machine figures out when to run, optimizing around cost and grid demand.

Smart washers and dryers can do similar things, especially when they coordinate with a smart water heater and a smart thermostat so your home isn’t pulling maximum power from all directions at once.

These are quieter, behind‑the‑scenes examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency, but they become more valuable as utilities roll out dynamic pricing.

Smart EV chargers and bidirectional systems: your car as a grid partner

If you drive an electric vehicle, your charger is one of the most powerful examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency you can install.

Smart EV chargers can:

• Charge mainly during off‑peak hours or when your solar panels are producing
• Respect a maximum household load limit so you don’t trip breakers
• In some emerging setups, discharge back to the home or grid (vehicle‑to‑home, vehicle‑to‑grid)

While EV charging doesn’t always reduce total energy use (you still need to move the car), smart charging reduces strain on the grid and your bill, and makes better use of cleaner energy.

Real example: A California homeowner sets their charger to automatically start at midnight when rates drop and stop by 6 a.m. The app also checks their utility’s “critical peak” alerts and pauses charging during the rare hours when prices spike. Over a year, the same number of miles driven cost significantly less, and the home’s peak demand is lower.

As vehicle‑to‑home systems expand, your EV battery itself becomes a vivid example of smart home technology for energy efficiency—storing cheap or renewable electricity and using it when grid power is expensive or carbon‑intensive.

Whole‑home energy monitoring and automation: the brains behind the scenes

So far, we’ve talked about individual devices. The most sophisticated examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency put a brain on top of all of them.

Whole‑home energy monitors and smart panels (from brands like Sense, Span, and others) can:

• Show real‑time and historical energy use by circuit or even by appliance signature
• Automatically shut off non‑critical loads during outages if you have backup power
• Coordinate high‑load devices so they don’t all spike at once

Real example: A homeowner with rooftop solar, a battery, and an EV charger uses a smart panel to prioritize loads. During a heat wave, the system ensures the heat pump and fridge always have power, while EV charging slows or pauses during peak grid hours. The owner doesn’t micromanage; the software does.

This kind of setup is one of the best examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency because it treats the home as a system, not a pile of random gadgets.

How to choose the right examples of smart home technology for your home

With so many examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency on the market, it’s easy to overspend on features that don’t match your home’s reality. A more strategic approach looks like this:

Start with your biggest loads. In most U.S. homes, that’s:

• Heating and cooling
• Water heating
• EV charging (if applicable)

That’s why the smartest first upgrades are often:

• A smart thermostat paired with efficient HVAC
• A smart heat pump water heater
• A smart EV charger if you own an EV

Then, layer on lower‑cost examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency:

• Smart plugs for home office gear and entertainment centers
• Smart lighting for high‑use areas (kitchen, hallways, bathrooms)
• Smart appliance scheduling where it fits your lifestyle

Also check for incentives. Many utilities and states offer rebates or bill credits for specific devices, particularly smart thermostats and heat pump water heaters. The U.S. Department of Energy’s consumer pages are a good starting point to understand which upgrades tend to save the most energy and money. (Energy.gov Energy Saver)

The bottom line: you don’t need every gadget. Start with the examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency that align with your biggest energy uses and your local utility programs.

Common pitfalls when using smart home tech for efficiency

Even the best examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency can disappoint if they’re set up poorly. A few recurring mistakes:

• Treating everything as a toy, not a tool. If you only use smart devices for color scenes and voice commands, you’re leaving most of the savings on the table.
• Ignoring default settings. Many devices ship with “comfort first” or “performance first” modes that use more energy. Look for eco, savings, or efficiency modes in the app.
• Overriding automation constantly. If you’re always cranking the thermostat way down or disabling motion sensors, your smart tech can’t do its job.
• Poor integration. A smart thermostat, water heater, and EV charger are far more powerful when they share data or at least follow the same time‑of‑use rules.

When you avoid these traps, those real‑world examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency start to look less like gadgets and more like a quiet, always‑on energy manager.

FAQ: Real examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency

What are the best examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency on a budget?

For tight budgets, start with smart plugs for home office and entertainment centers, and smart switches or bulbs for high‑use lights. These are low‑cost examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency that can cut standby and lighting waste without touching your HVAC or water heater.

What is one simple example of smart home technology for energy efficiency in an apartment?

A smart thermostat (if your landlord allows it) is the standout example of smart home technology for energy efficiency in an apartment. If you can’t change the thermostat, use smart plugs on window AC units, space heaters, or entertainment systems to control when they’re actually drawing power.

Do I need a hub to use these examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency?

Not necessarily. Many devices connect directly to Wi‑Fi or use standards like Matter to talk to each other. A hub can make automation more reliable and keep everything in one app, but it’s not required for basic examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency like smart plugs, thermostats, or individual smart appliances.

Are smart home energy devices actually worth the cost?

It depends where you start. If your HVAC system is ancient and your insulation is poor, fixing the building shell and equipment usually beats adding more smart controls. But when paired with efficient equipment, the better examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency—especially smart thermostats, heat pump water heaters, and EV chargers—often pay for themselves through lower bills and, in some cases, rebates.

Can smart home technology reduce my home’s carbon footprint, not just my bill?

Yes. Many of the best examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency also help shift your usage to times when the grid is cleaner (more renewables online) and away from fossil‑fuel‑heavy peak hours. Smart thermostats, water heaters, and EV chargers are particularly effective here, especially when integrated with time‑of‑use rates or demand response programs.

Smart homes don’t save energy just because they’re “smart.” They save energy when they automate the right things, at the right time, based on real‑world data. The examples of smart home technology for energy efficiency that matter most are the ones that quietly cut waste every day—no heroics, no hype, just lower bills and a lighter footprint.