How to Use Smart Plugs to Save Home Energy Consumption

With the advancement of smart home technology and the increasing awareness of environmental protection, more and more people are paying attention to how to use smart home products to save energy in their daily lives. Smart plugs, as an emerging household device, not only make our lives more convenient but also help us conserve energy effectively. As the summer of 2024 approaches, households will enter a peak period of electricity consumption. How can we use smart plugs to help us save energy consumption at home during this time?

What is a smart plug?

A smart plug is a type of power plug and socket (also known as a wall plug, outlet, or electrical connector) that can be installed between the power line and the socket. It can be remotely controlled via a mobile phone or other smart devices as a remote power switch. For example, smart plugs can be controlled remotely through a mobile application, a smart home hub, or virtual assistants. Smart plugs utilize wireless communication protocols to connect with other devices.

The most common communication protocols include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Z-Wave. Smart sockets with Wi-Fi communication offer the best compatibility and ease of use, as they can directly connect to Wi-Fi routers. Users can remotely control smart sockets via mobile applications or through voice assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

Some smart socket plugs use the Zigbee communication protocol, which requires them to be connected to a Zigbee gateway, which in turn connects to the Wi-Fi router. Although this adds extra setup steps, it can improve the communication reliability and efficiency of smart home devices.

Smart plugs typically come with the following features：

• Timing Function： Set the on and off times for appliances.
• Remote Control： Control appliance switches via mobile applications or voice assistants.
• Energy Consumption Monitoring： Real-time monitoring of appliance energy consumption.
• Scene Linkage： Link with other smart devices to achieve more intelligent control.

How to use smart plugs to save energy?

Part1:Schedule to turn off appliances and charge devices during off-peak hours

On weekday mornings, as we rush to send the kids to school or hurry off to work, it’s easy to forget to turn off bedside lamps, hair curlers, or coffee makers. By setting a timer to power off these devices using the corresponding smartphone application for smart plugs, the plugs will automatically cut off power at specific times every day. This not only helps save on bills but also ensures the timely shutdown of appliances that pose a fire hazard, thus providing home safety.

Most energy companies offer pricing plans that charge higher rates during peak hours, typically in the early mornings and evenings of winter and the afternoons of summer. By using smart plugs to schedule appliances to operate during off-peak hours (usually from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.), you can save on electricity bills by charging lithium-ion batteries for smartphones, laptops, power tools, and yard equipment. Additionally, you can utilize the timing function of smart plugs to schedule the operating hours of certain appliances, thereby avoiding unnecessary standby power consumption. For example：

• Household Appliances： Set specific times for devices such as televisions and computers to shut off, avoiding long periods of standby power consumption.
• Kitchen Appliances： Set coffee makers, toasters, and similar appliances to turn on at specific times in the morning, saving preparation time and energy.
• Remote Control of Appliances： The remote control feature of smart plugs allows us to conveniently turn off unused appliances while we’re away from home. For example:
• Air Conditioning： Forgetting to turn off the air conditioning when leaving home can result in prolonged energy consumption. However, with the remote control feature, you can easily turn it off using your smartphone.
• Lighting Devices： After leaving home, you can remotely turn off any lights that were left on, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.

Part2:Energy Consumption Monitoring and Optimization

While you may not use smart plugs to control appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, or dishwashers, you can employ these devices to monitor their energy usage. This way, you can accurately determine their contribution to your monthly electricity bill. By observing the real-time energy consumption of these major appliances, you can take steps to use them more efficiently, such as shortening dishwasher cycles or raising the thermostat on your window air conditioner. Just as tracking your finances requires recording expenses, efficient use of household appliances relies on knowledge of their energy consumption.

Smart plugs equipped with energy consumption monitoring address this issue by storing detailed data and analyzing how much energy your appliances, lights, and other electronic devices consume every hour of the day. This allows you to estimate the monthly cost of each light bulb or appliance, enabling you to make informed decisions to reduce your energy usage. The energy consumption monitoring feature of smart plugs helps us understand the energy usage of each appliance, thereby optimizing usage habits. For example:

• Energy Analysis： Use the smart plug application to view energy consumption data for each appliance, identifying high-energy-consuming appliances.
• Usage Optimization： Based on energy consumption data, adjust usage times and frequencies to reduce unnecessary power consumption.

Part3:Scene Linkage for Automation

Smart plugs can be linked with other smart home devices to achieve more intelligent energy-saving control. For example:

• Away Mode： Set the away mode to automatically turn off all unnecessary appliances when leaving the home.
• Sleep Mode: Set the sleep mode to automatically turn off all lighting and entertainment devices at night, ensuring energy savings.

How to Choose Smart Socket Plug?

When selecting a smart plug, consider the following aspects:

• Load Power： Ensure that the maximum load current of the smart plug exceeds that of the connected device. Existing smart plugs typically support a maximum load current of 16A.
• Plug Type： Pay attention to plug standard types, which vary by country/region, including US, UK, European, Italian, South African, Brazilian standards.
• Device Compatibility：Before making a purchase, ensure compatibility between the smart plug and your existing smart home ecosystem. Verify seamless integration with preferred voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Siri. If opting for a Zigbee smart plug, remember to procure an additional Zigbee gateway.

• Safety Features: Prioritize smart plugs equipped with overload protection and fire prevention mechanisms to ensure safe usage.
• Functionality：Choose a smart plug based on your specific needs, considering features like scheduling, remote control, energy monitoring, and voice activation.