At Schneider Electric, we believe there are ways to be wiser with energy usage, which can create a major change – in fact, these small steps can have a big impact on the planet, not just our pockets.
According to our latest global study, improving our homes to be more energy efficient is the single most important priority for 86% of people. With the average energy bill having increased by at least 63% over the past 12 months according to the World Economic Forum, it comes as no surprise that many of us are making changes to our daily lifestyles and behaviours – with almost half of us (49%) willing to sacrifice our comfort at home to keep bills down.
In this guide, we’ll help you get a better understanding of where you might be over-spending when it comes to energy usage, and provide some top tips on the improvements you can make within the home and to your habits, that will really help to make a difference when it comes to reducing your bills, without needing to radically change how you live.
Be
ENERGY
WISE
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2020 Price Index
2015 Price Index
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Energy Price Index
After record energy bills, it makes sense that more of us are now looking to get a better understanding of our energy usage, and what exactly makes up our monthly bills.
2010
2015
2020
2024
Energy Price Index
After record energy bills, it makes sense that more of us are now looking to get a better understanding of our energy usage, and what exactly makes up our monthly bills.
c€kWh
What Does the Average Energy Bill Look Like?
After record energy bills, it makes sense that more of us are now looking to get a better understanding of our energy usage, and what exactly makes up our monthly bills.
First, let’s take a look at which appliances in our
homes are the biggest energy consumer.
The logical assumption is
that the bigger the appliance, the
more energy it is going to take to run.
However, that isn’t necessarily always the case.
A typical energy bill can be broken down into the above.
12%
EV CHARGING
5%
CONSUMER
ELECTRONICS
4%
KITCHEN APPLIANCES
4%
LIGHTING
72%
HEATING & COOLING
3%
WET
APPLIANCES
48%
75%
48%
42%
Hide Actions
Click on the bullets to reveal the actions taken.
63%
48% - Lowering the temperature
63% - Turning off lights around the home
48% - Unplugging electrical devices
42% - Reducing hot water usage
75%
Show Actions
Find out how to reduce your energy use.
Reduce Energy Usage in Winter
With the average energy bill having increased by at least 63% over the past 12 months, 75% of homeowners around the world reduced their energy use in winter, through actions such as…
Home Energy Health Checklist
If you’re ready to start making a change and saving energy at home, here’s a quick recap
of some of the things you can be doing to make a difference…
Click on the ticks below to reveal the tips on our checklist.
Replace old lightbulbs with LED alternatives.
Run your washing on a lower temperature.
Service your boiler, lower the flow temperature.
Check your energy tariff and whether you can shift the energy intensive appliances to a moment when the rate is lower.
Explore grants for incorporating renewables into your home, or to upgrade the fabrication through things like loft insulation.
Install a room-by-room heating control system and set temperatures based on occupancy and time of the day.
Turn off appliances on standby mode and unplug any devices not in use, either manually or by installing a controlled socket behind the devices.
Insulate and draught-proof your walls, windows and doors.
Did you know that electrifying mobility,
heating and cooking increases home
electricity consumption by 70% ?
However, when looking at the most common action being taken to reduce energy use, our survey found that tackling lighting came out on top and while this is a great start, it only impacts between 2-3% of the average energy bill.
Instead, here are three simple and effective ways to make your energy bills more manageable, through reducing consumption and optimising usage.
1 - Check your tariff
Understanding your energy tariff is paramount. Typically, homes operate on flat, variable, or dynamic tariffs. Variable tariffs incentivise off-peak consumption, while dynamic tariffs adjust rates based on real-time demand.
By knowing your tariff and shifting usage to cheaper hours, substantial savings can be achieved. Turning this understanding into action is key – however, activating your most intensive-energy loads at the right time when the tariff changes is rather complicated to do in practice.
This is where automated energy management systems like Wiser can optimise energy consumption, slashing costs significantly and easing the burden on the individual.
2 - Smarter heating controls
As we explored earlier, heating and hot water accounts for a significant part of our energy bills, making it a key area to address. Smart heating solutions like Wiser can help you save up to 30% in energy use thanks to its multi-zoning capabilities (19% savings) and smart features like Away Mode and Eco Mode (16%), and can even pause the heating while it detects an open window or track the outside temperature to adjust heating schedules and maximise efficiency.
3 - Automate your energy usage
Incorporating a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) also enables automated energy management, which will optimise appliance usage to run during the most cost-effective time periods.
This could be achieved in a number of ways, such as…
- Shifting energy-guzzling loads, such as EV charging, to run during off-peak hours as to capitalise on lower tariffs
- Shutting off vampire loads – electronic devices that continue to consume energy while on standby or not in use – to consume energy
- Giving you real-time visualisation of your energy use, to identify appliances that are functioning abnormally and overconsuming
- Efficiently managing surplus solar energy, either by storing it in a battery to be used during peak hours instead of drawing from the gird, or utilising it to run large loads such as the water tank
As technology continues to advance, the future of home energy management looks promising, with innovations like Home Energy Management systems (HEMS) helping to further optimise energy use and reduce running costs without requiring any input.
3 Easy Ways to Reduce Energy Bills at Home
According to our research, 65% of homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their energy
consumption, but over a third of people (35%) are unsure of how to do so.
AI Technology
As we navigate the complexities of our world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a powerful ally that will help us effectively manage the intricacies of energy management within our home.
By harnessing the vast amounts of data from our electrical appliances and major loads, and combining this with a detailed understanding of our individual lifestyles and habits, as well as fluctuating energy costs and external factors like weather patterns, AI will be able to radicalise our home’s energy usage through predictive control.
Let’s look at how this could impact a home with an electric
vehicle for instance…
An AI powered system will know how many miles you travel to work each day and what time you need to leave in the morning.
1
STEP
It will then factor in your electrical consumption for things like the washing machine, TV and cooker during the evening.
2
STEP
It will work out the best time to charge your EV, making sure it runs during off-peak hours when the cost is cheaper, whilst still ensuring you’re ready to go in the morning, all without overloading your home’s electrical capacity.
3
STEP
Instead of charging the vehicle to full, an AI system may potentially charge the vehicle for a shorter period so there’s enough mileage for you to travel to and from work, if this could result in cost savings.
4
STEP
+
+
With more people investing in renewables for their own homes, this also helps many of us become less reliant on the grid, and more self-sufficient when it comes to energy.
Energy Self-Sufficiency & Storage
-
+
+
Eco-friendly homes of the future will harness technological advances to seamlessly support
you in managing your energy production
and consumption habits.
Smart Integration
-
Home of the Future
In years gone by, predicting what homes of the future might look like would have likely focused on all manner of new appliances and gadgets to make our daily lives and routines easier and more comfortable.
Australia has the highest residential solar adoption rate at 37.7%, followed by the Netherlands (24%), Japan (21.5%), Czech Republic (15.1%)
and Germany (12.3%)1
Solar Panels
-
Norway leads the way when it comes to heat pumps, with 1 heat pump installed for every 3.4 people, closely followed by Finland (1 heat pump per 4.1 people) and Sweden (1 heat pump per 4.4 people)1
Heat Pumps
-
North America has dominated the small wind turbine market over the past few years, with the market expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.2% between 2022 to 20301
Small Wind Turbines
-
According to our latest global study, improving our homes to be more energy efficient is the single most important priority for 86% of people. With the average energy bill having increased by at least 63% over the past 12 months according to the World Economic Forum, it comes as no surprise that many of us are making changes to our daily lifestyles and behaviours – with almost half of us (49%) willing to sacrifice our comfort at home to keep bills down.
At Schneider Electric, we believe there are ways to be wiser with energy usage, which can create a major change – in fact, these small steps can have a big impact on the planet, not just our pockets.
In this guide, we’ll help you get a better understanding of where you might be over-spending when it comes to energy usage, and provide some top tips on the improvements you can make within the home and to your habits, that will really help to make a difference when it comes to reducing your bills, without needing to radically change how you live.
Be
ENERGY
WISE
Energy Price Index
After record energy bills, it makes sense that more of us are now looking to get a better understanding of our energy usage, and what exactly makes up our monthly bills.
c€kWh
After record energy bills, it makes sense that more of us are now looking to get a better understanding of our energy usage, and what exactly makes up our monthly bills.
First, let’s take a look at which appliances in our homes are the biggest energy consumer.
The logical assumption is that the bigger the appliance, the more energy it is going to take to run.
However, that isn’t necessarily always the case. A typical energy bill can be broken down into the above.
What Does the Average Energy Bill Look Like?
75%
Show Actions
Find out how to reduce
your energy use.
Hide Actions
48%
63%
42%
48%
75%
Click on the bullets to reveal the actions taken.
48% - Lowering the temperature.
42% - Reducing
hot water usage
63% - Turning off lights around the home.
48% - Unplugging electrical devices
Reduce Energy Usage in Winter
With the average energy bill having increased by at least 63% over the past 12 months, 75% of homeowners around the world reduced their energy use in winter, through actions such as…
Replace old lightbulbs with LED alternatives.
Run your washing on a lower temperature.
Turn off appliances on standby mode and unplug any devices not in use, either manually or by installing a controlled socket .
Service your boiler, lower the flow temperature.
Install a room-by-room heating control system and set temperatures based on occupancy and time of the day.
Explore grants for incorporating renewables into your home, or to upgrade the fabrication through things like loft insulation.
Insulate and draught-proof your walls, windows and doors.
Check your energy tariff and whether you can shift the energy intensive appliances to a moment when the rate is lower.
Click on the ticks below to reveal the tips on our checklist.
Home Energy Health Checklist
If you’re ready to start making a change and saving energy at home, here’s a quick recap of some of the things you can be doing to make a difference…
Did you know that electrifying mobility, heating and cooking increases home electricity consumption by 70% ?
However, when looking at the most common action being taken to reduce energy use, our survey found that tackling lighting came out on top and while this is a great start, it only impacts between 2-3% of the average energy bill.
Instead, here are three simple and effective ways to make your energy bills more manageable, through reducing consumption and optimising usage.
1 - Check your tariff
Understanding your energy tariff is paramount. Typically, homes operate on flat, variable, or dynamic tariffs. Variable tariffs incentivise off-peak consumption, while dynamic tariffs adjust rates based on real-time demand.
By knowing your tariff and shifting usage to cheaper hours, substantial savings can be achieved. Turning this understanding into action is key – however, activating your most intensive-energy loads at the right time when the tariff changes is rather complicated to do in practice.
This is where automated energy management systems like Wiser can optimise energy consumption, slashing costs significantly and easing the burden on the individual.
2 - Smarter heating controls
As we explored earlier, heating and hot water accounts for a significant part of our energy bills, making it a key area to address. Smart heating solutions like Wiser can help you save up to 30% in energy use thanks to its multi-zoning capabilities (19% savings) and smart features like Away Mode and Eco Mode (16%), and can even pause the heating while it detects an open window or track the outside temperature to adjust heating schedules and maximise efficiency.
3 - Automate your energy usage
Incorporating a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) also enables automated energy management, which will optimise appliance usage to run during the most cost-effective time periods.
This could be achieved in a number of ways, such as…
- Shifting energy-guzzling loads, such as EV charging, to run during off-peak hours as to capitalise on lower tariffs
- Shutting off vampire loads – electronic devices that continue to consume energy while on standby or not in use – to consume energy
- Giving you real-time visualisation of your energy use, to identify appliances that are functioning abnormally and overconsuming
- Efficiently managing surplus solar energy, either by storing it in a battery to be used during peak hours instead of drawing from the gird, or utilising it to run large loads such as the water tank
As technology continues to advance, the future of home energy management looks promising, with innovations like Home Energy Management systems (HEMS) helping to further optimise energy use and reduce running costs without requiring any input.
3 Easy Ways to Reduce Energy Bills
at Home
If you’re ready to start making a change and saving energy at home, here’s a quick recap of some of the things you can be doing to make a difference…
AI Technology
As we navigate the complexities of our world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a powerful ally that will help us effectively manage the intricacies of energy management within our home.
By harnessing the vast amounts of data from our electrical appliances and major loads, and combining this with a detailed understanding of our individual lifestyles and habits, as well as fluctuating energy costs and external factors like weather patterns, AI will be able to radicalise our home’s energy usage through predictive control.
Let’s look at how this could impact a home with an electric vehicle for instance.
An AI powered system will know how many miles you travel to work each day and what time you need to leave in the morning.
STEP
1
It will then factor in your electrical consumption for things like the washing machine, TV and cooker during the evening.
STEP
2
It will work out the best time to charge your EV, making sure it runs during off-peak hours when the cost is cheaper, whilst still ensuring you’re ready to go in the morning, all without overloading your home’s electrical capacity.
STEP
3
Instead of charging the vehicle to full, an AI system may potentially charge the vehicle for a shorter period so there’s enough mileage for you to travel to and from work, if this could result in cost savings.
STEP
4
Home of the Future
In years gone by, predicting what homes of the future might look like would have likely focused on all manner of new appliances and gadgets to make our daily lives and routines easier and more comfortable.
Discover what a home of the future may look like by clicking on the hotspots above.
Smart Integration
Eco-friendly homes of the future will harness technological advances to seamlessly support
you in managing your energy production
and consumption habits.
Energy Self-Sufficiency & Storage
With more people investing in renewables for their own homes, this also helps many of us become less reliant on the grid, and more self-sufficient when it comes to energy.
Solar Panels
Australia has the highest residential solar adoption rate at 37.7%, followed by the Netherlands (24%), Japan (21.5%), Czech Republic (15.1%)
and Germany (12.3%).
Heat Pumps
In years gone by, predicting what homes of the future might look like would have likely focused on all manner of new appliances and gadgets to make our daily lives and routines easier and more comfortable.
Small Wind Turbines
North America has dominated the small wind turbine market over the past few years, with the market expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.2% between 2022 to 2030.
At Schneider Electric, we believe there are ways to be wiser with energy usage, which can create a major change – in fact, these small steps can have a big impact on the planet, not just our pockets.
According to our latest global study, improving our homes to be more energy efficient is the single most important priority for 86% of people. With the average energy bill having increased by at least 63% over the past 12 months according to the World Economic Forum, it comes as no surprise that many of us are making changes to our daily lifestyles and behaviours – with almost half of us (49%) willing to sacrifice our comfort at home to keep bills down.
In this guide, we’ll help you get a better understanding of where you might be over-spending when it comes to energy usage, and provide some top tips on the improvements you can make within the home and to your habits, that will really help to make a difference when it comes to reducing your bills, without needing to radically change how you live.
Be
ENERGY
WISE
Energy Price Index
After record energy bills, it makes sense that more of us are now looking to get a better understanding of our energy usage, and what exactly makes up our monthly bills.
c€kWh
After record energy bills, it makes sense that more of us are now looking to get a better understanding of our energy usage, and what exactly makes up our monthly bills.
First, let’s take a look at which appliances in our homes are the biggest energy consumer.
The logical assumption is that the bigger the appliance, the more energy it is going to take to run.
However, that isn’t necessarily always the case. A typical energy bill can be broken down into the above.
What Does the Average Energy Bill Look Like?
75%
Show Actions
Find out how to reduce
your energy use.
Hide Actions
48%
63%
42%
48%
75%
Click on the bullets to reveal the actions taken.
48% - Lowering the temperature.
42% - Reducing
hot water usage
63% - Turning off lights around the home.
48% - Unplugging electrical devices
Reduce Energy Usage in Winter
With the average energy bill having increased by at least 63% over the past 12 months, 75% of homeowners around the world reduced their energy use in winter, through actions such as…
Replace old lightbulbs with LED alternatives.
Service your boiler, lower the flow temperature.
Insulate and draught-proof your walls, windows and doors.
Run your washing on a lower temperature.
Explore grants for incorporating renewables into your home, or to upgrade the fabrication through things like loft insulation.
Turn off appliances on standby mode and unplug any devices not in use, either manually or by installing a controlled socket .
Install a room-by-room heating control system and set temperatures based on occupancy and time of the day.
Check your energy tariff and whether you can shift the energy intensive appliances to a moment when the rate is lower.
Click on the ticks below to reveal the tips on our checklist.
Home Energy Health Checklist
If you’re ready to start making a change and saving energy at home, here’s a quick recap of some of the things you can be doing to make a difference…
Did you know that electrifying mobility, heating and cooking increases home electricity consumption by 70% ?
However, when looking at the most common action being taken to reduce energy use, our survey found that tackling lighting came out on top and while this is a great start, it only impacts between 2-3% of the average energy bill.
Instead, here are three simple and effective ways to make your energy bills more manageable, through reducing consumption and optimising usage.
1 - Check your tariff
Understanding your energy tariff is paramount. Typically, homes operate on flat, variable, or dynamic tariffs. Variable tariffs incentivise off-peak consumption, while dynamic tariffs adjust rates based on real-time demand.
By knowing your tariff and shifting usage to cheaper hours, substantial savings can be achieved. Turning this understanding into action is key – however, activating your most intensive-energy loads at the right time when the tariff changes is rather complicated to do in practice.
This is where automated energy management systems like Wiser can optimise energy consumption, slashing costs significantly and easing the burden on the individual.
2 - Smarter heating controls
As we explored earlier, heating and hot water accounts for a significant part of our energy bills, making it a key area to address. Smart heating solutions like Wiser can help you save up to 30% in energy use thanks to its multi-zoning capabilities (19% savings) and smart features like Away Mode and Eco Mode (16%), and can even pause the heating while it detects an open window or track the outside temperature to adjust heating schedules and maximise efficiency.
3 - Automate your energy usage
Incorporating a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) also enables automated energy management, which will optimise appliance usage to run during the most cost-effective time periods.
This could be achieved in a number of ways, such as…
- Shifting energy-guzzling loads, such as EV charging, to run during off-peak hours as to capitalise on lower tariffs
- Shutting off vampire loads – electronic devices that continue to consume energy while on standby or not in use – to consume energy
- Giving you real-time visualisation of your energy use, to identify appliances that are functioning abnormally and overconsuming
- Efficiently managing surplus solar energy, either by storing it in a battery to be used during peak hours instead of drawing from the gird, or utilising it to run large loads such as the water tank
As technology continues to advance, the future of home energy management looks promising, with innovations like Home Energy Management systems (HEMS) helping to further optimise energy use and reduce running costs without requiring any input.
3 Easy Ways to Reduce Energy Bills at Home
If you’re ready to start making a change and saving energy at home, here’s a quick recap of some of the things you can be doing to make a difference…
AI Technology
As we navigate the complexities of our world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a powerful ally that will help us effectively manage the intricacies of energy management within our home.
By harnessing the vast amounts of data from our electrical appliances and major loads, and combining this with a detailed understanding of our individual lifestyles and habits, as well as fluctuating energy costs and external factors like weather patterns, AI will be able to radicalise our home’s energy usage through predictive control.
Let’s look at how this could impact a home with an electric vehicle for instance.
An AI powered system will know how many miles you travel to work each day and what time you need to leave in the morning.
STEP
1
It will then factor in your electrical consumption for things like the washing machine, TV and cooker during the evening.
STEP
2
It will work out the best time to charge your EV, making sure it runs during off-peak hours when the cost is cheaper, whilst still ensuring you’re ready to go in the morning, all without overloading your home’s electrical capacity.
STEP
3
Instead of charging the vehicle to full, an AI system may potentially charge the vehicle for a shorter period so there’s enough mileage for you to travel to and from work, if this could result in cost savings.
STEP
4
Home of the Future
In years gone by, predicting what homes of the future might look like would have likely focused on all manner of new appliances and gadgets to make our daily lives and routines easier and more comfortable.
Explore the Home of the Future
Click on the hotspots below to discover what a future home may look like.
Small Wind Turbines
North America has dominated the small wind turbine market over the past few years, with the market expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.2% between 2022 to 2030.
Heat Pumps
Norway leads the way when it comes to heat pumps, with 1 heat pump installed for every 3.4 people, closely followed by Finland (1 heat pump per 4.1 people) and Sweden (1 heat pump per 4.4 people).
Solar Panels
Australia has the highest residential solar adoption rate at 37.7%, followed by the Netherlands (24%), Japan (21.5%), Czech Republic (15.1%)
and Germany (12.3%).
Energy Self-Sufficiency & Storage
With more people investing in renewables for their own homes, this also helps many of us become less reliant on the grid, and more self-sufficient when it comes to energy.
Smart Integration
Eco-friendly homes of the future will harness technological advances to seamlessly support you in managing your energy production
and consumption habits.