Smart home apps to save you time and energy (and the planet!)

1. EDF App

Manage your energy on the go with the free EDF mobile app. You can do it all from your pocket;

• Log in quickly and securely using your fingerprint
• Check your payment history, energy use and tariff information
• See your balance and make payments in an instant
• Track your energy use with Energy Hub through the app 
• Submit meter readings (or send us a photo of your meter and we’ll do it for you)
• Check your PAYG balance and top-up your meter all in one place

Our app makes staying in control of your energy and your money easy. Get it today from the App Store or Google Play.

2. Amazon Alexa

With the Amazon Alexa app, you can control your heating, lights and smart plugs, all from a single app. Plus you get all the perks of having an in-home assistant for setting timers, telling jokes and even helping out with recipes.

Out and about and realise you’ve left the lights on? Don’t worry - you can switch them off from your pocket with the Alexa app. Plus turning your lights off and getting smart heating controls could save you up to £80 a year.

3. Ecosia

Ecosia is the search engine that plants trees whenever you use it. It works just like other search engines, but Ecosia use their profits to plant trees all over the world, and their servers are even run on renewable energy. You can make this app a part of your daily life, get the info you need from the world wide web and know that you’re doing your bit for the planet.

4. Audio count down

This one’s a simple concept, but it can help you make small changes that add up to a big difference. This app lets you set a timer that audibly counts down so you can time things like washing up or showers. You might think you’re in and out of the shower in no-time, so test yourself and see if you can beat the timer! Quicker showers mean less water, and lower bills.

5. Battery doctor

With this easy-to-use app, you can monitor and optimise the battery life of your phone or tablet. You’ll get tips for extending battery life, maintenance advice and accurate power level monitors. It even cleans out junk files and monitors over-heating apps so you don’t waste energy charging your phone more than you need to.

6. Smart home heating

Forgot to turn the heating off? Or want to come home to a toasty warm house? A smart thermostat lets you control your home's heating from your pocket. Set routines, boost the temperature and never again waste energy heating an empty house.

7. IFTTT - If This Then That

IFTTT (If This Then That) helps you connect all your different apps and devices. You can create automations – they’re a bit like routines - that work in the background. For example, you could make a routine that tells your thermostat to kick-in and turn the heating on if it detects motion from your in-home smart security. Connecting all your gadgets and gizmos can definitely save you time and hassle.

8. WeMo

These smart plugs turn everything into a smart device you can control from your phone. In the app you can see all your smart plugs and label them depending on what you’ve got plugged in. Forgot to turn off the lights? Left your hair straighteners on? Not to worry – you can switch them off from your phone.

9. JouleBug

JouleBug helps you make your everyday habits more sustainable, and you get rewards and badges as you go. The more sustainable choices you make, the more badges you earn, and you can share your achievements on Facebook to encourage others to do the same. Plus there’s a growing community to share success stories and advice with and get inspiration from real-world users.

10. Turo

Turo is the world’s largest car sharing marketplace. With cars all over the world from LA to London, you just find the perfect car for you, book your trip and hit the road! And if you’re curious about electric vehicles and want to get the feel of how they work and how they drive, you can browse the dedicated EV section. Test drive the latest models and kick-start your EV journey. 

11. Energy Cost Calculator

If you are looking for ways to save energy, but have appliances that you can’t live without, look no further than the Energy Cost Calculator app. It shows users how much an appliance costs to run over a certain period of time and how much you could save by using it less. It’s not an exact science since energy prices tend to go up and down, but it can give you an idea of the most costly appliance in your home so you can start to tweak your habits.

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