The typical Brit has spent approximately £1,236 on smart technology for their home over the last five years – but households across the UK have collectively saved millions on their energy bills by making use of such tech.
Smart speakers (54%), smart lighting (18%), and smart washing machines (10%) are among some of the most popular “smart” devices that can now be found in British homes.
And as many as three-quarters of households now contain such tech – with the average home containing three smart devices, as well as nine electronic appliances.
The survey of 2,000 adults was commissioned by Hive, to celebrate 10 years since it launched its first smart thermostat in 2013.
This device can now be found in one in five UK homes (21%), and has saved Hive customers just under a collective £325 million on energy bills in the last decade.
And as part of the research, futurologist Dan Sodergren has shared his predictions as to what homes of the future may look like – if they were powered entirely by smart technology.
This incredible digital image shows a home kitted out with smart curtains, a fridge that restocks itself, and thermostats that can be operated outside the house.
And Dan also provided his insight into how hybrid workspaces will function, and why automated garages will become “self-driving sanctuaries”.
He said: “The cultural shift in the UK towards environmental conservation and digitalisation is driving investment in smart tech. These tools, such as the smart thermostat, give Brits superior control over their homes.
“Enhanced energy efficiency, home comfort, and an easy-to-capture outlook on energy usage, are proliferating the adoption of such smart devices.”
The study also found that nearly half of Brits (46%) look forward to more smart tech being developed for the home – as they plan to introduce four more devices over the next five years.
And while 34% named cost-saving as a reason for investing in smart tech, 11% cited convenience, and 9% said security and safety.
The research also discovered only one in five adults feel their home is “very prepared” for winter to hit, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
Statistics collected from more than 10 years of Hive data claims their customers have collectively saved more than one million tons of carbon emissions from being emitted into the atmosphere.
The two million thermostat users have saved the same amount of carbon required to power over 366,000 homes annually, almost 700,000 return flights from London to JFK, and to drive over four million car miles.
Dan Sodergren added: “In the next decade, smart thermostats hold tremendous potential to catalyse environmental transformations.
“Their wider adoption can substantially reduce carbon emissions, as has been seen with Hive's smart thermostat users in the UK. As more people look to incorporate smart technology into their homes, smart thermostats will be at the forefront of this movement.
“These devices not only optimise energy use, but also align with the shift towards smart homes, steering us towards a future of living that's more sustainable, digitally integrated, and efficient.”
Source: Read Full Article