Enhancing Your Home with Hive Smart Plugs and Power Strips

Posted on 20th June 2023

Introduction

If you’re looking for ways to make your home more energy efficient and save money on your utility bills, you may want to consider investing in some smart plugs and power strips. Smart plugs and power strips can help you manage your devices and conserve energy, while also providing some other benefits like remote device control and energy monitoring. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best smart plugs and power strips on the market and how they can help you save energy and money.

What are Smart Plugs and Power Strips?

Smart plugs and power strips are devices that allow you to control your electrical devices remotely, monitor your energy usage, and save energy. Smart plugs plug into your outlets and have outlets of their own that you can plug your devices into. Power strips are similar to smart plugs, but they have multiple outlets that you can plug your devices into. Both smart plugs and power strips allow you to control your devices remotely with your smartphone or tablet. You can also set schedules and timers so that your devices turn on and off automatically. Smart plugs and power strips can help you save energy by allowing you to control when your devices are turned on and off and by monitoring your energy usage.

How do Smart Plugs and Power Strips Save Energy?

Smart plugs and power strips can help you save energy in a few different ways. First, by allowing you to control when your devices are turned on and off, you can avoid leaving them on when they’re not in use. Second, by monitoring your energy usage, you can see which devices are using the most energy and make changes to save energy. Finally, some smart plugs and power strips have features that help you save energy, like power-saving modes and energy-monitoring displays.

Types of Smart Plugs and Power Strips

There are a few different types of smart plugs and power strips on the market. Here are some of the most popular types:

  • Wi-Fi Smart Plugs and Power Strips: Wi-Fi smart plugs and power strips are the most popular type. They connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network and can be controlled with your smartphone or tablet. They usually come with apps that allow you to set schedules and timers, monitor your energy usage, and control your devices remotely.
  • Bluetooth Smart Plugs and Power Strips: Bluetooth smart plugs and power strips are less popular than Wi-Fi smart plugs and power strips, but they’re still a good option. They connect to your devices via Bluetooth and can be controlled with your smartphone or tablet. They usually come with apps that allow you to set schedules and timers, monitor your energy usage, and control your devices remotely.
  • Z-Wave Smart Plugs and Power Strips: Z-Wave smart plugs and power strips are a good option if you have a Z-Wave home automation system. They connect to your Z-Wave system and can be controlled with your smartphone or tablet. They usually come with apps that allow you to set schedules and timers, monitor your energy usage, and control your devices remotely.
  • HomeKit Smart Plugs and Power Strips: HomeKit smart plugs and power strips are a good option if you have a HomeKit-enabled home. They connect to your HomeKit system and can be controlled with your smartphone or tablet. They usually come with apps that allow you to set schedules and timers, monitor your energy usage, and control your devices remotely.

Benefits of Smart Plugs and Power Strips

In addition to saving energy, smart plugs and power strips offer some other benefits. They can help you manage your devices, save money on your utility bills, and make your home more convenient. Here are some of the other benefits of smart plugs and power strips:

  • Remote Device Control: Smart plugs and power strips allow you to control your devices remotely with your smartphone or tablet. This means that you can turn on and off your devices from anywhere in the world. You can also set schedules and timers so that your devices turn on and off automatically.
  • Energy Monitoring: Smart plugs and power strips can help you monitor your energy usage. This means that you can see which devices are using the most energy and make changes to save energy. Some smart plugs and power strips have energy-monitoring displays that show you how much energy your devices are using in real-time.
  • Device Management: Smart plugs and power strips can help you manage your devices. This means that you can group your devices into rooms or areas, set schedules and timers for each group, and monitor your energy usage. You can also use smart plugs and power strips to control devices that are not compatible with your home automation system.
  • Convenience: Smart plugs and power strips can make your home more convenient. This means that you can turn on and off your devices from anywhere in the world, set schedules and timers so that your devices turn on and off automatically, and monitor your energy usage. You can also use smart plugs and power strips to control devices that are not compatible with your home automation system.

How to Choose the Best Smart Plugs and Power Strips

When choosing the best smart plugs and power strips for your home, there are a few things to consider. First, you’ll need to decide which type of smart plugs and power strips you want. There are a few different types on the market, and each has its own set of features and benefits. Second, you’ll need to consider your budget. Smart plugs and power strips can range in price from under $20 to over $100. Third, you’ll need to decide which features are most important to you. Some of the most popular features include remote device control, energy monitoring, and device management. Finally, you’ll need to choose a brand that you can trust. Some of the most popular brands include Belkin, D-Link, TP-Link, and WeMo.

Conclusion

Smart plugs and power strips are a great way to save energy and money. They can help you manage your devices, save energy, and monitor your energy usage. They’re also convenient and easy to use. When choosing the best smart plugs and power strips for your home, there are a few things to consider. First, you’ll need to decide which type of smart plugs and power strips you want. Second, you’ll need to consider your budget. Third, you’ll need to decide which features are most important to you. Finally, you’ll need to choose a brand that you can trust.