A boom in interconnected devices is improving home energy, writes Lee Sutton, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of myenergi
In today’s rapidly-evolving marketplace, keeping up with technological trends and process innovations is essential. For example, there’s a rapidly growing shift toward interconnected devices and services that provide consumers with sustainable, more cost-effective alternatives to traditional energy solutions – made all the more formidable through the power of IoT.
A major technological trend that’s emerged over the past few years is the boom in domestic energy generation and efficiency technologies, such as solar PV and heat pumps. According to data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), 2024 was a record-breaking year for small-scale renewables, seeing more than 260,000 installations in UK homes and small businesses (a 7% increase from 2023, which was itself a record year), bringing total installations past the 2 million mark.
Of these figures, more than 180,000 were solar PV installations, while nearly 20,000 were battery storage. Perhaps the most striking figure is that of heat pumps, with the number of installations seeing a staggering 43% increase on the previous year to nearly 60,000 units.
But why are we seeing such rapid adoption of this sort of tech? Well, the answer is actually quite simple… interconnectivity. On their own, self-generation technologies like solar PV, heat pumps and batteries can help homeowners to use energy more efficiently. Combined, these devices make up part of a fully-connected smart home ecosystems, allowing users to more effectively harness the power of self-generated energy to ultimately alleviate the need to draw electricity from the grid.
Is ‘eco-smart’ the future of smart homes?
In a word, yes! While solar panels, heat pumps and energy storage solutions are becoming increasingly popular installs, technologies that further increase efficiency and accelerate the rate of return on investment are becoming more mainstream.
An ‘eco-smart’ device is one that facilitates interconnectivity between multiple technologies through the internet. For example, a conscious homeowner may want to monitor and adjust the amount of self-generated electricity that’s used to heat their water tank, versus how much charges their electric vehicle. They may opt to prioritise fully charging their EV in preparation for a long journey, for example, or alternatively decide to up their water temperature ahead of a chilly evening. They may even want to take best advantage of agile energy tariffs by only drawing power from the grid during off-peak times when it’s cheaper, only using their stored and self-generated electricity when prices rise.
Eco-smart technology gives homeowners a tighter grip of how much energy they use, how they use it, and when… it literally puts the power in the hands of the consumer which, with the upcoming energy price cap increases, is in more demand than ever. By greatly increasing the efficiency of self-generation, users can save more energy, reduce their carbon footprint and, most importantly, slash their utility costs.
What’s next for smart homes?
Investing in IoT-connected technology is a growing trend among the new age of homeowners who are more eco-conscious and tech-savvy than ever. By harnessing the power of interconnected eco-smart technology, they can effectively hedge against the peaks and troughs of renewable energy generation, maximise their self-consumption and reduce reliance on energy from the grid – with the potential to save big in the long-term.
For electrical installers navigating the rapidly-evolving technological landscape and an increasingly competitive marketplace, looking towards the latest eco-smart innovations should a clear priority. Not only will it allow installers to add greater value to their existing service offerings, but will help attract a new segment of customers who are more and more looking to reduce their impact on the environment and save on energy costs.
In the summer of 2016, Lee established myenergi alongside Co-Founder Jordan Brompton. The company launched its first product, the eddi power diverter, and then went on to develop the world’s first solar compatible EV charger, zappi. Since then, Lee has built the company from a small team into a global leader in eco-smart home energy technology: myenergi now has a network of over 300 approved installers, with products sold across Norway, Australia, France, Italy, Ireland, Sweden and New Zealand.
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