Reduce your electricity bill with this smart item

In the smart home, smart plugs represent one of the most versatile and useful tools for those who want to optimize the control of electrical appliances and save on their bills. With increasing energy costs and growing ecological awareness, the adoption of these devices, as well as smart thermostat and connected switches, becomes an effective solution for manage domestic consumption more effectivelythanks to smart functions and remote control that simplify everyday life.

What is a smart plug?

A smart plug is one electrical outlet equipped with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivitywhich allows you to control and manage connected devices via an application on your smartphone or via voice commands (with assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri). These sockets allow you to turn appliances on or off (such as kettles, fans, humidifiers or party lights) lamps remotely, program switch-on times, monitor energy consumption and much more.

One of the advantages of smart plugs is that their use does not require special technical skillsbecause you just need to connect them to a traditional power outlet and configure them via an app. They are ideal for those looking for a simple way to make their home smarter, without having to modify or modify the electrical system.

Advanced smart plug features

Smart plugs offer much more than just turning devices on and off. Here are some of the advanced functions which makes it an interesting investment:

• Automatic programming: it is possible to set specific times for switching the devices on or off. This is useful for optimizing the use of household appliances and avoiding wasting energy, for example by turning off standby appliances during the night. You could then wake up in the morning with the coffee machine already on or automatically turn off the Christmas lights every evening and turn them back on in the morning.
• Consumption monitoring: Many smart plugs allow you to track the energy consumption of connected devices. This helps you identify which devices consume the most and adjust your usage accordingly, creating better habits and helping you make better choices for you and the environment.
• Voice control: if integrated with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit, via the smart socket you can control the sockets simply with your voice, making daily use even more comfortable and intuitive. “Alexa, turn on the bedside lamp“.
• Away Mode: Some smart plugs have a home presence simulation function, useful for home security. They turn lights or appliances on and off randomly to make it appear as if someone is home when you are away, preventing intrusion by malicious people.

Because a smart plug saves you on your bill

Adopting smart plugs not only provides convenience but also allows you to save on your electricity bill and reduce your consumption. reduce your environmental footprint. Here are some reasons why using smart plugs can reduce costs:

• Removing sleep: many electronic devices continue to consume energy even when they are turned off, but connected to the mains (in to wait for). With a smart plug, you can set a timer to turn them off completely at night or when you’re not using them (especially useful, for example, for the outlet we plug our smartphone chargers into).
• Optimizing the use of household appliances: thanks to programming, you can operate the devices at times of least consumption (if your energy contract provides for it) or limit their use to the hours necessary.
• Energy monitoring: with real-time consumption monitoring, you can identify the household appliances inefficient and replace them, or optimize their use to reduce consumption.
• Intelligent automation: Some smart plugs can be integrated with environmental sensors (such as motion or light sensors) to turn off devices when no one is home or when there is not enough natural light .

The strength of smart devices lies above all in their greater awareness that they offer us, about our habits, behaviors and tendencies, in order to help us understand where we are making mistakes and where we can improve.

The most purchased and popular products online

Online and offline stores offer a large selection of products, with functions, prices and elements that distinguish them and, for this reason, it is not always easy to choose the one that best suits us and that s best suits our home. Here is a selection of 5 Best-Selling and Most Popular Smart Plugswith an overview of the main characteristics that differentiate them from others:

TP-Link Tapo P100

The TP-Link Tapo P100 is one of the most popular smart plugs online thanks to its excellent value for money. It is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, and allows you to program schedules, timers and monitor energy consumption. Ideal for those looking for an economical and reliable product.

Main features:

• Remote control via the Tapo app, simple and intuitive
• Programmable timer and Away mode (simulates your presence at home even when you are not there to discourage intrusions)
• Easily integrated with voice assistants

Meross MSS210 smart socket

The Meross plug is popular for its compatibility with Apple HomeKit and SmartThings, as well as Alexa and Google Assistant. It offers simple setup and stable operation, making it ideal for those who want a smart plug to integrate with the Apple ecosystem.

Main features:

• Remote control via app and voice control via assistant available
• Energy Consumption Tracking
• Quick and secure installation (simply connect to wifi and the outlet you want to control)

iotty Plus smart wall socket

The iotty Plus smart plug combines Italian design and advanced features to provide complete control over your smart home. Through the app, you can monitor energy consumption, create automated scenarios, and manage multiple environments with ease. Perfect for those looking for elegance and innovation in a single product (at a slightly higher cost).

Main features:

• Through the app you can create scenarios based on location, time, sunrise and sunset, weather and much more.
• Energy consumption monitoring with personalized spending estimates and the ability to manage multiple rooms and homes
• Backlit tempered glass plate, available in 5 colors, with tactile buttons and configurable backlighting to adapt to any environment

Amazon smart plug

This smart plug is specially designed to integrate with Amazon Alexa, providing a particularly seamless user experience. It is perfect for those looking for intuitive and quick setup, compact design and ease of use at a very accessible price.

Main features:

• Simple and compact design, minimal shapes
• Simple setup with the Alexa app and seamless integration with Amazon’s voice assistant
• Does not require additional hubs

Eve Energy

The Eve Energy smart plug lets you control lights and appliances remotely or via voice commands. With Thread technology, it provides optimal stability and coverage for a reliable smart home, while with the Eve app you can monitor energy consumption and set advanced automations, all with 100% privacy , without cloud or tracking.

Main features:

• Integration with Matter, Apple HomeKit and Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings
• Real-time monitoring of electricity consumption
• Security and confidentiality of personal data

Introducing a smart plug into the home can not only simplify small daily actions, saving us time, but can also significantly contribute to reducing energy consumption in the home. Integrating it into your home means optimizing the use of household appliances, controlling your bill and taking a step towards more sustainable and intelligent management of resources.