Do Smart Plugs Save Energy?

Nick Durante
by Nick Durante

Countless homeowners have done everything that they can to transform their houses into smart homes. It’s easy to overlook certain simple devices that make it easier to go about your day as a homeowner, such as smart plugs. So, do smart plugs save energy?

Smart plugs save energy because they let you schedule and program devices in your home. This can help reduce energy waste whether you are home or not. Smart plugs don’t use much energy when they are plugged in, and you can control them from your phone to enable or disable devices in your home.

The main benefit of smart plugs is that they let you control your devices when you aren’t home. Some homeowners don’t like the fact that smart plugs are bulky and hard to miss, however. Follow along as we explore whether or not smart plugs save energy and if they are worth it.

What Is a Smart Plug?

Smart plugs are adapters that you plug into an existing outlet. They are connected to your home’s Wi-Fi, and you can control them from a mobile app on your smartphone. This lets you turn devices on and off in your home without having to do it manually.

You can control your appliances and devices with smart plugs when you aren’t home. Smart plugs cost as little as $25, and many homeowners have several throughout the house. However, even just one smart plug can help turn your house into a smart home.

Do Smart Plugs Reduce Energy Consumption?

One of the main benefits of smart plugs is that they can save energy. However, they don’t save energy as directly as something like a solar panel. They can help save energy because smart plugs make it easy to turn off devices when you aren’t at home.

This is helpful if you spend more time out of the house than you planned to. Simply turn off the smart plugs using your phone so that the electrical appliances don’t consume unnecessary energy. Smart plugs don’t use much energy when they aren’t turned on, so you don’t have to worry about that

You can also disable devices with your smart plugs that are on standby. It’s easy to forget that your devices still consume energy when they are off but are still plugged in. You can save the most energy possible if you use multiple smart plugs throughout the house.

Is It Worth Buying Smart Plugs?

It’s worth buying smart plugs for convenience alone. Have you ever had to get out of bed because you forgot you left a lamp on in your living room? Well, you won’t have to do that if you have smart plugs, and that is a major convenience.

Smart plugs are also helpful if you are away from the house at night. You can simply enable your smart plugs to turn on lights if lamps are connected to them so that you don’t come home to a dark house. Homeowners can also program smart plugs to turn on and off at specific times.

This is quite useful if you want to limit how long specific devices stay on. It’s also helpful if you want to program certain devices to turn on or off before you get back from work or before bed. Smart plugs are cheap enough that they aren’t a risky investment, so it’s worth it to at least buy one.

Smart Plugs Pros and Cons

While they are quite popular, smart plugs have as many advantages as they do downsides. They aren’t a massive financial investment, so many homeowners try them out without giving it thought. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of smart plugs.

Pros

Convenience is the biggest benefit of smart plugs. They are also quite safe as they put a buffer between you and the outlet. This comes in handy if you have babies, children, or pets that frequently get into trouble. The energy savings are somewhat small, but every bit helps.

Another major benefit of smart plugs is that they help save time. You don’t have to worry about turning off all of your devices before leaving the house if you have smart plugs. Turn them off via the connected app if you have smart plugs to save time.

  • Convenient
  • Safe
  • Helps save energy
  • Save time

Cons

Smart plugs aren’t universal, so they won’t work for every outlet. Most modern outlets are compatible with smart plugs, but you can’t always count on them. Another downside to smart plugs is that they are often bulky and stand out similar to a wallflower.

It can also be expensive if you plan to put smart plugs throughout your home. Depending on how many outlets you have, you may have to spend a small fortune to equip each one with a smart plug. They start at $25, which is reasonable, but some smart plugs cost as much as $50.

  • Not universal
  • Bulky
  • Can be expensive

Best Energy-Saving Smart Plugs

Many smart plugs on the market save energy. However, it’s worthwhile to do your research before buying smart plugs so that you get the best ones for your home. Luckily, we have compiled the best and most popular smart plugs that save energy on the market.

Meross Smart Wi-Fi Plug

The Meross Smart Wi-Fi Plug is among the best options on the market. It works with outlets that have up to 1,800 watts of power. This is useful because that applies to many modern outlets. You can also easily set up timers with this smart plug, which is an essential feature.

Amazon Smart Plug

The Amazon Smart Plug is one of the most affordable options available today. It only costs $25 per plug and is compatible with Amazon Alexa. You can even use this smart plug to schedule and turn on fans. The packaging is even made of recyclable materials, so this is a guilt-free smart plug.

Hey! Smart Plug

The Hey! Smart Plug is compatible with both Google Home and Amazon Alexa. This allows a large portion of homeowners in the U.S. to control the plug with other smart devices. Otherwise, you can simply control your smart plug from the connected app.

Why Is My Smart Plug Unresponsive?

The most likely reason why your smart plug is unresponsive is that your Wi-Fi connection is poor. Check your Wi-Fi to see if it is down or if the connection is weak. Unplug your router for 30 seconds and plug it back in to see if your smart plug starts working again.

Otherwise, you may simply need to unplug your smart plug and plug it back in after a moment. Plug your smart plug into another outlet to see if it works. If so, then that is a sign that something is wrong with the outlet that you were previously using.

You can also hold the button on the side of your smart plug to reset it. Typically, you’ll need to hold the button for up to 15 seconds to reset it. If the problem persists, you should contact the manufacturer.

Summing It Up

Smart plugs can save energy if you program them to automatically turn devices off. They don’t consume much energy when they are plugged in even if you are using your smart plugs. Smart plugs can help homeowners protect their houses when they are gone by turning lights on remotely.

You can easily control devices that are plugged into your smart plug from afar if you use the app. Unfortunately, smart plugs aren’t universal, so they won’t work for every homeowner’s outlets. They are also quite bulky, which is off-putting for some people. With that said, smart plugs are worth the money because they are quite helpful and convenient.

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Nick Durante
Nick Durante

Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.

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