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Energy & Smart Home

Thermostats, lighting, balcony solar and smart home hubs — lower your bills and take control of your home.

Categories

01

Smart Thermostats

Netatmo, Tado, Nest, Honeywell smart thermostats — cut your heating bill.

02

Home Energy Monitors

Track your home's electricity use in real time, room by room.

03

Balcony Solar Panels

Balcony solar kits that plug into an outlet — and whether they pay off in 2026.

04

Home Batteries

Home solar batteries that let you use more of the power your own panels produce.

05

Smart Lighting

Smart bulbs and LED light strips from Philips Hue, IKEA Tradfri, WiZ and LIFX.

06

Smart Light Switches

Smart light switches from Shelly, Sonoff and Legrand — including no-neutral models.

07

Smart Blinds & Shutters

Motorized blinds, shades and shutters that open and close on their own with the daylight.

08

Air Quality Monitors

CO₂, VOC and particulate sensors to monitor your indoor air.

09

Water Leak Detectors

Smart water leak detectors that help you head off costly water damage.

10

Smart Home Hubs

Home Assistant, Jeedom, Homey and SmartThings hubs that bring all your devices together.

11

Home EV Chargers

Home EV chargers — Wallbox, EVBox, Easee.

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F · A · Q

Frequently asked questions

Not always. A Wi-Fi Matter device works with a compatible controller, such as a HomePod or a Google or Alexa smart speaker. Matter devices that run on Thread also need a Thread border router, which is often built into those same speakers. Check what your ecosystem supports before you buy a dedicated hub.

Yes, it can cut energy use by scheduling temperatures around your routine and turning the heat down when you're out, but the savings depend on your home's insulation and your habits. Check that it's compatible with your heating system, whether that's a boiler, radiators or a furnace, and choose a model that can control rooms individually.

In many European countries, yes, within power limits that vary by country (in Germany, for example, the common limit is 800 W on the inverter side), and you may have to notify the grid operator. In the US, rules for plug-in solar vary by state and utility, so check with your utility before you connect a kit. Either way, make sure the inverter is certified for your market: European standards in Europe, a UL or ETL listing mark in the US.

Plug the suspects into a smart plug with energy monitoring, which shows live watts and cumulative kilowatt-hours. For a whole-home view, a home energy monitor with CT clamps installed in your electrical panel (a job for a licensed electrician) measures the entire house. Choose a plug that fits your outlets and is rated for the appliance's maximum load.

It's mainly worth it if your panels produce more than you use during the day and you use more power in the evening. Without a regular surplus, the battery sits mostly idle. Compare its capacity in kWh with your evening usage, and check that it works with your inverter before you buy.