Smart heating

Coffeekup

23,000 kWh's a year is massive for 2.1 people.
I used to use a very similar amount to you a few years ago, I then halved it to 12,000 units a year and in the last year more than halved it again.

I didn't use any specific equipment apart from my senses and my ability to be a skin flint.

Where were my biggest savings?
Having the heating turned off when In bed...
Having the heating turned off when at work.
Having the heating turned off when out shopping 
Moving the thermostat out of the coldest room and into the room that most time is spent in.
Turning off the automatic thermostat (so it's not kicking in and out all day) and manually turning it on and off.

I'm sceptical about having some fancy equipment making my heating choices for me, especially as it costs so much these day's.
 

powerful_Rogue

mysteryUser said:

This doesn't help answer the question if it is financially sensible but I have Drayton Wiser smart heating and love it. May be worth comparing to the hive stuff. 

I find most smart TRVs use batteries at an annoying rate... So you will save on gas but spend on silly disposable batteries. 

Same here. Did a lot of research in 2017 and went for the Drayton Wiser system. Can't fault it at all and they keep updating and adding to the system which is great.

Petriix

Yes. Smart TRVs (used correctly) will optimise your heating usage and minimise the amount of heat lost by unoccupied rooms. The average saving of 3.5% from that study simply demonstrates that people are not particularly good at using their controls effectively.

However, I have avoided installing them so far because I have manually optimised my usage to a reasonable level and the savings (to this point) wouldn't cover the initial outlay within a reasonable time frame.

My plan for the coming winter is to simply turn the heating off for the majority of the time and occupy just one room which will be heated by burning scavenged wood. Smart TRVs wouldn't really save me anything in this case. 

QrizB

Petriix said:

Yes. Smart TRVs (used correctly) will optimise your heating usage and minimise the amount of heat lost by unoccupied rooms. The average saving of 3.5% from that study simply demonstrates that people are not particularly good at using their controls effectively.

Or, alternatively, smart controls aren't much better at their job than humans with dumb controls are?

[Deleted User]

If smart heating controls are going to save the World, then one has ask why these new Building Regulations have just come in:

https://www.beama.org.uk/news/beama-heating-controls-group-explains-new-building-reg-changes.html

k_man

Dolor said:

If smart heating controls are going to save the World, then one has ask why these new Building Regulations have just come in:

https://www.beama.org.uk/news/beama-heating-controls-group-explains-new-building-reg-changes.html

Isn't that about fitting TRVs and room thermostat, rather than Smart TRVs/heating?

FreeBear

I have my heating controlled by a "smart" home automation system alongside plain old dumb TRVs on the radiators. The HA allows me to set different temperatures throughout the day/week - It is this that has probably helped to save the most on gas consumption.

[Deleted User]

k_man said:

Dolor said:

If smart heating controls are going to save the World, then one has ask why these new Building Regulations have just come in:

https://www.beama.org.uk/news/beama-heating-controls-group-explains-new-building-reg-changes.html

Isn't that about fitting TRVs and room thermostat, rather than Smart TRVs/heating?

My point is that the Building Regulations were revised in June 2022 and no one is recommending smart controls other than in respect of new builds fitted hwith combi boilers:

https://www.vaillant.co.uk/homeowners/advice-and-knowledge/boiler-plus/what-is-boiler-plus/

Even then there is no mention of eTRVs.

rrl28

My non smart non programmable thermostat failed so I replaced it with a programmable thermostat and still used the same amount of gas as I had it set to the same temperature and times as the old one, 21 deg C from 08:00 to 23:00.

It was only after I started turning the heating off manually when the house was empty and turning it on manually when I returned did I make any gas savings.
.
A smart thermostat on it's own won't save any gas.

You will only save gas when the heating is off.

Alnat1

Could save a whole lot more by setting it at 18C and putting a big jumper on