The best energy-saving tech (2023)

Our world is pretty awesome, and we could all do more to take care of it, like using energy-saving tech to limit our use of natural resources.

Whether turning your light bulbs off via voice assistant when you’re not in the room or automatically turning off your sprinkler, small changes can make a big difference in the long run.

That could be as small of a change as using a reusable shopping bag for groceries. Think of how much oil and energy are needed to make a disposable plastic bag and get it to the register.

On the tech front, many products are available that can help reduce your energy use while saving some money.

From battery backups and thermostats that learn your routine, we’ve gathered the best energy-saving tech available in 2023.

The best energy-saving tech for 2023

Energy-saving tech is easier on the planet, on you, and on your wallet. That’s a triple threat against climate change, and we’re here for it.

Here are some of our favorite energy-saving tools and gadgets.

Eve systems

Apple users will love Eve Systems and their premium HomeKit-connected tech. I’ve got it all around my house to turn off my tech when I forget.

I use the Energy Strip with its triple sockets to manage my TV and other A/V equipment when I’m not using it, and it’s Siri-compatible.

The best device for me is the Eve Aqua, which lets me schedule when my sprinkler system goes on and off, so my newly laid turf doesn’t wither away.

---

Google Nest Thermostat

For years, I’ve had a Nest-Learning Thermostat controlling my central air system.

I always hated getting up to change the dial on the thermostat, and now I can do it from my smartphone or ask my voice assistant to change it.

I’ve also saved money because it knows when I leave the house and will change the temperature to use less energy while I’m not home.

Yes, it’s expensive to buy at first. That said, the Nest paid for itself within a few months, and it’s the first thing I’d suggest to reduce your energy use.

---

Amazon Smart Thermostat

Amazon offers another smart thermostat option.

The Amazon Smart Thermostat saves customers an estimated $50 annually on energy bills. It’s ENERGY STAR certified with a focus on energy savings.

Plus with Alexa capabilities, you have unprecedented control of your home temperature. Easily change controls on the go with the Alexa app.

The Amazon Smart Thermostat is more affordable than Google Nest at just $79.99.

---

Itehil IT500 500W LiFePo4 Portable Power station with solar panels

There is almost no reason to have a gas generator for emergencies these days, with battery banks and solar panels being cheaper than ever.

Itehil’s power station gives you 500Wh of storage, with two 120V AC sockets to keep your most important tech running in the event you lose power.

It’s portable too, so it’s perfect for camping trips when you want to unplug, but not all the way. Bundle one with solar panels so you never have to worry about finding a wall socket.

---

LED lightbulbs from Philips Hue

LED lighting is one of the most eco-friendly things you can add to your house. They last longer than traditional bulbs, so they stay out of the landfill. They’re more energy-efficient, so they use less power.

You can even get ones like the Philips Hue range that are wirelessly controlled, allowing you to change the color and the brightness or even schedule their on/off times.

The best part for me? You can ask your voice assistant to turn off the bulbs if you forget before you leave the room.

---

Wyze lightbulbs

Wyze offers a similar array of smart light bulbs that can help cut down on electricity costs.

They’re compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa. You can use your assistant to turn Wyze lightbulbs on and off with just your voice.

And you can set timers and schedules, so you only have light when needed. You can automatically turn off all lights when you leave the house and have them turn on to greet you when you get back.

Wyze offers a wide range of lightbulbs starting at around $15 for a 2-pack.

---

Pale Blue rechargeables

Rechargeable batteries are one way to reduce your waste profile drastically. Unlike traditional NiCad tech, Lithium-based batteries don’t suffer from memory effects or weirdness when they’re at lower charge levels.

Pale Blue’s Lithium rechargeable batteries take things one step further, by packing the charging circuit into the battery.

You only need a USB cable to recharge, so no more lugging bulky chargers around. I’ve been using their batteries for a year and am slowly replacing all my other rechargeables because they’re just that good.

---

Sense home energy monitor

Maybe you’d rather know what in your house uses energy, so you can plan your own methods for reducing their usage.

Sense mounts in your breaker box, and over time, learns which of your appliances and other electrical devices are doing, well, whatever they do.

Primarily telling you how much energy everything uses, you can also keep informed about when they’re using it. With a whole-house picture of your energy use, you can reduce your footprint and save money.

---

Amazon Smart Plug

A smart plug is a great way to better manage the energy draw from your appliances, and Amazon has a perfect option.

Enabled with Alexa support, you can use the Amazon Smart Plug to set schedules for various appliances that you keep plugged in.

You can have it keep your microwave completely powered down at night when you’re not using it, then have it come on in the morning when you’re ready to heat things up.

You can set a schedule for any device using an Amazon Smart Plug, allowing for the most efficient use of energy in your home.

---

ChargePoint Home WiFi Enabled Electric Vehicle Charger

Tesla has their own wall plug for electric vehicles (EV), but what if you own another brand of EV or everyone in the family has a different car?

ChargePoint’s Home Flex is the answer, with a 16 to 50-amp wall charger that works with every EV. We like that. Everyone likes what they like, and what’s the point of green tech if not everyone can use it?

---

EcoFlow Delta Pro

Having a battery backup around for emergency use is great. The unfortunate part is that you usually have to charge them from the wall, with energy that you have no control over the generation of.

The Ecoflow Delta Pro allows you to charge it up from mounted solar panels, movable solar panels, or even a gas generator in a pinch.

The wider ecosystem adds extra battery power, monitoring, and even the ability to wire it into your home to work as a backup if your neighborhood has an outage.

We really appreciate the ability to choose where your energy comes from and where it goes.

---

Okai Neon escooter

Fossil fuels are a huge source of pollution. For short trips, maybe consider an electric scooter like this stylish Neon. With a top speed of 16 mph and a 25-mile range, it’s perfect for running errands.

We particularly like the fact that Okai is tried and tested very well. How? They’re the OEM for many ride-sharing scooter companies like Bird or Lime.

If they can survive rental use, imagine how sturdy they’ll be for you.

---

LiveLarq reusable water bottle

One of the best things you can do to save energy is to switch to a reusable water bottle. The PureVis from Larq is coated stainless steel so it’ll handle being thrown around.

The best part about it, though, is inside the cap. That’s a UV-C LED that cleans your water while you’re not drinking it, so you never have to worry about bacteria or other germs.

---

Shrink your footprint while adding convenience with energy-saving tech

Whether you want to make your home an oasis of eco-friendly technology or hate turning off light bulbs, we hope you’ve seen something that could fit into your life.

That could involve monitoring your energy usage to change your habits. Or even automating your energy savings, so technology saves you money.

These picks are our favorite of the best energy-saving tech we’ve used to date. We’ll revisit this frequently to ensure that our picks still make sense or add to them as we see better options.

Our planet isn’t going away any time soon, but we could all do more to look after it.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best Steam Deck accessories
• Here are the best STEM toys on the market today
• The best digital storage options
• Here are the best wireless earbuds

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.