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Every successful energy-saving project starts the same way: with measurement. You cannot sensibly choose between a smart thermostat, better plugs or solar panels until you know where your kilowatt-hours actually go. This hub covers the four realistic ways a UK household can get that visibility in 2026, from the free smart-meter display you may already own to circuit-level monitors that identify individual appliances.
Four Ways to See Your Usage
Smart Meter + In-Home Display
Free from your energy supplier and the right first step for everyone. Shows whole-home usage in pounds and pence so you can spot patterns before spending a penny on kit.
Read the monitoring guideWhole-Home Circuit Monitors
Clamp-on sensors in the consumer unit that log usage second by second and use machine learning to identify individual appliances. The deepest insight you can get.
Compare energy monitorsSmart Plugs with Energy Tracking
Per-device measurement for a few pounds each. Ideal for answering 'how much is that old fridge actually costing me?' without touching any wiring.
See smart plugs that monitorTariff & App Analysis
Supplier apps and smart-tariff tools turn half-hourly smart-meter data into charts and shifting opportunities — run the dishwasher when it's cheapest, not when you remember.
See what smart tariffs unlock