Personal Technology You Can Use to Save Money and the Planet

Devices for Home Deliver Results

The key to technology that delivers convenience, lower cost and greater efficiency for consumers is smart devices and smart homes.

At the core of the smart home revolution lies the Internet of Things (IoT), Mordor explained. These devices allow the seamless automation and connectivity of household appliances, enhancing convenience and energy efficiency.

Smart devices are more efficient than traditional ones, HP noted, because they use resources only as needed. That lower usage translates to reductions in energy and water consumption as well as waste. AI-based energy monitors provide real-time information about electricity usage by showing which appliances consume more energy, for example, which enables people to make informed decisions about when to use them. Smart thermostats can learn daily routines and automatically adjust heating or cooling to minimise energy consumption. By analysing consumption patterns, these devices can also suggest energy-saving strategies such as turning off air conditioning when no one is home.

Demand for Smart Devices is Growing

Asia's smart homes market is surging, Mordor said, driven by rapid urbanisation, increasing disposable incomes and technological advancements. Furthermore, governments in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are backing smart city initiatives and energy-efficient housing. Integrated smart homes are reshaping how people in ASEAN engage with their living spaces. These homes offer greater convenience and energy efficiency. Devices such as smart lighting, thermostats, and appliances collaborate through centralised platforms. Users can manage and automate various facets of their home environment with smartphones, voice assistants or AI-driven systems. Smart systems can fine-tune energy consumption by adjusting lighting and temperature, for instance, based on who is at home.

In Singapore, for instance, technology integrator Koble said more than 588,000 households had adopted smart technologies by 2023 and the number is expected to exceed 1.5 million by 2028. The growth is driven by increasing consumer demand for convenience and energy efficiency, the affordability of smart devices and a growing preference for connected lifestyles.

Personal Devices can Mitigate Climate Change

A variety of devices can reduce electricity and water usage as well as waste, which reduced costs and emissions. Key devices include smart thermostats, smart lighting, smart plugs, energy monitoring systems, water conservation devices and devices for predictive maintenance. Using any or all of these provide a multitude of benefits.

Devices like smart plugs provide real-time insights into energy usage, Koble said. By tracking how much energy each appliance uses, these devices make it easy to spot and adjust energy-hungry appliances. Features such as scheduling and remote control via smart plugs help optimise energy use, cut utility bills and make homes more energy efficient. Smart home technology lets consumers schedule devices such as air conditioners, fans and lights to run only when needed. For example, consumers can program lights and fans to turn off automatically when no one is in the room.

Smart kitchens, Tech Collective said, come with appliances and devices that can be controlled remotely. These smart kitchens connect appliances that can communicate with people or be controlled remotely. Smart appliances can also reduce energy consumption and create efficient household systems. Many of them consume less energy than conventional appliances, for example, and they have sensors or other accessories that cut down on power usage. Moreover, efficient preservation using these tools helps keep food items consumable for extended periods.

Low-flow fixtures and appliances which reduce water consumption while maintaining functionality are another option, Olympian Water Testing said. Low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucets conserve water without compromising user experience. Leak detection and water metering, including advanced meters that provide real-time data on water usage, enable users to identify leaks and inefficiencies quickly, which prevents water waste and costly damage.

Southeast Asia has Solutions

While global giants such as Ikea offer some of these solutions, smaller companies and start-ups in Southeast Asia are developing solutions tailored to conditions or languages in the region.

Third Wave Power, for instance, caters to consumers in countries with periodic power outages. Its innovative technology creates portable power solutions with solar power. Its thin and lightweight mPowerpad 2 Go solar charger, for example has a 5-watt solar panel that powers up quickly, then charges devices as fast as a wall outlet. Its mPowerpack 200 is a high-capacity portable charger for laptops, tablets, smartphones and other devices.

Bardi in Indonesia offers a multitude of devices, including smart plug Wi-Fi sockets and IR remotes for easy control of connected devices.

Seconds in Singapore said its smart gateway hub acts as the middleman in a smart home, connecting and ensuring communication between smart devices. Users can set up systems to turn off air conditioning when no one is in the room, for example, to save energy.

MyEco in Indonesia provides smart home technology solutions that save electricity with products and automatic power saving tools based on AI and IoT. Consumers can use the app to find out which devices need to be used according to room conditions and turn off unnecessary ones.

Companies such as Koble in Singapore can help set up a complete smart home.

Old-fashioned non-tech devices can make a difference too. Consumers can use a cistern saver bag or even bricks to reduce the amount of water they use in their toilet. They can also place a thimble or aerator in the tap to reduce water flow. The Regional Water Providers Consortium said aerators on faucets mix air into the stream of water, reducing water use by 20 percent or more without reducing water pressure.

At a larger scale, Habitap’s has smart home controls for condominium or apartment owners that lets tenants unlock their door remotely, set the home temperature, and more.

Individuals who want to create their own smart home can buy devices and plug them in. People who want help can turn to integrators that will create a full package of devices and apps to power a smart home. However it’s done, the tech and devices give consumers the power to make their lives more convenient, less expensive and more climate friendly.