The concept of a “smart home” has evolved beyond simple convenience. In 2026, it will be important to use energy efficiently and make smarter use of your home’s resources. Whether you’re looking to buy a home in Boston or are looking for ways to reduce your utility bills on a rental in Santa Rosa, this Redfin article provides solutions to put money back in your pocket and go green while increasing your comfort.
Smart home energy management is about devices and appliances, how to control them, and how to make them work for you. Companies like Brilliant Smart Home System are introducing product management systems, including products and phone applications, that make managing smart home technology easier than ever before. Technology is always changing, so make 2026 the year you make the most of the latest products to simplify your life.
What is smart home energy management?
The core of smart home energy management is the combination of connected devices and automated systems to monitor energy usage and optimize the operational efficiency of your home.
Jonathan Temrock, president of Superior Smart Home Systems, shares how smart home energy management starts with “the right combination of smart home devices working together as a central control platform.” Temlock specifically calls for open/close HVAC sensors, automatic thermostat modes, smart shades, light bulbs, switches, and plugs. By taking a proactive approach, smart technology can use data to ensure that energy is used only when and where it is needed.
Smart home energy management goes beyond programming a schedule to your thermostat and introduces adaptive automation that allows your home to learn from real-world behavior and adjust over time.
Become more efficient with smart home technology
One of the easiest ways to take control of your smart home setup and start saving money is to install an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat. Whether you’re already a homeowner or looking to apply for a mortgage, it’s important to understand how to make your energy bills work to your advantage.
1. Smart thermostat and air conditioning control
These systems learn your household routine and your home’s thermal characteristics and automatically adjust temperatures to maximize efficiency. ENERGY STAR reported that smart thermostats can save you, on average, “8% of your heating and cooling costs, or $50 per year.”
2. Zoning and remote temperature control
Smart zoning systems allow homeowners to adjust the temperature in individual areas, rather than uniformly heating and cooling the entire home. This ensures that unused rooms do not waste energy and households only pay to condition the occupied space.
Intelligent lighting and shading system
Sunlight from lights and windows is an important factor in your home’s energy use. Integrating intelligent systems can significantly reduce consumption.
1. Motion sensor and sunlight collection
The lights only turn on when there are people in the room and automatically dim when there is sufficient natural light. This is a fundamental component of effective smart home energy management.
2. Opening and closing the HVAC sensor
HVAC (air conditioning or heating) usage affects a variety of costs. To better manage this cost, Jonathan Hemlock suggests investing in an open/close sensor. These sensors allow a “smart thermostat to turn on the HVAC when a window or door is opened,” allowing you to better manage your home’s energy consumption.
3. Energy efficient LED integration
LED bulbs are standard, but smart integration allows for granular control over brightness and color temperature, further optimizing usage. Temrock recommends adjusting the brightness according to the time of day. He added, “For example, you can turn on your lights at 20% brightness just before sunset, increase it to 40% after sunset, and then to 60% when it finally gets bright.”
4. Automatic window handling
Blinds and shades can be programmed to open and close depending on the sun’s position and indoor temperature. Passive cooling this summer and warming in the winter is essential to naturally regulating your home’s climate.
Smart appliances and energy monitoring
All household appliances contribute to the overall consumption. The new smart models are designed to help you take an active part in your home energy strategy.
1. Real-time usage tracking and alerts
A centralized system provides a detailed breakdown of energy usage by appliance. Homeowners receive alerts about unusual consumption and catch potential problems early.
2. Off-peak operation and load shifting
Smart appliances like dishwashers and clothes washers can be set to run automatically during off-peak hours when utility bills are lower. This load shifting is a powerful tool for reducing utility costs.
3. Smart kitchen and laundry appliances
Connected refrigerators and ovens can optimize cycles, and smart laundry units can sense optimal water and heat settings to reduce waste.
Other ways to extend your smart home
Beyond energy savings, a comprehensive smart home system integrates other aspects of daily life for maximum convenience and control. These features increase the usefulness of connected devices.
1. Control music in different rooms
Smart systems allow seamless control of music between different rooms and zones. This feature integrates entertainment systems as well as energy devices, creating a unified and responsive living environment.
2. Integrate your voice assistant
Incorporating voice control goes beyond app-based management. A single command can trigger complex routines across multiple devices, such as dimming lights, adjusting thermostats, and locking doors simultaneously, all hands-free.
3. Monitor your security system
Modern smart home energy management platforms are often integrated with security systems, cameras, and smart locks. This integrated approach provides homeowners with real-time monitoring and remote access, ensuring peace of mind by managing security and energy from one central dashboard.
Energy management tips for modern homeowners
To truly future-proof your home, these technologies must be combined with ongoing and conscious practices.
Perform a home energy audit: Understand where your home is inefficient (insulation, air leaks, etc.) and make sure smart devices aren’t compensating for structural deficiencies. Prioritize system integration: Enable all smart devices to communicate through a single platform. This allows for a unified, automated routine that maximizes the benefits of smart home energy management. Monitoring and Adjustment: Regularly review data from your energy monitoring system. Making small, informed adjustments to your automation schedule can lead to significant savings over time.
>> Check out FHA Energy Efficiency Mortgages to learn how you can add cost-effective energy efficient improvements to your mortgage.
Choosing a smart home controller
Brilliant Smart Home Systems understands the importance of integrating smart home management into a single system. Jonathan Temrock says that a central smart home controller is not only convenient, but also “helps coordinate energy efficiency efforts across various connected devices.” He further adds, “When choosing a smart home controller with energy efficiency use cases in mind, users should choose a system that can reveal insights into how much energy is being used by connected home appliances at any given time.”
Start saving with smart solutions in 2026:
By adopting smart home energy management in 2026, homeowners and renters can move beyond mere convenience to smarter resource utilization. The right combination of automation, system integration, and regular monitoring can reduce energy waste, lower utility bills, and improve daily comfort.
