Apps to help you save energy

By Abby Berry March 2023

Practicing energy efficiency and conservation provides more benefits than just saving money

From saving on monthly energy bills to reducing your carbon footprint, people are motivated by a variety of reasons to cut back on energy consumption.

Actively practicing energy efficiency and conservation provides multiple benefits. For parents, being more conscious about energy use can be used as a tool to teach children about sustainable habits for the future. Conserving energy also means fewer carbon emissions, which results in better air quality and a healthier environment. And we can all agree that saving money on our monthly utility bills is a great reason to monitor home energy use. 

Regardless of why you’re interested in using less energy, several smart phone apps can help you do just that! 

Here a few apps that can help you achieve meaningful energy savings:

• Smart thermostat apps: I know what you’re thinking, and yes, to use a smart thermostat app, you must purchase a smart thermostat. But heating and cooling make up a large portion of the average home’s energy consumption (and cost), so saving on heating and cooling can make a big impact on bills, offsetting the cost of a smart thermostat. You can purchase an ENERGY STAR®-certified smart thermostat for as low as $100, which can save you 8% on annual heating and cooling costs, or about $50 per year. We recommend trusted brands and devices, like Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat and Ecobee’s Smart Thermostat. 
• Energy cost calculator apps: If you’re wanting to reduce energy use at home, it’s important to know where your consumption is going. The concept is pretty simple; just enter the wattage of your various appliances and how often you use them into the app to see which are using the most energy. Most energy cost calculator apps are free and can be downloaded to any Apple or Android device. 
• JouleBug app: If you’re competitive and enjoy gamifying—well, everything—the JouleBug app is right up your alley. JouleBug makes energy conservation simple and fun through personal tasks and badges earned within the app, group challenges you can tackle with friends and communities you can join to learn about local sustainability efforts. The JouleBug app is free and can be downloaded to Apple or Android devices. It’s an easy tool to make saving energy fun. 

Whether you use an app or not, saving energy is always a smart idea that can help you save money on your monthly bills and reduce your carbon footprint.