How could the home of the future change the way we use energy?
Over the past few years, the focus on lower-carbon energy production and the introduction of smart meters have helped change how we use energy. But how much further could things go? We have asked our expert panel to predict the home of the future!
How are smart meters making homes more energy efficient?
According to our research, 88% of people would change their routines if it helped the country use less fossil fuels. So, it is unsurprising that energy-efficient technology is a focus for homes across Britain. In particular, 53% say smart meters are essential for future homes!
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Experts have predicted how new technology, and the integration of smart meters will transform our homes. Helping them to be more efficient and affordable to run.
Getting there is history in the making! In 1881, Britain launched the first public electricity supply, which helped upgrade our homes and took technology to a new level.
1926 and Britain's power stations are linked with 90% of our electricity generated using coal.
By 1960, we have electricity in abundance with new gadgets and appliances commonplace in our homes.
But by the 1970s, blackouts proved how fragile our Energy System was.
The emergence of renewable energy in the '90s shifted the dial of how we produce electricity, and in 2020, Britain saw the greenest year on record when it comes to energy generation.
Now over half of homes have smart meters, which will help us make the most of what we produce when the wind blows and the sun shines.
As innovations continue to push the boundaries of imagination, it's a chance for all of us to be smarter with our energy use.
Smart meters come with an in-home display which shows how much energy is being used in near-real time. You can see what you're spending in pounds and pence, which may encourage you to reduce your energy consumption. Nearly half of British households without a smart meter say that being able to see this data could help them become more energy efficient.
Find out more about how Britain’s electricity system has developed throughout history and how smart meters could help make it even more efficient by watching the video on the right.
If you haven’t got a smart meter already, you can request yours below:
Read on to discover more future technology…
The home of the future
We’ve asked a panel of experts to look into the future to see what changes we could expect in our homes by the year 2070, from rooms that change shape around us to a smart home energy hub.
Chaired by former Tomorrow’s World presenter Maggie Philbin, the panel included energy experts, a futurologist and an academic from the University of Oxford. They were tasked with predicting the technology that they think will transform our home lives by the year 2070.
We’ve used their insights to build an interactive 3D house, where you can explore what the home of the future could look like. With energy self-sufficiency, smart meters, and energy storage at the heart of the home.
Watch the video below to see the home of the future.
What could be in the home of the future?
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[intro music]
Welcome to the Home of the Future
What could the house of the future look like?
A panel of experts gathered to discuss how new technology might change our lives and adapt our homes around us, as well as how smart meters will help us use energy more efficiently.
Exterior of 2035
Solar panels will become more commonplace and more efficient, while batteries will help store excess energy to use later.
Exterior of 2070
Drones will deliver our shopping for us, delivered in reusable containers. They’ll even take away discarded containers, ready for cleaning and reuse.
Living room of 2035
Smart meters ensure you only pay for energy you use, saying goodbye to estimated bills.
Living room of 2070
Control how and when you use power with a smart home energy hub. Incorporating your smart meter, it could connect appliances and tech around the house and schedule them to use energy when it is cheapest.
The living room will remain the entertainment hub, but the tech powering it will melt into the background. Cables and remote controls will disappear, to be replaced by hands-free systems for true hidden luxury.
Kitchen of 2035
Our kitchen will become even more useful, with everything from wireless chargers to waste-minimising food processors. Appliances will become smarter, learning users’ preferences and adjusting to suit your needs.
Kitchen of 2070
Surfaces could change shape to give you more room to work, or relax. While built-in hydroponics could help you grow fruit and veg all year round in your kitchen.
Bathroom of 2035
The bathroom could have a host of tech to keep you healthy and happy. Smart scales could keep track of your overall health and wellbeing. While technology could recover heat from water going down the drain to recirculate throughout the house.
Bathroom of 2070
Your toilet could even make sure you’re okay, offering analysis to provide early warning signs of health conditions.
Bedroom of 2035
Ready to call it a day? The smart bedroom has you covered for a great night’s rest. Smart beds could heat or cool different zones according to your needs, and in-built air quality monitors could automatically provide ventilation to ensure you enjoy a healthy and restful sleep.
Bedroom of 2070
A smarter wardrobe could even fold and put away your clothes for you, while a digital ‘magic’ mirror could show you what to wear that day.
[Smart meter logo displayed]
Get a smart meter
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Moving walls
You might not need to commit to one home layout in the future. Adaptable living spaces with movable walls could allow you to change your floorplan to suit your needs. So, you could open up your living area if you’re having a party, while your adaptable lighting changes to suit the mood. Or, if you have a curious toddler running around, automated stair gates could keep them safe.
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Facial recognition to unlock your home
Have you ever lost the keys to your home? Then you’ll know how frustrating it is! But, in the future, you might not have to worry about that. Facial recognition technology could scan your face and unlock your front door if there is a match. No keys needed!
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Grow your own fruit and vegetables indoors
While the home of the future is likely to become more self-sufficient and generate more of its own energy, it doesn’t stop there. In the future, that energy could be harnessed to grow fruit and vegetables indoors, in a cabinet no bigger than a fridge! This is thanks to indoor hydroponics (the science of growing plants without soil). So, you could grow the produce you want, all year round. The fruit and vegetables won’t need to travel to your home, minimising travel emissions and food waste. Great!
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See how your outfits will look before you put them on
Not sure what to wear to your special event? Well, in the future, ‘magic’ mirrors could help! These smart mirrors would connect to your digital wardrobe, to help you pick your outfit. You could mix and match your clothes until you find the perfect match!
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Smart meters enabling a smart home energy hub
In the future, a ‘smart home hub’ could enable you to control how and when you use energy in your home. The smart home hub would connect to the appliances in your home, and using the data provided by your smart meter, could schedule them to run when energy is cheapest. Saving you money on your energy bills.
But you don’t have to wait for the home of the future to benefit from a smart meter. You can request yours today.
Smart meters come with an in-home display which shows how much energy is being used in near real time. You can see what you're spending in pounds and pence, which may encourage you to reduce your energy consumption.
You may also be interested in...
- Energy saving tips – want to take control of your energy usage but not sure where to start? Check out our energy saving tips.
- Time-of-use tariffs: the benefits - Smart time-of-use tariffs could save you money on your energy bills, and support a cleaner, greener energy system.
- Smart meter benefits - Find out why millions of people have already had smart meters installed.
£51
Cost per month
Based on the current energy price cap
+£4
Compared to previous Energy Price Cap
(Oct-Dec 2023)
+£24
Price cap in 2020
(Oct-Dec 2020)
Don’t just take our word for it…
"I don't get estimated bills! My smart meter is spot on with what I pay."
Steve
"I've got smart meters at home and in businesses. No more estimated bills, just pay for what I use! It's a great system."
Billy
"I simply can't see what's not to like about smart meters! They certainly help my family keep a check on our energy spend."
David