The official UK lockdown occurred on March 23, compared to on March 9 in Italy and March 14 in Spain. Though there was already an increase in home office working leading up to the lockdowns.

An average UK annual dual fuel heating bill comes in at approximately £1,200 with heating and hot water accounting for around three quarters of an average energy bill. Turning down the thermostat by just 1°C saves around £80 a year on the average household energy bill. But not all savings have to come at the expense of comfort. Using a smart thermostat to control the heating and hot water can make significant reductions on a heating bill without the need to reduce the temperature and comfort. One particular advantage of smart thermostats for those who now find themselves mostly at home, is the ability to manage individual room-by-room heating.

“Many people end up heating the whole home when in fact only some rooms are occupied where heat is needed,” says tado° co-founder and CPO Christian Deilmann. “Smart radiator thermostats provide intelligent control and heating schedules for individual rooms which can save a lot of energy from being wasted.”

With the home office on the rise over the past few years, residents should also consider airing and bleeding the radiators, as well as more long-term energy efficiency improvements such as better insulation and a more energy-efficient boiler. Equally important when spending a lot of time at home is to make sure the air quality is good. Airing the home completely at least once a day for a minimum of 15 minutes can help eliminate domestic pollutants, reduce odours, increase oxygen, and reduce dampness. Good air at home improves both health and productivity.