by Frédéric Godemel, EVP Energy Management, Schneider Electric
Frédéric Godemel
The term ‘home’ has always been synonymous with safety and comfort – our escape from the outside world and the center of our daily routines. But as lifestyles evolve, so do the demands on our homes. More remote work, more online learning, more entertainment, more demand for energy – all mean our homes are working harder than ever.
At the same time, energy prices remain stubbornly high in Europe, while geopolitical conflicts and supply chain disruptions continue to fuel market instability worldwide. These unpredictable spikes put enormous pressure on household budgets, forcing families to make tough decisions about where to cut costs.
To adapt to an increasingly unpredictable world, the technology that powers our homes must evolve. Living smarter, more efficiently, and affordably is now essential, and energy efficiency holds the key. By reducing waste and optimizing energy use, households can cut costs and ease the burden of volatile energy markets. Today’s technology makes it possible to fully automate this process, simplifying the shift toward efficiency.
But energy efficiency isn’t just about saving money—it’s crucial in both good times and tough. It plays a key role in decarbonization and is a significant step toward sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Let’s explore how smarter energy management can deliver both financial savings and environmental impact, transforming our homes into resilient, sustainable spaces for the future.
Shifting Attitudes Toward Energy Use
A recent global survey conducted by Schneider Electric highlights the shift in attitudes toward home energy efficiency. The report, which surveyed 13,000 people from 11 countries across the world, found that a significant majority (84%) identified energy efficiency as their most desired home improvement, and 70% expressed that reducing their carbon footprint is important to them.
Often, the hardest thing to change can be people’s attitudes, so it’s encouraging to see more people acknowledging the importance of sustainable improvements. This may have been a result of rising energy costs in recent years, which acted as a catalyst to changing attitudes around energy efficiency. That said, the findings also reveal a disconnect. While small actions—like turning off lights or unplugging unused devices—are widely practiced, fewer people are taking high-impact actions. For example, the vast majority of energy usage in homes goes to heating and cooling, so adjusting the thermostat to an appropriate temperature can significantly cut down energy usage.
Clearly, there is an opportunity to close this knowledge gap and empower homeowners to make smarter energy choices.
Smartest action is to have the right temperature at the right time and place thanks to automation and control.
Change starts at home
Home energy use has a major part to play in global decarbonization, today accounting for around 20% of global CO2 emissions. This makes energy management one of the most significant ways individuals can contribute to sustainability efforts. The challenge lies in how we heat, cool, and power our homes — often with inefficient practices that waste both energy and money.
Half of the solution is to integrate clean, renewable energy into your home – either by purchasing directly from the grid or producing it yourself. For many households, high upfront costs and ongoing maintenance of solar technology presents a barrier, although this technology has become much more accessible in recent years.
The other half of the solution – arguably the easier and quicker path – is to tackle energy demand with more electrification and smarter energy use. Adjusting everyday behaviors while also leveraging energy-efficient technologies and automation can make a huge difference. For example, what many people don’t realize is that just small temperature adjustments to heating and cooling (which typically account for the largest portion of home energy use) can significantly cut energy consumption. Smart thermostats, powered by AI and machine learning (ML), can automate this process, dynamically optimizing temperatures based on occupancy patterns and external weather conditions.
Smarter homes, bigger savings
Digital technology is a game-changer for home energy efficiency, and the good news is that it already exists today. Smart home devices, such as Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), not only monitor energy usage but also automate optimization without requiring user input. These systems leverage AI to analyze real-time energy data, automatically adjusting appliance usage, shifting energy-intensive tasks to off-peak hours, and integrating with smart grids to respond to price fluctuations.
Despite their benefits, adoption of smart home technologies remains low. Schneider Electric’s survey revealed that only 21% have installed smart thermostats. The most common barrier? Cost. Around half (52%) of consumers perceive these technologies as expensive, even though connected homes can achieve energy savings of up to 22%. These investments can pay off quickly. Our previous research found that 25% of homeowners who invested in energy efficiency measures reported seeing a return on investment within just 1-3 years – before then continuing to benefit from cost and carbon savings, permanently. This is thanks to the ability of smart home solutions to automatically adjust heating and cooling in unoccupied rooms or shift energy use to off-peak hours, reducing both costs and emissions without sacrificing convenience.
A call to action: Your role in the energy transition
Our homes are deeply connected to every facet of our lives, but the energy decisions we make at home can have a much wider impact. By adopting smart home solutions like HEMS, households can become active participants in the transition to a more sustainable future. The time to act is now. Start small by making smarter energy choices or take the leap by investing in innovative technologies. Together, we can make a difference — one home at a time.
