Automatically reduce electricity expenses
What is the EcoSwitch?
The EcoSwitch is a smart plug that switches devices on and off, depending on the electricity price of the moment.
Dynamic energy tariffs vary constantly. Consumers can benefit from these fluctuations by using electricity at the right time. The EcoSwitch does this automatically, which is convenient, cost-effective and sustainable. Let’s explain why and how.
The benefits of the EcoSwitch
EcoSwitch users experience a number of benefits:
- Less electricity expenses.
- Peace of mind.
- More green energy.
- Less grid congestion.
- Better insight into your energy consumption.
We’ll go through these benefits one by one.
Reduced electricity expenses
Did you know that electricity prices are sometimes negative? This means that you’ll get paid for using electricity! Why? Due to fluctuations in sunshine and wind, there are moments when there is an energy surplus. Supply exceeds demand and the price drops below zero. Even if it doesn’t get that low, these are the best moments to charge your EV or heat your boiler. The EcoSwitch does that automatically.
Peace of mind
Consumers with a Time of Use contract can save a lot of money by using electricity at the right moment. However, it takes a lot of time to check the daily tariffs, keep an eye on the clock all day and then run around the house to switch your devices on or off. And what if you’re sleeping or away from home? The EcoSwitch does it all automatically, saving you a lot of trouble. And money.
More green energy
As described above, when the electricity price is low, this is usually because of a high supply in renewable energy. That’s when the EcoSwitch turns on your devices, so you don’t need to use energy when demand is high and fossil fuels are being used to meet that demand. Many people don’t realise that they might use fossil fuel even though they have a green energy contract. The EcoSwitch minimises that use automatically!
Less grid congestion
Our energy grid is reaching its maximum capacity. Not throughout the day, but at peak hours, when demand is high and prices too. The EcoSwitch avoids the use of electricity during those hours, thereby spreading our collective energy consumption over the day. This optimises the use of our grid, which saves us, as society, a lot of money.
Better insight into your energy consumption
The EcoSwitch Plus is capable of measuring the exact power use of your device. Being more aware of your energy consumption allows you to take better decisions about your energy use, which is good for both you and for the environment.
Applications of the EcoSwitch
You’ll get the best results when you combine the EcoSwitch with a device that can store energy. This energy can be either thermal (heat) or chemical (battery). In the table below you’ll find an overview of some recommended applications as well as the estimated energy use and cost savings per year.
We assume that one can save £ 0,13 / kWh. In practice, we often see price differences up to £ 0,70 over the course of a single day.
| Device | Energy use (per year) | Saving (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical boiler | 1.900 kWh | £ 250 |
| Close-in boiler | 400 kWh | £ 50 |
| Electrical vehicle | 5.000 kWh | £ 650 |
| Waterbed | 750 kWh | £ 100 |
| Pond or pool pump | 250 – 2.500 kWh | £ 30 – £ 325 |
| Fish tank | 4.500 kWh | £ 600 |
How does the EcoSwitch work?
Simply plug the EcoSwitch into your power socket. Then you plug whatever device you want to control into the EcoSwitch (see picture below). After configuring the EcoSwitch on your smartphone or internet browser, it’ll start working right away.
The EcoSwitch gets its data from our server on a daily basis. Depending on your settings, it’ll make a new schedule every day. You can choose to set a certain amount of hours that a device needs to be on or to set a time when something (for instance your warm water) needs to be ready. The rest goes automatically. Obviously, you can choose to overrule the schedule manually or from your smartphone anytime.
The EcoSwitch Plus is suitable for currents up to 10 Ampère. Read more about installing and using the EcoSwitch in the EcoSwitch Quick Guide.
A smart home system
The EcoSwitch is more than just a smart plug. It’s an entire smart home system, that includes:
- Hardware: de EcoSwitch Plus smart plug.
- Software: a program that controls the EcoSwitch Plus and a mobile app for your convenience.
- Services (five years included, worth £ 30):
- daily electricity prices from our server,
- software updates.