Homeownership costs haven’t exactly eased up—but the right tech can help take the edge off.
From smart lighting to leak detectors, these energy-saving gadgets can help you to save money on household utilities.

While Canadian housing prices have cooled over the last few years, the actual cost of homeownership remains staggeringly high.

This includes property taxes, rising insurance premiums, and the inevitable sting of unexpected repairs—not to mention those renewing mortgages in 2026 are bracing for higher payments than their previous terms.

Oh, and don’t forget about costly utilities. No wonder many are reluctant to rip open their electricity, gas and water bills each month.

You likely know about running your dishwasher and washing machine during off-peak hours (whenever possible), upgrading to energy-efficient furnaces and air conditioners (and taking advantage of rebates to offset the costs) and maybe investing in solar to augment your reliance on the grid—but off-the-shelf tech gadgets can also help make a difference.

A few thought-starters:

Upgrade to Smart Lighting Options

If you haven't done so already, replace all your incandescent and fluorescent bulbs with LED lights, as they sip rather than gulp electricity.

Sure, they cost a little more, but you’ll save money in the long run. A 60-watt LED equivalent, for instance, might only be just 8 watts for comparable lumens (brightness), not to mention they can last considerably longer, which saves you even more. These bulbs cost as low as under a buck apiece, or less if you buy in bulk.

There are also Wi-Fi-enabled Smart LED bulbs, which might save you even more, thanks to the ability to set schedules and timers, remotely access your lights (such as turning lights off via an app), or, coupled with room sensors, have the lights go off automatically when someone leaves the room.

Smart LEDs also let you use your voice to control them (via an Amazon Alexa, Google or Siri smart speaker) or you can change between millions of colours or preset scenes.

A four-pack of dimmable colour smart light bulbs start at $29 or from $69 for brand-name Philips Hue smart bulbs.

Try a Wi-Fi Thermostat to Save on Household Utilities

Smart thermostats let you conveniently adjust heating and cooling settings on a phone, tablet or laptop, but they can also learn your schedule and automatically optimize the temperature in your home.

Stating at about $79 for Honeywell Home model, $145 for an ecobee and from $179 for Google Nest, these Wi-Fi devices can also turn itself down when you leave the house, so you don’t waste energy on an empty home.

Some models include HVAC monitoring, which helps you identify potential issues with supported heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. If a potential issue is detected, an alert is sent by email or via an app.

Many smart thermostats can also be wirelessly synched with optional sensors around the home for more precise (and room-by-room) control.

Use Smart Plugs and Smart Strips

You might have heard the term “vampire power,” which refers to plugged-in electronics that—while turned off—still “suck” electricity and therefore cost you money.

Large appliances are often the culprits, but there are others, too, like televisions, sound systems and video game consoles.

Instead, inexpensive smart plugs and power strips can give you greater control over all your devices.

For example, the Kasa Smart Plug Mini from TP-Link (four-pack for $39) can switch appliances on and off with a tap on the Kasa app, plus you can set schedules and timers, or you can use your voice to ask your smart speaker to do it.

You might want to set your dishwasher to only run during off-peak hours to save money on electricity costs. (Check your utility company’s rates for on-, off- and mid-peak times, which change during the year.)

Similarly, a smart power strip lets you individually control outlets and often includes surge/overcurrent protection.

Some smart power strips can also cut off electricity to a couple of its outlets—ideal for when you’re going on vacation, for example—while other outlets on the power bar maintain the connection to the power source when turned off. For example, you don’t need power to your TV, but you’ll likely want your PVR running in the background to archive your favourite shows for you.

And from the “duh” department, you need some appliances to be plugged in all the time, like fridges and chest freezers, but at least look for Energy Star-certified products. Appliances and consumer electronics branded with the cyan and white Energy Star logo have been tested and verified to be more energy efficient. You should see that familiar sticker on the box and product itself. When in doubt, ask a salesperson or write to the manufacturer on their website.

If you have a guest room in the home, simply unplug a television, lamp, fan, space heater or anything else you don't need more than a few times a year.

Energy Monitors Can Help, too

The expression is wrong: Ignorance is not bliss. Information is.

After having a licensed electrician connect the Schneider Electric Wiser Energy Smart Home Electricity Monitor from $498) to your electrical panel, the device gives homeowners useful insights into activity and energy use—in real time.

Using the companion app (for iOS, Android), see a colour-coded view of your home’s energy usage, create custom notifications (such as when devices are on or off), analyze trends and set goals.

Even when you’re not at home you can be alerted to leaving, say, the curling iron on in your home—that clichéd fear for when you go on vacation.

There’s also a solar version of this kit, for $515.

Prevent Water Damage

Water shutoff valves, like MOEN Flo (from $799), connect to your home’s water supply and can detect flow rate, temperature and pressure throughout the entire home. It can detect an issue like a frozen or burst pipe, or if a child left a bathroom faucet running, and can turn it off for you and notify you via the app.

There are no monthly fees, and home insurance providers may give you a discount if you have one installed, says MOEN.

If you don’t have the budget, another solution is the mydlink Whole Home Smart Wi-Fi Water Leak Sensor Starter Kit ($89), which includes two sensors in the box (expandable up to 16) to place around a water heater, washing machine, sump pump or any spot there could be a potential water leak.

You'll be immediately notified if a leak is detected, thanks to a loud 100-decibel alarm, flashing lights and a smart speaker could announce an issue, too.

If you’re not at home and it detects moisture, you’ll get a notification via an app.