How To Save Energy in Your Home With Smart Plugs

Looking to save time, money, and energy while enhancing convenience at home? Introducing smart plugs could be the solution you’re seeking.

The typical U.S. household keeps about 65 devices plugged in continuously, collectively consuming approximately 770 kilowatt-hours of standby power annually. This is almost enough energy to power a refrigerator for nine months. With the current average residential electricity rate of 17.47 cents per kilowatt-hour, this amounts to about $135 a year spent on unused devices.

Smart plugs offer the most straightforward and cost-effective way to eliminate this energy waste. The introduction of Matter, a universal smart home standard backed by major tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Samsung, along with advancements in the low-power Thread wireless protocol, ensures that a smart plug purchased today will remain compatible across various smart home systems for years to come. This updated article explores the latest developments, what to look for now, and which models are recommended for installation in 2026.

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How Smart Plugs Work

Smart plugs are devices that connect between a wall outlet and any appliance, such as a lamp, coffee maker, space heater, or entertainment system. They contain a relay that opens or closes the circuit on command, and a wireless radio to receive commands from a phone or smart speaker. Some models include an energy meter to report real-time wattage and cumulative energy usage back to an app.

Older smart plugs relied on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and cloud services, which could fail if the network or server experienced issues, leaving users unable to control their devices. Matter-certified plugs communicate over the local network, maintaining functionality even when the internet is down. Thread-based plugs enhance this by forming a self-healing mesh network, where each device acts as a relay, extending range and improving response time, ensuring smoother smart home operations.

In late 2022, the Connectivity Standards Alliance introduced Matter 1.0, an open and royalty-free standard designed to end the era of restricted smart home systems. Matter-certified plugs can connect with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings all at once, with a simple QR code scan for setup. No proprietary app or separate hub is needed for each platform.

Matter has advanced rapidly, with version 1.4 adding home energy management as a primary category and introducing certified routers that also function as Thread border routers. Version 1.5, released in November 2025, added support for cameras, soil moisture sensors, and more energy management features. By 2026, Thread border router certification requires Thread 1.4, allowing security credentials to transfer between platforms, enabling control from multiple hubs like Apple Home and SmartThings.

A Matter plug purchased in 2026 is expected to remain functional in 2030, even if you switch from an Amazon Echo to a HomePod or add a SmartThings station. In contrast, proprietary Wi-Fi plugs from companies that no longer support their app can become obsolete. This is crucial in a market where startups frequently come and go, as seen with companies like Wink and Insteon, which left users stranded after shutting down their cloud services.

How Much Energy They Actually Save

Smart plugs save energy only when used strategically. They consume about 1 to 2 watts in standby mode, adding approximately $1.50 annually to your electricity bill. This cost is more than offset if the plug is used to schedule, monitor, or eliminate standby power consumption.

 

Three primary features of smart plugs contribute to energy savings:

1. Cutting Standby Loads

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Natural Resources Defense Council report that standby power, the energy drawn by devices when off but still plugged in, accounts for 5% to 10% of residential electricity use, and up to 23% in homes with numerous always-on electronics. The NRDC estimates national wasted energy costs at around $19 billion annually, or approximately $165 to $440 per household. Older electronics, gaming consoles, set-top boxes, and audio equipment are the worst offenders.

 

Smart plugs with energy monitoring can identify which devices draw significant power in standby mode, allowing users to schedule them off at night or cut power entirely. One reviewer discovered an old gaming console consuming 50 watts in standby mode, costing about $45 annually at average rates.

2. Scheduling and Off-Peak Shifting

Smart plugs can schedule devices like coffee makers, towel warmers, or seasonal lights to operate only when needed, offering simple savings. A more significant impact comes from shifting flexible loads, such as EV chargers, dehumidifiers, and pool pumps, to off-peak hours when utilities offer lower rates, and the grid uses cleaner energy sources. Earth911’s reporting on standby loads highlights which household devices should be prioritized.

3. Smart Plugs can Catch Failures Early

This often overlooked benefit allows smart plugs to detect issues early. If a refrigerator suddenly uses 40% more power, a sump pump cycles too frequently, or a freezer runs constantly due to a failed door seal, these problems will appear in the plug’s energy history before impacting your utility bill. For gradually failing appliances, the plug serves as an affordable diagnostic tool.

2026 Performance Standards: What to Look For

The smart plug market has consolidated around several key specifications. A plug bought in 2026 should meet most of these:

• UL or ETL safety certification is mandatory. Uncertified plugs from unknown brands have been linked to overheating and fires; in 2023, the CPSC announced a recall of Emporia smart plugs due to electric shock risks, and counterfeit electrical products remain a documented threat. The UL or ETL mark should be on the device, not just the listing page.
• A 15-amp / 1,800-watt rating is standard for U.S. plugs, sufficient for most single-outlet appliances. Be cautious when using smart plugs with space heaters, even at this rating; high-power devices running for extended periods can stress the relay.
• Matter certification is essential. Look for the Matter logo (three arrows forming a triangle) on the plug packaging.
• Genuine energy monitoring is crucial. Select plugs that report actual wattage and cumulative kilowatt-hours, not estimated usage based on assumed device profiles. This feature transforms a smart plug into a savings tool rather than merely a convenience device.
• Local scheduling stored on the plug itself ensures functionality continues when the internet is down. Cloud-only schedules do not.
• Compact form factor is important. Older plugs were bulky enough to block the second outlet on a duplex receptacle. Slim designs from Kasa, TP-Link Tapo, and Eve now allow two plugs per outlet.
• Thread support is optional but beneficial. Thread plugs use less power than Wi-Fi, respond more quickly, and strengthen your mesh network as additional devices are added. They require a Thread border router, which is integrated into most current Apple, Google, and Amazon hubs.

Recommended Models for 2026

These selections are organized by use case rather than ranked overall. Prices and availability were verified in April 2026; confirm before purchase.

Best Cross-Platform Pick: Kasa KP125M

The Kasa KP125M was among the first Matter-certified plugs to offer comprehensive energy monitoring and remains the best balance of features in 2026. It integrates with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings through Matter to monitor real-time and historical wattage in the Kasa app. It stores schedules locally and is compact enough to fit two in a duplex outlet. UL-certified, 15A/1800W. Priced around $20 per plug in 2-packs and 4-packs. The Chinese manufacturer, TP-Link, has faced scrutiny for security concerns in the U.S. market—consider this if security is a top concern for your household.

Best for Apple Home and Thread Mesh: Eve Energy

Eve Energy (Matter) operates on Matter and Thread, automatically joining a Thread mesh to function as a router for nearby devices. Eve’s privacy policy is distinctive: no cloud storage, no account registration, and no data tracking, allowing usage without concerns about digital surveillance. The energy monitoring is detailed enough to detect small changes in appliance performance, and the app offers comprehensive cost predictions. UL-certified, 15A/1800W. Priced higher at approximately $40 per plug, but the Thread support and privacy policy make it worthwhile for households prioritizing local-first smart home setups.

Outdoor Use: Wyze Plug Outdoor

For holiday lights, pool pumps, garden features, and string lights, the Wyze Plug Outdoor provides two independently controlled, weather-resistant outlets with energy monitoring, a built-in light sensor, and IP64 water resistance. It is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant and can operate in temperatures ranging from -4°F to 120°F. Typically priced between $25 and $30. Note that Wyze has experienced several security incidents in recent years, which should be considered for indoor cameras but is less concerning for an outdoor plug controlling lights.

Simplest Alexa-Only Setup: Amazon Smart Plug

If your household is invested in the Alexa ecosystem and seeks a hassle-free setup, the Amazon Smart Plug automatically pairs with Echo devices and functions through the Alexa app without additional setup. While it lacks energy monitoring, this Alexa-exclusive option costs around $20. It’s the simplest choice but offers limited flexibility if you decide to switch ecosystems.

The Bigger Picture

Smart plugs represent a minor intervention. Reducing standby power consumption could save a household between $50 and $200 annually, significant but modest compared to the savings from more efficient HVAC systems, water heaters, and appliances, which together comprise the bulk of residential electricity use. The real value of smart plugs lies in the insight they provide. Most households are unaware of which devices are driving their electricity bills until they have access to this data.

 

Additionally, the category plays a role in the larger grid story. Smart plugs capable of shifting flexible loads to off-peak hours offer utilities and grid operators tools to balance demand without constructing additional peaker plants. This is increasingly relevant as the electrification of heating and transportation raises residential demand. Explore our discussion with ecobee’s Sarah Colvin to delve deeper into how distributed smart devices are starting to serve as grid resources, not just consumer conveniences.

What You Can Do

• Conduct an audit before purchasing. Walk through your home with a notepad and list devices that consume power in standby mode, such as entertainment systems, gaming consoles, printers, set-top boxes, microwaves with clocks, or any device with an LED that stays lit. These should be your initial smart plug targets.
• Begin with a single Matter plug featuring energy monitoring. Use it as a diagnostic tool for a week on each of your main suspects before installing a full set. The data will reveal which loads are worth automating.
• Create schedules based on the loads you actually use. Set a coffee maker to run from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., power down an entertainment system at midnight, and operate holiday lights from sunset to 11 p.m. Aim for the plug to remain off most of the time.
• Look for utility rebates. Many U.S. utilities offer rebates on energy-monitoring devices and smart home products that participate in demand-response programs. Your provider’s website or ENERGY STAR’s rebate finder is a good starting point.
• Avoid placing high-power appliances on smart plugs. Space heaters, window AC units, and other devices that draw near the 15A rating for extended periods can strain the relay and pose a fire risk. Consider using a hardwired smart switch or a smart breaker for these instead.
• Verify safety certification on the physical product. The UL or ETL mark should be visible on the plug itself. If it’s absent, return the product.

Editor’s Note: This article, initially authored by Sandi Schwartz on March 29, 2023, was significantly revised in April 2026.