In today's episode, I look at how we've used home automation to reduce vampiric loads on our electricity and yet remove some of the friction in day-to-day life.

This is Heat Pump week, but using automation in terms of our heating schedule unlocked the savings available in our heat pump, and made life so much more comfortable.

Lighting automation can be contentious in a busy and flexible household, so what's the right mix for you? How can you make the most of that investment? Isn't it just easier to go and push the switch on the wall?

Find out how we made the steps towards our automated house. Is there anything you can share on living in the 21st Century?

Hi, it’s National Heat Pump Week, and while we are huge advocates for low-carbon heating, we know the elephant in the room: heat pumps aren't financially or physically accessible for everyone right now.

Yet with the high price of natural gas, how can you make your heating work for you?

For this special off-schedule episode of Driving Off the Grid, we wanted to tackle the question: what can you do if you're stuck on gas or oil and either renting or not ready for a big capital upgrade?

Before we ever installed our heat pump, we spent three years getting our home into shape. Focusing on smart controls, lowering boiler flow temperatures, and phasing upgrades room-by-room, we dropped our annual heating consumption from 17 MWh down to 12.8 MWh. A massive 30% reduction in energy demand without sitting in the cold. We did it in small steps, none costing more than a takeaway for four!

In this episode, we break down:

• 🌡️ The 55°C Boiler Trick: How a simple dial adjustment pushes your gas boiler into its high-efficiency condensing zone.

• 🎯 Smart Zoning on a Budget: Why room-by-room scheduling with smart TRVs beats heating empty space.

• 🎭 Low-Cost Fabric Wins: Easy insulation hacks (like thermal curtain linings and draught excluders) that anyone, including renters, can implement.

The high price of natural gas means it is not enough just to turn down the boiler, you need to get it working better for you. Share your tips on how to make the most of your heat here.

Today's hot episode is all about the heat.

As the first cold day is approaching, how can you get the most out of any planned heat pump or one you have in place?

Why does the planning of the installation matter? Why should you look at the settings?

Heat pumps are not the only story in town when it comes to electric heating but getting it right can make it pay for itself.

On Saturday the numbers behind this podcast will be published on Driving off the Grid - heat pump section.