The short version
A two‑year trial shows AI‑driven heating controls can cut gas use in a typical UK home.
What happened
Samuel Gibbs used his 1930s solid‑brick house with an insulated loft as a test bed.
In winter 2024 he ran a manual regime with a 10‑year‑old Worcester Bosch combi boiler, a Hive thermostat (smart features off) and 13 radiators fitted with standard thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs).
He kept a simple schedule, turned off TRVs in unused rooms and switched the heating off when leaving, consuming 14,316.7 kWh of gas over 213 days, about 10‑15 % lower than his earlier years.
What it means for owners and operators
For owners and operators the upfront cost of a room‑by‑room smart system is around £1,010, plus a modest annual subscription. The hardware can be DIY‑installed except for the boiler‑wired component, which may need a heating engineer.
The test shows an 18 % reduction in gas consumption while comfort improves.
The AI reduces manual oversight: push notifications warn of open windows, and the app can automatically turn heating off when no one is home. This cuts labour and the risk of comfort‑related disputes, while providing granular cost data for each room.
What to do in your business tomorrow
- Audit your current heating control system and note annual gas usage.
- Include a modest AI subscription cost in your operating budget and monitor monthly energy reports for optimisation.
- Map each room’s heating budget and set target savings based on the 18% reduction potential.
Sources
- theguardian.com: Can AI really save you money on your heating bill? I spent two years testing to find out
- AOL.co.uk: Can AI really save you money on your heating bill? I spent two years testing to find out
- The Mirror: Save money on your central heating bill this winter with portable heater that’s just £31
- The Sun: Exact temperature to set your heating to save £90 a year on your energy bill
- OK! Magazine UK: Making quick change to your heating cold save you £270 on bills