A tiny computer is hidden in an attic in Chester and downloads weather data from the internet in order to save a homeowner money.
The device is connected to a gas boiler through a small plastic case. It turns the boiler flow temperature down when it's warm outside. Weather compensation is what it is.
The device was built and installed by Paul Pschierer-Barnfather. I should have done this a long time ago.
There are branded products that measure the outside air temperature and adjust the temperature of the water sent to the house.
Mr Pschierer-Barnfather, who works for an electric car charging firm and has some technical know-how, said he could make the device himself for about 15 dollars.
Someone who knows what they're doing is the best person to do it.
techies have come up with gadgets and apps to help them reduce their bills and, given the soaring cost of energy at the moment, many are eager to share their experiences in the hope that they will benefit others
Mr Pschierer-Barnfather started his project after reading about how lowering the flow temperature on a boiler can improve its efficiency.
The flow temperature is the temperature at which water is heated before it leaves the house. The boiler retains heat when the flow temperature is lower.
When Mr Pschierer-Barnfather turned the boiler down, he cut the gas consumption by 10%.
On very cold days, he felt he had to turn the boiler back up, so he made a device that would do this automatically.
He found that the device kept the temperature between 30C and 50C.
This is not the same as changing the thermostat temperature, and it is important to note that this only applies to the boiler's hot water temperature and not the thermostat temperature. Legionella can grow if the hot water temperature is too low.
Tom's McGuinness has designed a device that uses sensors to read the flow temperatures on his boiler. If the return flow goes above 55C, it will send a notification to the phone app. The temperature can be adjusted manually.
He says he could put it together for about a tenth of a dollar. Several people are willing to try prototypes of his device, which he says he might produce for sale.
Reducing his boiler's power consumption is one of the measures he has taken to control his energy expenditure.
He is still concerned about the increase in bills.
Mr Pschierer-Barnfather feels fortunate to have the skills to reduce his gas bill. He believes that techies are in a good position to help other people.
People who haven't been able to do what I have with their boiler will get the full whack of this.
We can lend a helping hand. There's more that we can do and we're a minority.
He believes that more efficient boilers should be the norm.
Jo Alsop is the founder of The Heating Hub, an independent consumer advice organisation.
She says that people seem to be interested in finding out how to maximize the efficiency of their home energy systems.
There has been a rise in queries about setting up energy management systems according to a spokesman for Home Assistant.
People watch their home electricity use closely. If you attach a sensor to the cables exiting your electricity board, you can track your energy use over time.
Dan Medhurst works in IT and has attached a sensor to his electricity meter. It shows how much power is flowing by showing the pulse of the LEDs. He can check the data on his phone or computer whenever he wants.
It gives Mr Medhurst the ability to spot spikes in usage and figure out what caused them. It made him realize how much electricity his tumble dryer uses, for example, and he also decided to turn his fridge temperature up.
He says the TV was the best example recently.
The usage went from 100 watt to 50 watt just by turning it to eco mode.
He estimates that the result of closer monitoring has resulted in a 10% decrease in his electricity bill.
Even though small adjustments to home energy use will not eliminate the pain of rapidly rising bills, there is still value in it.
She says that if domestic gas consumption is lowered, there will be more gas available for gas-fired power stations, which could help alleviate pressure on the European energy system. The less gas is burned, the less CO2 is released into the air.
She says that these are tiny actions that can make a big difference.
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