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Cormac is Selectra.ie's energy expert along with being the chief content and editorial manager for the website. His aim is to help find the best deal for you and your home energy needs so that you save money on your annual bills. His knowledge and experience of the Irish energy market allows him to offer the best advice and insight into current prices, emerging trends and overall energy saving tips.
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The best smart heating control systems are offered by Tado, Netatmo, Google Nest, and Hive, based on our review of their pricing, features, user reviews, and usability. When purchasing a new smart thermostat, it's essential to compare the available products to find one that suits both your budget and your home's heating needs.
What Is the Best Smart Heating Control System?
The best smart heating control systems for energy saving are available from Tado, Netatmo, Google Nest and Hive.
This is based on the pricing, features, reviews and usability of each smart thermostat.
While there is no one size fits all solution, to determine which is the best smart heating control system, we have compared the different brands in the following four categories:
Easily compatible with gas and oil boiler heating systems.
User-friendly app with scheduling and boost functions, geolocation and integration with other home assistant such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Multi-zone control available with Hive Radiator Valves.
Some users mention issues with the app's performance.
Multi-zone control with smart radiator valves, geo-fencing and open window detection.
Detailed energy reports and compatible with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Display can be hard to read the display at times and needs to be wall mounted.
Lacks smart learning and some advanced features require a paid subscription.
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How Much Do Smart Heating Controls Cost?
Smart heating controls range in price from €150 to €300 depending on the size and functions available on each heating control.
Below you will find a table that gives a general overview of the prices:
Smart Heating Control Price Comparison
Thermostat
Retail Price
Hive
€299
Nest
€239
Netatmo
€179.99
Tado
€149.99
Are There Budget Smart Heating Controls?
Hive have some budget friendly options for as little as €79. These mini heating thermostats come with all the basic features and offer an affordable alternative to the more expensive models.
Where Can I Buy Smart Heating Controls in Ireland?
A variety of both online and in-store retailers in Ireland sell smart heating controls.
Below you'll find a table detailing which where you can purchase a smart heating control:
Click-and-collect and delivery options, trade counters available.
Bord Gáis Energy
Hive
Yes
No
Yes
Primarily sells Hive systems, often offers installation.
Brooks Online
EPH Ember
Yes
No
No
Offers smart heating control packs with nationwide delivery.
Lights.ie
Various brands
Yes
No
No
Offers a selection of smart home thermostats online.
Amazon.ie
Wide range of brands
Yes
No
No
Large online marketplace with various sellers and delivery across Ireland.
Before purchasing a smart heating control, remember to consider the following:
Check Compatibility: Always verify that the chosen smart heating controls are compatible with your specific heating system.
Features: Consider the features you need (multi-zone, geofencing, smart integrations, etc.) when choosing a brand and model.
Reviews: Read online reviews for specific products and retailers.
Installation: Determine if you will DIY or need professional installation.
SEAI Grants: If applicable, ensure the products and installers meet the grant requirements.
Are There SEAI Grants for Smart Heating Controls?
The SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) offer grants for upgrading your heating controls under the Better Energy Homes Scheme.
The grant amount is fixed at €700 and to be eligible you must:
You must be the owner of the home, including landlords.
Your home must have been built and occupied before 2011.
You cannot have previously claimed a grant for a Heat Pump System, as heating controls are a mandatory part of that upgrade.
What Do The Upgrades Consist Of?
The upgrade must include:
Installation of a seven-day timer and temperature control for your existing boiler.
Zonal control over at least two zones in your home (heating and hot water).
Time and temperature control of an electric immersion (if applicable).
A boiler interlock.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) on at least three radiators, but no less than half of all radiators.
You can apply online through the SEAI website or by post.
It's important to note that the grant is intended for homes that previously had no, or very basic, heating controls and does not cover the cost of commercially available smart heating controls like the ones reviewed above.
How Much Can I Save With Smart Heating Controls?
Given the high cost of home heating in Ireland, even small percentage savings can mean significant euro value back in your pocket
Here's what smart heating controls can do for your wallet:
Manufacturer studies consistently demonstrate significant savings on heating bills:
Typical Heating Savings: General use of certified smart thermostats can save homeowners an average of 8% on heating bills by eliminating simple waste.
Advanced Performance: Systems with learning algorithms and geofencing (like Google Nest) often show higher results, with users reporting saving an average of 10–12% on heating costs.
How These Savings Are Achieved
These savings aren't magic; they come from the smart features that eliminate energy waste:
Geofencing & Occupancy Sensing: The system uses motion sensors or your phone's location (geofencing) to detect when the last person leaves the home. It automatically shifts to an energy-saving setback temperature and ramps back up only when someone is about to return.
Learning Algorithms: Over time, the thermostat learns your comfort preferences and the unique way your home heats and cools. It then optimizes its runtime, preventing unnecessary heating by anticipating temperature changes before they happen.
Weather-Responsive Adjustments: By pulling local weather forecasts, the system can modulate the boiler or heat pump run time, reducing effort when a mild day is forecast.
What Are the Main Smart Heating Control Features?
Here are the more important features of a smart heating control you will want to compare:
Text control With this feature, you can turn your heating on or off via SMS.
Autoadapt Your thermostat will use the outside temperature and what it has learned about your insulation to automatically adapt the heat required to get to the set temperature.
Smart Schedule The heating control tracks your habits, similar to other energy saving gadgets, to know when to turn on and off your heating.
Open Window Detection This option turns off your heating in a room where a window is open to improve energy efficiency at home.
Geofencing Geofencing allows your smart heating control to tell if anyone is home by tracking the GPS location of users’ mobiles.
Hot Water You’ll have some control over your hot water, depending on the thermostat. Some just allow you to turn it on, while others allow you to set the temperature.
Multi-Zone Heating Allows you to control different heating zones of your home, to avoid heating up rooms you’re not using. Useful when working from home.
Compatibility If the thermostat is compatible with Google and Alexa home assistants.
The table below compares each thermostat based on which features it does and doesn't have, helping you to make a better comparison:
🌡 Smart Heating Controls Features Comparison
Thermostat
Hive
Nest
Netatmo
Tado
Text control
Yes
No
No
No
Auto-adapt
No
No
Yes
No
Smart schedule
No
Yes
No
Yes
Open window detection
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Geofencing
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Hot water
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Multi-zone heating
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Alexa compatible
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Google Home compatible
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Apple Homekit compatible
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Overall rating
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What Are the Smart Heating Control Apps Like?
Most of the functionality of your shiny new smart thermostat cannot be easily accessed without using an app, so it is quite important.
Let’s see how each of the main brands rank in this department.
Hive Thermostat App
The Hive thermostat app has an average rating of 4.2 across both the Google and Apple app store, with most customer satisfied with its functionality and effectiveness:
Hive Thermostat App Review
App Store
Rating
Google Play rating
3.9/5
Apple store rating
4.5/5
Positive comments
Great app to control heating and lighting when away
Negative comments
Issues with the connection to the boiler being constantly dropped
Recent updates have caused issues
Nest Thermostat App
Similarly, the Nest app also receives positive reviews with an average rating of 4.4 across both app stores for its versatility and ease of use:
Nest Thermostat App Review
App Store
Rating
Google Play rating
4.2/5
Apple store rating
4.7/5
Positive comments
Can be used for your alarm system and security cameras, not just the thermostat.
Very easy to install.
Negative comments
No longer integrated with HomeKit
Netatmo Thermostat App
The Netatmo app has an average of almost 4 stars across both app stores, with customers highlighting its ease of use and dependability:
Netatmo Thermostat App Review
App Store
Rating
Google Play rating
3.7/5
Apple store rating
4.6/5
Positive comments
Good, functioning app
Very easy to use
Never drops the connection
Negative comments
No geofencing
Tado Thermostat App
The Tado app has the highest average rating across both app stores at 4.5 with customers praising its functionality and features:
Learn More About Energy SavingOur energy guide articles contain lots of useful information on saving energy, the electricity market and how to have a more positive impact on the environment.
Cormac is Selectra.ie's energy expert along with being the chief content and editorial manager for the website. His aim is to help find the best deal for you and your home energy needs so that you save money on your annual bills. His knowledge and experience of the Irish energy market allows him to offer the best advice and insight into current prices, emerging trends and overall energy saving tips.
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