The ‘smart’ in smart meters

• Who is this post for? Anyone responsible for their home energy choices
• What does it discuss? The government’s aim to install 53m smart meters in UK homes by 2020
• How does it benefit you? Be more energy efficient and save money

Proponents of smart meters believe they will save people money, promote more competition, more innovation, and change the way the global energy industry works. The UK government has told energy suppliers that they must offer to replace the old analogue gas and electricity meters in homes and small businesses with digital ‘smart’ meters with a target of installing 53 million by 2020.

To read more about the benefits and why the real ‘smart’ is actually you, take a look at this handy overview. Seems like a no-brainer to us – have you taken part in this voluntary scheme yet? If you have, have you noticed any tangible benefits?

 

How to boost your home Wi-Fi connection

• Who is this post for? Anyone with Wi-Fi at home
• What does it discuss? A short video giving you tips to boost strength of connection
• How does it benefit you? No more slow-loading pages and videos!

I live in a small rural village, in a small 3-floor house. There’s no 3G or 4G phone signal available and there’s no high-speed broadband available either. Therefore it’s vitally important that our Wi-Fi connection is maximised all over the house. I already have a booster on the top floor as the router is on the ground floor. This and other tips for boosting your Wi-Fi strength, including a very handy Blue-Peter style trick with some cardboard and tin-foil, are included in this useful, brief video:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-34848853/embed