Two-Year Test Shows AI Smart Heating Cut Gas Use by 18%
A real-world trial in a 1930s home found an automated, room-by-room smart thermostat system cut energy consumption and saved over £200 compared with strict manual control.
At a glance
- A two-year trial in a 1930s home found an AI smart thermostat system reduced gas use by 18% compared with strict manual heating control.
- The Tado X system cut energy consumption by 2,581 kilowatt hours over 213 days, delivering a £205.70 saving under the energy price cap.
- Hardware for the 13-radiator setup cost around £930, alongside an £80 installation fee and a £29.99 annual software subscription.
A two-year real-world experiment conducted in a 1930s solid-brick British home demonstrated that an artificial intelligence-driven smart thermostat system reduced household gas consumption by 18% compared with strict manual management.
During the winter of 2024, the baseline test involved a 10-year-old combination gas boiler, a disabled Hive thermostat, and 13 radiators fitted with standard manual thermostatic radiator valves. The resident implemented a strict, frugal schedule, turning off unused radiators, keeping heating on for only brief morning and evening intervals, and switching off the system when leaving. Across 213 days from November to May, after adjusting for baseline hot water usage, the manual regimen consumed 14,316.7 kilowatt hours of gas.
Upgrading to Automated Zoned Heating
In the summer of 2025, the setup was replaced with a Tado X system valued at roughly £930, consisting of 13 smart radiator valves, two wireless thermostats, and a boiler programmer. Professional installation for the boiler wiring added £80 in labour fees. The system replaced whole-house thermostat scheduling with room-by-room zoning, allowing individual radiators to call for heat independently.
To access automated features, the system used Tado's subscription service, which costs £3.99 monthly or £29.99 annually. The software uses anonymised data from over 1 million homes to track how fast rooms heat up and cool down, automatically performs hydronic balancing, detects open windows, tracks occupancy to switch off heating when residents leave, and logs 13 months of energy data.
Comfort and Savings Results
Over an identical 213-day period running into 2026 under similar outdoor temperatures, the AI-managed setup used 11,735.7 kWh of gas. That represented a reduction of 2,581 kWh, saving £205.70 under the existing energy price cap.
Despite using 18% less energy, the household experienced noticeably higher comfort levels and consistent warmth throughout the house. Additional practical advantages included tracking room humidity levels to manage ventilation and selectively warming specific spaces, such as drying areas or occupied bedrooms, without needlessly heating the rest of the property.
Source: The Guardian Technology.
Questions and answers
- How much gas did the AI smart thermostat system save?
- Over a 213-day winter period, the automated system reduced gas usage by 18%, or 2,581 kWh, saving £205.70 compared with frugal manual management.
- What equipment was required for the test?
- The test used a Tado X system comprising 13 smart radiator thermostats, two wireless thermostats, and a wired boiler programmer, costing about £930 plus £80 in installation labour.
- Is a subscription needed to use the AI heating features?
- Yes, automated features like open-window shutoff, geofencing, and room learning require a subscription priced at £3.99 a month or £29.99 a year.
