How to Use Your Google Home Hub to Save More Energy
If you own a Google Home Hub (now called the Nest Hub), you already know how convenient it is you can play music, control your smart devices, and get quick answers with just your voice. But did you know it can also help you save energy and lower your utility bills?
Your Google Home Hub isn’t just a smart display it’s also a smart energy assistant. With a few settings and connected devices, you can make your home more efficient, cut down on wasted power, and even automate good energy habits.
Control and Automate Your Smart Lights
One of the easiest ways to waste energy is by leaving the lights on. Thankfully, your Google Home Hub makes it simple to fix that.
If you have smart bulbs like Philips Hue, Kasa, or Lifx, you can connect them to Google Home and control them hands-free. Just say:
- “Hey Google, turn off the lights in the living room.”
- “Hey Google, dim the bedroom lights to 50%.”
You can also set schedules or routines to automatically turn lights on or off based on your daily habits. For example, lights can turn off every morning when you leave for work and turn on again at sunset.
That means no more forgetting and no more wasted electricity.
Pair with a Smart Thermostat
Your thermostat is one of the biggest sources of energy use at home. By pairing your Google Home Hub with a Nest Thermostat, you can make heating and cooling smarter and cheaper.
The Nest Thermostat learns your preferences over time and automatically adjusts temperatures to save energy when you’re away or asleep. You can even check and control the temperature with your voice or directly from your Hub’s screen.
For example:
- “Hey Google, set the temperature to 72 degrees.”
- “Hey Google, lower the heat when I leave.”
With Google Home’s energy-saving insights, you can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 10–15% without lifting a finger.
Use Routines for Energy Efficiency
Google Home Routines let you automate daily actions, and they’re perfect for cutting unnecessary energy use.
For instance, you can create a “Goodnight” routine that:
- Turns off all lights.
- Lowers the thermostat.
- Turns off smart plugs for devices you’re not using.
Or a “Leaving Home” routine that powers down everything when you head out for the day.
Manage Smart Plugs and Outlets
Even when you turn off certain electronics, they often continue to draw power in standby mode — also known as “vampire energy.”
By connecting your gadgets to smart plugs that work with Google Home, you can easily cut off power when they’re not in use.
For example, use smart plugs for:
- TVs
- Game consoles
- Coffee makers
- Chargers
Then, simply say:
- “Hey Google, turn off the TV plug.”
- “Hey Google, turn off all outlets.”
You can also set schedules so those devices automatically shut off at night or during work hours.
Make Use of Energy Insights
If you have a Nest Hub (2nd Gen) or compatible devices like the Nest Thermostat or Nest Smart Plug, Google can show you energy reports and suggestions.
You can view these insights on the Hub’s display or in the Google Home app. It’ll highlight when devices are using the most energy and suggest ways to cut back like adjusting thermostat settings or turning off idle devices.
Over time, you’ll start to see patterns and know exactly where your energy (and money) is going.
Use the Ambient Display Wisely
Your Google Home Hub’s screen doesn’t need to stay bright all day. Adjusting the Ambient Display settings can save a surprising amount of power.
Go to Settings → Display → Ambient and:
- Set brightness to “Auto” so it adjusts to the room’s light.
- Enable low-power mode when idle.
- Use dark mode to reduce screen energy use at night.
These small tweaks not only save electricity but also help extend your device’s lifespan.
