10 IFTTT Recipes for Lower Utility Bills

The advent of the connected home has made our lives easier and more efficient. Convenience and ease-of-use aside, these technologies have also changed how we manage resources such as water and energy.

With IFTTT (“if this then that”), the ways in which these devices work with one another and other software applications can be easily specified by the average homeowner. This allows for harmony between these devices, and ultimately, a more efficient home.

Below are 10 IFTTT recipes that lend to a more efficient home, and ultimately, savings on your utility bill!


1. Log your electricity usage
Add the total amount of energy used from a WeMo Plug to a Google Calendar or Google Doc so you can better manage your energy use and find where the biggest opportunities to cut back are.
Required device: WeMo Switch

2. Skip watering if it’s too windy
High winds result in quicker evaporation and water not making down to the plants you’re trying to water. Postpone watering your yard when winds are too high.
Required Device: Rachio Iro

3. Turn a device off after it’s been on for “x” minutes
Forget to turn off that light all the time? Wish you could put it on a timed cycle? Put a time limit on any device’s energy use.
Required Device: WeMo Insight Switch

4. Stop AC from running if it’s cool outside
Weather changing quicker than your thermostat can adjust for? Turn off your Air Conditioning if it’s below a certain temperature outside and let mother nature cool your house for you.
Required Device: Nest Thermostat

5. Turn off the lights when I leave the house
Let this recipe make sure all your lights are off when you leave for the day.
Required Device: WeMo Light Switch

6. When UV index rises above 10, turn off the lights
Let the sunshine in! Let this recipe turn off your lights when the sun is shining bright to save energy and get some vitamin D as a bonus.
Required Device: WeMo Switch

7. Delay watering your garden if it’s going to rain
Make sure any rain at all delays your watering schedules with this recipe.
Required Device: Rachio Iro

8. Cut the AC some slack when it gets too hot
When it’s blazing hot out give your AC a break by adjusting up the target temperature a bit. Even just a degree or two can save a lot of energy.
Required Device: Nest Thermostat

9. Turn off my holiday lights when it reaches 1:00 AM
Set your festive holiday decorations to turn off at 1:00 AM so you don’t waste energy all night long. No confusing nobs or dials required!
Required Device: WeMo Insight Switch

10. Track watering in a Google Spreadsheet
Track every time your sprinklers water in a Google Sheet so you know exactly how often they’ve run and where you might be able to cut back.
Required Device: Rachio Iro