Summers Over: Winter Is Coming!
Expensive bills and winter chills are on most of our minds following summer, as temperatures start to drop. It can always be scary to touch the thermostat since leaving it on too long could cause your bills to soar, and setting it too low might mean you still feel cold. For someone with a disability, selecting the right temperature is crucial to moving easily and preventing joints and muscles from becoming tighter and less functional.
What Is Tado?
Tado is a smart product that turns your traditional thermostat into an intelligent thermostat, taking your heating to the next level. It collects data on your energy usage and offers useful suggestions to save you money. There is also an array of smart radiator valves and add-ons that can be added to your home separately to further enhance your experience on a room-to-room basis.
Simple things like leaving a window open will be picked up by Tado, which will stop you from wasting money by being forgetful! It also lets you set the temperature remotely, which is great if you forget to turn the heating off before going on holiday or want to switch it on beforehand. All of this is handled through an app on your smartphone, meaning you can manage your heating on the go.
Why I Would Get Tado as a Disabled Person
While I don’t have one yet, I’m planning on buying one of these in the future as it enables me to use and set temperatures independently, without relying on someone else. The ability to adjust the heating remotely is particularly appealing to me, as it offers peace of mind knowing I can manage my comfort no matter where I am or how I’m feeling.
Controlling Remotely
Enabling this control means I won’t risk becoming cold and stiff or too warm because the temperatures outside have suddenly changed. Given I know my way around technology and mobile apps, using them is pretty much second nature to me. The control it gives, even through smart speakers and assistance, means that even if I can’t use my hands as well in the future, the control is still in my hands.
Potential Cost Savings?
Being disabled already costs on average £6,840 a year more due to the extra needs as outlined in a 2023 article by Disability charity Scope UK. The benefits of smart technology would mean I could get the most value out of my heating, while meeting my disability needs, potentially slashing my bills.
Some companies offer discounts on Tado products, allowing you to save money on a starter kit. Be sure to check with your energy supplier to get the necessary discount code or to find out which Tado products are eligible for discounts through them.
Smart Tech Reins Again!
Tado demonstrates that smart technology is key to a more energy-efficient future. It shows that technology can empower us with greater control, allowing us to make independent decisions that help us get the most of out our money. As a disabled person, this reassures me that as my needs increase and my disability progresses, I will still be able to control the temperature and heating in my own home. The fact that I don’t need someone else to adjust the thermostat, even by a single degree, ensures I’m not constantly reliant on others to maintain the right conditions to support my disability.
Share Your Tech!
Do you have smart technology in your home or discovered an interesting piece of tech online? Share your findings with me! Drop an email to ‘info@buildmyaccessiblehome.co.uk,’ and your findings might be featured in my next blog post! Whether it’s a device that makes life easier or an innovation that’s made your home more accessible, your insights could inspire others and contribute to a growing community of tech-savvy, empowered individuals.
Your collaboration could help shape the future of accessible technology by bringing awareness to new and exciting innovations. Together, we can inspire others and encourage companies to push the boundaries of accessible tech, further enhancing the lives of disabled people in their own homes.