Latest news with #smartappliances
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Millions of households to save money on energy bills under new government plans
Households are set to gain greater control over their energy costs as the government unveils plans for flexible tariffs and smart appliance integration, aimed at significantly cutting electricity bills. This initiative is projected to contribute to savings of up to £70 billion in system costs by 2050. Energy minister Michael Shanks detailed the "Clean Flexibility Roadmap," designed to give households and businesses more choice over their energy use and make savings on their bills. The strategy focuses on enabling consumers to benefit from off-peak, lower electricity prices through flexible tariffs and smart technology. This includes discounts for electric vehicle (EV) drivers using public chargers at off-peak times. Suppliers will be required to make smart tariff information more accessible and offer tailored products based on electricity usage. This strategic shift aims to alleviate financial pressure, bolster power network resilience, and align with the UK's net-zero targets. Britain will need to shift towards more flexible energy use as the UK becomes more dependent on wind and solar power, such as charging EV batteries when wind is generating a lot of electricity. Mr Shanks said: 'This roadmap gives households and businesses the choice and control over when and how they use their energy. 'The flexible electricity system we are working to build will help make that a reality for consumers across the country, by supporting them to bring down their bills through using new tariffs and technologies. 'In this way we will protect working people's pockets and ensure they are the first to benefit from our clean power mission.' A flexibility commissioner will be appointed to lead the policy work, and an annual forum will be set up to track progress on the initiative. Akshay Kaul, Ofgem's director general for infrastructure group, said: 'A more flexible energy market will be a real game changer, giving households more control over what they pay for their energy. 'Small lifestyle tweaks such as programming a dishwasher or tumble dryer to run overnight when costs are low or charging your electric car during high winds can have a material impact on people's bills. 'At Ofgem we're opening up flexibility markets to bring better tariffs and products to consumers to make cheaper bills a reality.' The Government has also launched a two-month consultation looking at how more consumers can be supported to use energy flexibly.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Plans for flexible energy tariffs to help households cut electricity bills
Households will be able to switch to flexible energy tariffs and use smart appliances to help cut electricity bills under plans set out by the Government. Energy minister Michael Shanks unveiled the next steps to give households and businesses more freedom and choice over how and when they use energy as part of aims to make savings of up to £70 billion in system costs by 2050. The Government wants to offer consumers new ways to take advantage of off-peak, lower electricity prices, through flexible tariffs and smart technology. This includes helping electric vehicle (EV) drivers get discounts on their electricity when using public chargers at off-peak times. It also plans to ensure suppliers make information on smart tariffs more accessible to consumers, while taking the next steps to offer tailored products and services based on electricity usage. The so-called Clean Flexibility Roadmap comes as part of the UK's net-zero aims, while also helping lower bills and boosting the resilience of the power network. Britain will need to shift towards more flexible energy use as the UK becomes more dependent on wind and solar power, such as charging EV batteries when wind is generating a lot of electricity. Mr Shanks said: 'This roadmap gives households and businesses the choice and control over when and how they use their energy. 'The flexible electricity system we are working to build will help make that a reality for consumers across the country, by supporting them to bring down their bills through using new tariffs and technologies. 'In this way we will protect working people's pockets and ensure they are the first to benefit from our clean power mission.' A flexibility commissioner will be appointed to lead the policy work, and an annual forum will be set up to track progress on the initiative. Akshay Kaul, Ofgem's director general for infrastructure group, said: 'A more flexible energy market will be a real game changer, giving households more control over what they pay for their energy. 'Small lifestyle tweaks such as programming a dishwasher or tumble dryer to run overnight when costs are low or charging your electric car during high winds can have a material impact on people's bills. 'At Ofgem we're opening up flexibility markets to bring better tariffs and products to consumers to make cheaper bills a reality.' The Government has also launched a two-month consultation looking at how more consumers can be supported to use energy flexibly.
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Best Prime Day Robot Vacuum Deals: Save Up To 65% On Top Brands
Amazon Prime Day is in full swing, and some of the best deals we've spotted are on smart appliances, including robot vacuums and mops. Our expert deals editors have scoured the e-tailer to find the best Prime Day robot vacuum deals available now, including serious savings on some of our top tested picks: Take 34% off the Shark Ion, for example, which our editors named the best robot vacuum for pet hair on hardwood floors. Or save a whopping 49% on the iRobot Roomba Plus 504, a popular robot vacuum-and-mop combo with dual spinning pads that conveniently self-empties. Our editors have found the best Prime Day robot vacuum deals, including savings of up to 50% on ... More models from Shark, iRobot and more. Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers All of the deals listed below are some of the best discounts we've seen on these models this year, or they're on sale for all-time low prices. If you're looking for more Prime Day deals to shop, check out our roundup of the best Amazon Prime Day 2025 deals for other sales to take advantage of across all shopping categories. Why we like it: It's rare to find a robot vacuum-and-mop combo from a reputable brand like Roborock that's priced well under $200. At just $160 for Prime Day, you'll enjoy the Q7 M5's powerful 10,000 Pa suction, simultaneous vacuuming and mopping, and Roborock's outstanding mapping capabilities. This affordable bundle also comes with a docking station, making it a great choice for apartments or smaller homes. Why we like it: Shark's Ion Robot Vacuum garnered a spot on our list of the best robot vacuums for pet owners based on its prowess at capturing tricky pet hair on hardwood floors. It makes up for its lack of advanced features with a slim, low-profile, three-brush system, cliff-detection technology and two-hour runtime. The Shark Ion's average market price is around $196, so while this isn't the steepest discount we've seen all year, it's still a worthwhile buy for pet owners new to robot vacuums. Why we like it: One of the best-performing robot vacuums we tested, the Eufy RoboVac G30 is a little over 30% off. The catch: It's a refurbished model. But we think even a renewed version of the RoboVac that's in excellent condition is worth the purchase. This model is slim, quiet, smart home capable and offers smart-mapping technology. Our tester notes, 'It was the only robot able to slither under a mid-century desk I keep in my living room, something I didn't think was possible. It's slimmer than the other vacuums, so it's able to clean under furniture that other robots can't.' Why we like it: The Eufy X10 Pro Omni frees you from the responsibility of mopping with its MopMaster 2.o technology. The mop applies downward pressure while rotating at 180 RPM, all while remaining gentle enough to use on hardwood floors. The X10 Pro Omni is nearly 50% off at $500, and is $50 less than its previous lowest price. Why we like it: This ultra-quiet robot mop by iRobot, unlike the brand's dedicated robot vacuums, has a smaller form factor and is a lot more unobtrusive. It's also available in two colorways; the White color is steeply discounted by 65%, bringing this model down to just $159. (It's going quickly, though, so if you've always wanted a mop to pair with your Roomba, now's the time.) Why we like it: For pet owners with carpeted or multi-floor homes, this bundled sale is a steal. The Q5 Max+ clinched a spot on our list of top robot vacuums for pet hair due to its power (5,500 Pa is higher than average), spacious, self-emptying base, precise multi-level mapping, a longer-than-average runtime of 240 minutes and dual brushes. This particular bundle also includes two side-brush replacements; you'll save $170 more than you would if you bought them separately. Why we like it: This intelligent Roomba vacuum is both chic and intelligent: It uses LiDar to precisely map your home, then uses AI technology and advanced sensors to detect and navigate around obstacles, determine whether a large mess needs another pass, and avoid cliffs. This machine crunches data, too, remembering which rooms need the most frequent cleaning and which settings work best. It's almost 50% off in this Amazon Prime-exclusive deal—almost $300 less than the lowest price we've ever seen on a new model. The Roomba Y0140 from iRobot is a great starter combo robot vacuum for those new to the technology. It includes a washable, textured pad made from microfiber that remains moist while you clean, thanks to the micro pump controlling water flow. Choose from three different mopping levels and use the spot-clean setting for areas that need extra attention. Why it's a good deal: This isn't the lowest price we've seen, but it's still a few dollars off on a truly stellar robot vacuum. An upgrade to the Q5 Max+ (our home editors' pick for the best pet hair robot vacuum on carpet), this vacuum and mop model from Roborock uses LiDAR to scan and build a map of your home, finding the best route for seamless navigation and effective cleaning. You can create and store maps for up to three levels, as well as easily set boundaries and off-limit areas—a feature frequently highlighted by reviewers. Why it's a good deal: At 42% off, this is the lowest recorded price we've seen on Amazon. The Roborock Q8 Max is especially helpful if you have pets, spacious floors or frequent messes to clean up. That's thanks to its incredibly powerful suction of 5500 Pas (2000-plus Pa more than the average model). It also has dual rubber brushes that pick up more hair with fewer tangles, and it smoothly moves between vacuuming carpets and mopping hard floors. Why it's a good deal: This is the lowest price we've seen on Amazon for this model; it's also $30 lower than sale prices we've seen elsewhere. MOST POPULAR This Shark model is our home team's favorite Shark robot vacuum, making this steep discount a particularly great deal. Its advanced features include the Matrix Clean navigation system, which follows a precise grid to cover every inch of your floors without repeating areas. The brush roll is also designed to handle pet hair without tangling it, making this device ideal for pet owners who frequently vacuum carpets or rugs due to shedding. Why it's a good deal: This sale price is only $3 more than its all-time low on Amazon. The Eufy C10 is popular for its impressive suction power and laser-guided navigation, both uncommon features for this price point. It also includes a self-emptying base with a 60-day capacity dust bag, capabilities that are usually reserved for pricier models as well. This is an excellent option if you're looking for a robot vacuum with higher-end features but want to stick to a lower budget. Why it's a good deal: At $230, it's now $30 below its previous all-time low price. Ecovacs' powerful Deebot T30S vacuum-mop combo is already a good purchase when it's not on sale; now slashed $500 on sale, this deal is too good to pass up. With 11000 Pa, its suction power towers above the average robot vacuum, and it doesn't skimp on other nice-to-have features like anti-tangle brushes, automatic mop-lifting, AI-powered navigation and obstacle avoidance. It also comes with a self-emptying and self-refilling dock. Why it's a good deal: At $500 for Prime Day, it's now $50 below its previous lowest sale price. At Forbes Vetted, our commerce writers and editors have extensive experience evaluating and reviewing products across different categories, working to help our readers find the best products for themselves and their homes. Our editors have reported on the best robot vacuums and the best robot vacuums for pet hair, researching models and testing them firsthand. (One of the co-authors of the latter story, home updates writer Fran Sales, helped flesh out this shopping guide.) Several of the deals on this list are featured in our guides. This article was written by senior branded content editor Victoria Hess, who has over a decade of commerce experience. Home and kitchen editor Kelly O'Sullivan provided additional support. Kelly has spent more than a decade covering home products and appliances. (Check out her comparison story on Shark versus iRobot's vacuums.) We routinely check deals to verify that they're still live, and use a price checker to ensure the deals we've found are worthwhile. We'll continue to update this article to keep it accurate. What Is The Best Robot Vacuum? After testing a variety of options, we named the iRobot Roomba S9+ the best robot vacuum overall, due to its excellent suction power, self-emptying capability and 60-day dustbin capacity. While this robot vacuum is not on sale for Amazon Prime Day, many other Forbes Vetted editor-approved picks are, including the Eufy RoboVac G30 (at 30% off). When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon Prime Day 2025 began on Tuesday, July 8 and runs through Friday, July 11 (the longest the event has ever lasted). There are plenty of great deals to take advantage of across a range of categories, including consumer tech, home, beauty and more, with new opportunities to save every day of the sale. Amazon Prime Day 2025 ends on Friday, July 11 at 11:59 p.m. PDT (2:59 a.m. EDT).
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Save Up To 50% On The Best Prime Day Robot Vacuum Deals
Amazon Prime Day sales are in full swing, including steep markdowns of up to hundreds of dollars on smart appliances like robot vacuums. Our deals editors have scoured the e-tailer to find the best Prime Day robot vacuum deals available now, including serious savings on some of our top tested picks: Take 32% off the Shark AV752 Ion Robot Vacuum, for instance, which our editors named the best robot vacuum for pet hair on hardwood floors. Or save a whopping 50% on the iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Combo, a popular self-emptying robot vacuum and mop combo. Our editors have found the best Prime Day robot vacuum deals, including savings of up to 50% on ... More models from Shark, iRobot and more. Illustration: Forbes / Image: Retailers All of the deals listed below are some of the best discounts we've seen on these models this year, or they're on sale for all-time low prices. If you're looking for more Prime Day deals to shop, check out our roundup of the Best Amazon Prime Day 2025 deals for the best sales to take advantage of across all shopping categories. iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Combo Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $400, Was $800 (50% Off) Shark AI Ultra Self-Empty Robot Vacuum: Now $298, Was $599 (50% Off) Roborock Q7 M5 Robot Vacuum And Mop Combo: Now $180, Was $300 (40% Off) iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO: Now $335, Was $550 (39% Off) Shark AV2501AE AI Robot Vacuum: Now $300, Was $650 (54% Off) Eufy Robot Vacuum 11S Max: Now $140, Was $280 (50% Off) Roborock Q8 Max+ Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $380, Was $660 (42% Off) iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum And Mop Combo: Now $140, Was $275 (49% Off) Shark Matrix Plus 2-In-1 Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $370, Was $700 (47% Off) Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $520, Was $900 (42% Off) This popular Roomba combo handles both vacuuming and mopping in one machine, with strong suction and spinning mop pads that scrub floors thoroughly. Its docking station empties dirt automatically and washes the mop pads, so minimal intervention is needed. You can save $400 on this machine during Prime Day, bringing it down to the one of its best prices of the year. The Roborock Q8 Max is especially helpful if you have pets, multiple floors or frequent messes to clean up. Its dual rubber brushes pick up more hair with fewer tangles, and it smoothly moves between vacuuming carpets and mopping hard floors. At 43% off for Prime Day, this is one of the best value options available right now. Roborock Q8 Max Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $230, Was $400 (43% Off) Roborock Q8 Max+ Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $380, Was $660 (42% Off) Roborock Q7 M5+ Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $280, Was $430 (35% Off) Roborock Q7 M5 Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $180, Was $300 (40% Off) Roborock Qrevo Series Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $400, Was $650 (38% Off) Roborock Qrevo Edge S5A Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $700, Was $1,000 (30% Off) Roborock S8 Max Ultra Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $800, Was $1,300 (38% Off) Roborock Saros 10R Robot Vacuum And Mop: Now $1,280, Was $1,600 (20% Off) This Shark model is a particularly good Prime Day find given its advanced features—particularly the Matrix Clean navigation system, which uses a precise grid to cover every inch of your floors without repeating areas. The brush roll is also specifically designed to handle pet hair without tangling it, making this device ideal for pet owners who frequently vacuum carpets or rugs. And its self-emptying base is bagless, unlike many similar models, so you won't have to worry about recurring costs to maintain it. The Eufy C10 is popular for its impressive suction power and laser-guided navigation, both uncommon features for this price point. It also includes a self-emptying base with a 60-day capacity dust bag, capabilities that are usually reserved for pricier models as well. At $230, this is an excellent option if you're looking for a robot vacuum with higher-end features but want to stick to a lower budget. What Is The Best Robot Vacuum? After testing a variety of options, we named the iRobot Roomba S9+ the best robot vacuum overall, due to its excellent suction power, self-emptying capability and 60-day dustbin capacity. While this robot vacuum is not on sale for Amazon Prime Day, many other Forbes Vetted editor-tested picks are, including the Shark AV752 ION Robot Vacuum (at 32% off). When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon Prime Day 2025 began on Tuesday, July 8 and runs through Friday, July 11 (the longest the event has ever lasted). There are plenty of great deals to take advantage of across a range of categories, including consumer tech, home, beauty and more, with new opportunities to save every day of the sale. Amazon Prime Day 2025 ends on Friday, July 11 at 11:59 p.m. PDT (2:59 a.m. EDT).
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Save Up To 50%: Shop The Best Prime Day Robot Vacuum Deals
Amazon Prime Day sales are already in full swing, and that includes great deals on smart appliances like robot vacuums. Our deals editors have scoured the internet to find the best Prime Day robot vacuum deals, which includes serious savings on some of our top tested picks, including 34% off the Shark AV752 ION Robot Vacuum, our pick for the best robot vacuum for pet hair on hardwood floors, and a whopping 50% off the Shark Detect Pro Self Empty Robot Vacuum, our pick for the best self-emptying robot vacuum for carpet. Our editors have found the best Prime Day robot vacuum deals, including savings of up to 50% on ... More models from Shark, iRobot and more. Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers All the deals listed below are some of the best deals we've seen on these models this year, or are on sale for all-time low prices. If you're looking for more Prime Day deals to shop, check out our roundup of the Best Amazon Prime Day 2025 deals across all shopping categories. What Is The Best Robot Vacuum? After testing a variety of options, we named the iRobot Roomba S9+ the best robot vacuum overall, due to its suction power, self-emptying capability and 60-day dustbin capacity. While this robot vacuum is not on sale for Amazon Prime Day, other Forbes Vetted editor top picks are, including the Shark AV752 ION Robot Vacuum (35% off) and the Shark Detect Pro Self-Empty Robot Vacuum (50% off). When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon Prime Day 2025 officially kicks off on Tuesday, July 8 and runs through Friday, July 11 (the longest the sale has ever been). However, deals are already live across a range of categories if you want to start shopping early. Our editors have found deals in categories including tech, home, beauty and more. Amazon Prime Day 2025 ends on Friday, July 11 at 11:59 p.m. PDT (2:59 a.m. EDT).
