As consumers become more aware of their impact on the environment and are trying to reduce that impact, product designers and manufacturers are well placed in 2017 to give the people want they want. Many of these technological advances are reactions to simple and obvious problems, like reducing electricity consumption.

While we all know we should switch off our appliances at the wall when not in use, many of us still don't. But not to worry, thankfully new appliance and device designs are making it easier for those of us that forget to unplug by making these appliances recognise when they're not in use and then use less power, minimising our homes' carbon footprint. Not only are appliances getting smarter though, the grid is too.

The Smart Grid

Potentially the most useful invention since sliced bread to make life easier for the consumer is the introduction of the smart grid. This year, the UK successfully transmitted data via the national electricity grid, in a world first. This new data system, created using telecoms technology by Reactive Technologies, sends messages from the grid to any house appliance connected through a smart plug. It then tells the appliance to adjust its energy usage over high and low demands. It's also able to instruct appliances to use renewable energy when available.

Jens Madrian of Reactive Technologies told the Guardian, "The old mindset would be, we need to build more power stations. We disagree with that. There are other ways of managing electricity, one of which is carrying knowledge from the telecommunications and software engineering side into the energy sector."

Cordi O'Hara, at National Grid, stated "We are keen to support innovative products like this one that can bring a real benefit for customers. It represents another step forward in the development of the smart grid technologies that are going to play an increasingly important role in the energy systems of the future."

Not only will the smart grid make our homes more energy efficient, according to National Grid's new UK Chief, a 'smart energy' revolution could help to completely avoid blackouts in the future. As the "internet of energy" enables washers, fridges and other appliances connected through a smart plug to help balance energy demand, blackouts could be a thing of the past. Ms Shaw, told BBC that between 30% and 50% of fluctuations on the electricity grid could be smoothed by households and businesses adjusting their demand at peak times.

"We are at a moment of real change in the energy industry. From an historic perspective we created energy in big generating organisations that sent power to houses and their businesses. Now we are producing energy in those places – mostly with solar panels."

More and more companies and people have been adjusting their energy consumption to use more when power was at its cheapest. In Australia, the average household spends 40% of the energy bill on heating and cooling, introducing appliances that can be connected to a smart grid, could therefore save households a lot of money. It really is a win-win for everyone.