The buzz surrounding “smart” home energy management systems is feared to have worn off – but not so fast. A recent survey suggests that with a little know-how, consumers may want back in the game.
Energy market intelligence firm Pike Research, Boulder, Colo., looked at what U.S. consumers want from energy management systems, their opinions of current products on the market, and how likely cost affects purchase decisions when it comes to smart meters, home energy management, demand response, and smart applications. Its “Smart Grid Consumer Survey,” which is based on responses from more than 1,000 adults, suggests that knowing how the products work and having quantifiable energy savings are key for homeowner engagement with smart technology.
Energy information displays (EIDs) saw the most consumer interest, with 47 percent of respondents claiming that they were “very interested” (16 percent) or “extremely interested” (31 percent) in the products weighted toward consumers with energy bills upward of $300 monthly. Six in 10 respondents interested in EIDs would prefer dedicated in-home display units and Web-based dashboards, the survey found. Barriers to product use included concern that outsiders could monitor homeowners’ energy use and a lack of system knowledge.
Smart appliances ranked second in consumer favorability, with 45 percent reporting that they were “extremely interested” (12 percent) or “very interested” (33 percent) in the products based on price point and electric bill savings. More than two-thirds reported that they’d be willing to pay at least 10 percent more for a smart product as opposed to a conventional one. Of those not interested in smart appliances, four in 10 expressed energy-monitoring-related concerns.
In the other categories, three in 10 respondents conveyed interest in the separate categories of demand response services and smart meters. For more information on the survey, read the press release online.
The hesitancy may be the result of energy-related indecision among the American public at-large, according to a Gallup poll released mid-March. Half of the Americans surveyed expect that the U.S. will experience a critical energy shortage during the next five years, a concern largely spurred by rising gas prices and representing an 18 percent dip from a year ago—that’s 2 percentage points below Gallup’s decade average. The other half of respondents (46 percent) said the U.S. is not likely to face an energy crisis in the next five years.
Yet views on the seriousness of an energy crisis seem to increase by age demographic, the survey found, with one-third of 18 to 29 year olds finding the situation “very serious” while 49 percent of respondents 65 years old and up responded similarly. Read more Gallup energy data online.
Energy-Efficient Products
Energy Monitoring, the Wave of the Future
Saving energy might be as easy as knowing how much you’re using.
Alternative Energy Monitoring System From EcoDog
EcoDog. The Fido Solar Energy Watchdog system provides homeowners with a room-by-room graphic overview of the homes energy use, personalized saving tips and text notifications, and monitoring for alternative energy systems. Net-metering displays show alternative energy input from multiple sources, compare real-time energy generation versus consumption, and calculate savings in dollars and kWh. Fido hardware attaches to the breaker panel and the computer; consumers interface with the system via computer software. 877.432.6364. www.ecodoginc.com.
Wireless Appliance Manager From Oregon Scientific
Oregon Scientific. Available later this year the Advanced Wireless Appliance Manager monitors realtime costs power consumption and carbon emissions for up to eight electrical appliances. Remote sensors plug into any outlet and communicate consumption data to the base unit shown. Features include a userdefined cost rate alarm and a programmable timer to control socket power. www.oregonscientific.com.
PowerCost Monitor by Blueline Innovations
The PowerCost Monitor is a wireless energy monitor that displays how much electricity the user’s home consumes from moment to moment and in total. A countertop display unit can present total electricity costs in dollars and cents and in kilowatt hours, and users can see their peak energy cost within the last 24 hours. A sensor unit attaches to the outside of a home’s electric utility meter and wirelessly transmits use information to the Power Monitor. 866.607.2583.
Power Monitor by Black and Decker
The Power Monitor tells homeowners how much electricity they are using in real time and the cost in dollars and cents. A wireless sensor attaches to the electric meter outside a home, monitors the rate at which electricity is consumed, and transmits the information to a handheld display monitor. Users can program cost-per-kilowatt-hour and billing plan information from their electric bills into the monitor. 800.544.6986.
Remote Data-Logging and Monitoring Device by Onset
The HOBO U30-WIF station is a remote data-logging and monitoring device with built-in WiFi communications that can be reconfigured and adapted to a variety of applications, such as measuring energy usage of a device, outside temperature, or carbon dioxide. Up to 15 channels of data can be recorded and monitored remotely via HOBOlink, a Web-enabled software package that lets users access current and historical data, set alarm notifications, and manage remote monitoring systems. 800.564.4377.
