Moving Beyond an Energy Conservation Mindset

I was discussing energy conservation with a friend recently. I posited that over time people would need to adopt a new mindset. Example: Instead of my wife telling me repeatedly to turn off the lights after I leave a room, eventually it will be ingrained in my mind to consistently do this on my own. My friend challenged me on this concept and I’m glad she did. Even though I am proof that it is possible to become “much better” about turning off the lights, her position was that you shouldn't have to remember. “The lights should just turn off automatically when you leave the room.” She was right. But in fact, both these scenarios are going to play out over time.

Knowledge is Power

Numerous utilities are pointing to early data suggesting that consumers will reduce their energy consumption simply by understanding how much electricity they are actually using. This basic ‘knowledge is power’ argument does hold water and will materialize in two residential smart grid deployment scenarios:

Scenario 1: Smart Meters installed without complementary in-home energy monitoring and management device(s)

This is how PG&E in California is approaching their Smart Grid rollout. PG&E’s field technicians are installing smart meters at the rate of 12,000 per day. Customers receive a letter in the mail in advance of the installation, and a door tag once the old meter has been replaced with a smart meter. The smart meter will allow for two-way communication between the home and the utility. Customers can also go on the web to get real-time usage information.

Scenario 2: Smart meter installed with complementary in-home energy monitoring and management device(s)

Instead of having to go on the web, an energy management display can be placed in your home for central viewing.

If you don’t have a smart meter, or any of the add-ons such as the in-home energy management display, I would suggest placing your utility bill on the fridge. In addition to the helpful reminders amongst family members, we might all eventually become more cognizant of the energy we’re using throughout the day, and automatically turn off the lights (among other things) when we leave the room.

Scenario #2 is likely to have a greater impact on energy usage than scenario #1, but neither will be as effective without employing a Demand Response program.

Demand Response

With the help of our snazzy new smart grid tools including the smart meter and add-ons, a Demand Response program allows for the change in energy consumption based on supply-side conditions. In other words, when there is a peak in demand such as during the evening hours of the day, or during a heat-wave, your utility can send you a message to reduce your electrical consumption. This is where things get tricky. There are variables on the utility side, the consumer side, and the systems used to operate such a program. Regardless, the success and benefits of all smart grid investments are inextricably tied to a successful demand response program. We will see many resources poured into this area, and numerous models being tested, but generally we can anticipate two high-level scenarios:

Scenario 1: Consumers physically respond to peak demand messaging from the utility. In other words, I get an instant message from the utility that demand is very high and the grid is strained, and as a result I physically choose to turn off the air conditioner. I may also have some reward or incentive for taking this action.

Scenario 2: The utility automatically shuts off my air conditioner during a peak event via remote control.

The two scenarios are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but scenario #2 is obviously more involved. Depending on which appliances are ‘smart’ or have controllers, and the ‘rules’ and preferences that we establish for ourselves in our energy management systems, we can ultimately allow the utility to manage our energy consumption for us (with our express permission). The right “set it and forget it” demand response program is generally viewed as the killer application of the smart grid.

Automated Energy Efficiency

In a truly smart home, the only thing that’s not “talking” is the furniture. Intelligent systems, appliances, and devices are all around us communicating wirelessly over our Home Area Network. Moreover, we have to think a lot less about what needs to be on or off at any given time. Our largest power consuming appliances are not only more energy efficient, but they’re operating under a demand response program that meets our individual or family preferences. And, our lighting, among other things, is sensor-based. The lights go on when we walk into a room, and turn off when we leave.

For most people this is a space-age vision, but there are some elements that are being employed today in various home and work environments, and certainly around the world. Sensor-based lighting and programmable heating/cooling systems are a couple good examples of modern-day technologies delivering substantial savings.

Present Day

So what’s your current mindset when it comes to conserving energy? I presume you’re not trying to figure out how to prevent the pets from wandering the house and setting off the sensor-based lights all day long. Hopefully, we are all building better habits and starting to take advantage of the smart grid tools coming to the market.

I’ll finish with a very timely news clip from the Today show, featuring two families in the Baltimore area. Each family is saving money through a combination of energy conservation measures, including the use of a smart meter provided by Baltimore Gas & Electric and a nifty energy management display from Tendril Networks. Enjoy!

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