subject: Energy Efficiency — The Real Solution [print this page] Energy Efficiency The Real Solution Energy Efficiency The Real Solution
I have been carefully watching what is sometimes referred to as the 5th renewable energy the energy we never use. This is also known as energy efficiency and falls in the "Clean Tech" category of renewable energy sources. The great news is that awareness is at an all time high for using our energy more efficiently and not wasting energy. The solutions provided today fall short of a real solution to the problem.
I am referring to Smart Meters and Energy Meters that can be read by consumers over the Internet or a home device. Certainly knowing how much energy you are consuming is half the battle. But are these Smart Meters providing enough actionable information?
I took a close look at the highly publicized Google Power Meter. The user interface is excellent. The idea behind it is great go to the Internet and see how much energy you are consuming in your home! Now, go shut off a light and see if there is any change in your consumption rate? This is like looking at the dashboard of your car and seeing one gauge or meter that combines your Speedometer, Tachometer, Oil Pressure Gauge, and warning lights a single meter. Yes, you can see things change, yet you have no idea of what is really going on.
Studies have proven that by simply displaying how much total energy is being used in a home or building, energy consumers start using less. I've seen studies showing as much as a 20% reduction in use. These studies covered a period of months (not years), but are valid. Would putting up a Post-It note accomplish the same awareness? Maybe.
The solution? Well, I think there are some great solutions on the way that will break down the information from the "single meter" into useful, actionable information. On the far horizon are digital signatures. Each appliance creates its own wave of power consumption. These waves are unique to each appliance and can be captured in a meter and displayed. Now, you can see how much energy your refrigerator really uses! Appliance digital signatures are in the future and there are questions as to how effective they can be in an environment that has not just a few appliances but 40 or 50 or 500!
Are there other solutions available Today that would be effective in showing a break down of energy used in a home or building? I would like to hear from you if you know of any. When we have this granular information about our energy use, Google Power Meter can display it and we will have actionable information to manage our energy use.
