Abstract
This Energy Insights report is the first in a two-part series that examines
in-home energy display products that are currently available or soon to enter
commercialization. Most residential energy users have little notion of how they
use energy beyond the monthly consumption figure that appears in their utility
bill. However, energy display products could begin to change that, and various
studies have shown a conservation effect of 4-15% through the use of these
in-home displays (IHDs). This report discusses commercially available IHDs that
provide real-time energy feedback but are not integrated with utility metering
systems or home automation networks (HANs). Part 2 examines a new generation of
devices that incorporate the capability to communicate with smart meters and/or
HANs to provide dynamic rate information, appliance control, and other advanced
features.
"Feedback is critical to improving performance in any endeavor, and energy use
behavior is no exception," says Jan Borstein, research manager for Energy
Insights. "The products described in this report provide real-time information
to help consumers better understand how and when they use energy. Whether these
relatively simple devices can compete against their more sophisticated cousins,
which are just now entering the market, remains to be seen. But a utility
seeking to offer its customers an option for tracking energy use, perhaps as
part of an energy efficiency program, can take advantage of these devices now
and need not wait to implement energy display technology as part of an AMI or
larger technology rollout."
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