The Future at our Fingertips

These monitoring systems have evolved and can now provide one-way communication with utilities, translating information that the utility drops off at the meter about peak energy use and kilowatt costs into a language that helps homeowners understand how they can reduce energy bills through behavioral modification, like washing clothes at night and switching to LED light bulbs. Soon, these systems will be able to talk to electronic devices within the home to turn them on and off to optimize energy and water use.

While most utilities are not yet employing the technology that would allow for a two-way dialog with these resource monitoring systems, they will soon. Before we know it, utilities will be able to communicate with customers through these monitoring devices not only about peak energy usage, but also about the times when renewable energy is most accessible, categorizing the greenness of the energy being used. At this point, a homeowner can make decisions about energy usage not just based on cost, but also on environmental impact.

And, at some point, the applications for these systems will extend well beyond energy or water usage. Their primary function will evolve to become a home concierge device, delivering customized information in real time and on demand. These systems will not only facilitate communication between homes and their utility companies, but also between homes within communities (for example, the devices will tie into central community water monitoring systems that can activate automatic sprinklers when demand for water is at its lowest level).

Homeowners will be able to use a feature-rich, personalized touch-screen to access information about traffic, weather, headline news, conservation tips, and dollar savings. Families will be able to track their carbon footprint and make decisions about things ranging from driving routes to product selections accordingly. These home concierge systems will become residential gateways, allowing people to make choices that simultaneously save money and reduce their environmental impact.

I can think of a host of sustainable applications for these types of systems. Can you? Share your thoughts with us so that we can pass them along to our friends at companies like GE, Advanced Telemetry, and IBM that are actively developing these products, as well as utilities like PG&E that are working to expand their clean energy portfolios.