Energate Connects the Smart Grid with Smart Consumers
Energate helps utilities roll out consumer-engaging demand response programs
OTTAWA, Canada (October 6, 2008) — In an industry that has traditionally operated at an arm’s length from its customers, Energate is helping utilities revolutionize their approach and become more engaged with homeowners. At the Smart Grid Roadshow being held October 6-7 in Toronto, Canada, Energate CEO Niraj Bhargava will discuss this new approach and explain what it means to connect smart consumers to the smart grid.
“We’re in an energy crisis where both utilities and homeowners have a role to play,” said Mr. Bhargava. “In today’s environment, it’s not enough to rely on the utility to push for change by simply installing energy displays or load switches. We need to engage homeowners by meeting their needs and creating critical consumer pull. Only then will we see sustainable demand management with reduction in energy consumption.”
Preliminary studies (e.g. the Brattle Group Discussion Paper, The Power of Experimentation: New evidence on residential demand response, May 2008) show that this approach is working. When homeowners are given the means in which to monitor and adjust their electricity usage, they will.
To support this new approach, Energate is developing home energy management solutions that balance the needs of the utilities with those of consumers. In addition to the load shedding mechanisms seen in many smart thermostats, Energate’s solution gives consumers the type of information they want to know especially in combination with smart grid features like time-of-use rates or critical peak pricing. For instance, one of the screens shows a simple comfort/savings scale that allows the homeowner to choose a range of options from the highest comfort, regardless of the cost, to maximizing cost savings, with automated setpoint adjustment.
These features are found in the Energate Pioneer Z100, one of the core components of Energate’s solution. As one of the first in-home products built for ZigBee certification, it is interoperable with other ZigBee enabled components used in the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and home area networks (HAN). Other features that homeowners can access within the Pioneer family include:
- Billing information for the current and previous periods, per rate tier and in both kWh and $
- Instantaneous consumption (kWh)
- Permit customers to override utility scheduled events on load switches in the home, such as water heaters and pool pumps
- Adjustable thermostat response to different pricing tiers
Energate’s Pioneer Series of smart thermostats are currently being used in pilots throughout North America.
About Energate
Energate’s home energy management platform lets consumers and utilities manage energy use and reduce peak demand without sacrificing comfort and convenience. Building upon over 25 years of HVAC industry experience, Energate smart thermostats offer industry-leading equipment interface technology and comfort control algorithms. Founded in 2004, Energate’s corporate offices are in Ottawa, Canada with sales offices in Texas and California, USA. Visit www.energateinc.com
Contact:
Lisa Courtney Lloyd
Jolita Communications for Energate
lcourtneylloyd@jolita.ca
613-271-7512
