National Technical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTSC) (NTS), a leading provider of testing and engineering services, announced today that it has signed a two-year agreement with Boulder–based Tendril that makes NTS the exclusive certification test lab for the Tendril Connect Certified program. In this role, NTS will execute testing of smart energy devices from various third-party Continue reading →
National Technical Systems Selected as Exclusive Test Lab for Tendril Connect™ Certification Program
The new Smart Grid Strategy brings Danish consumers a significant step closer to managing their own energy consumption. The strategy combines electricity meters, read on an hourly basis, with variable tariffs and a data hub. This will enable consumers to use the power when it is least expensive. “We have set the course for developing Continue reading →
The concept of a smart home will be crucial to selling the benefits of smart meters to consumers, according to research by YouGov for Telefonica UK (O2). Smart homes will allow consumers to remotely manage their home appliances such as lights, heating, oven, TV and more. via Smart home vision critical to smart meter success Continue reading →
Consumers are attracted to the ‘smart home’ applications that smart meters open up, according to a report by O2. A YouGov poll commissioned by O2, revealed 60 per cent of consumers felt the idea of a ‘home of the future’ with a range of controllable accessories made smart meters a more appealing concept. via Customers Continue reading →
Despite consumer interest in energy-saving solutions, selling products and services and engaging consumers in demand response programs continue to be challenges for service providers, utilities, and device manufacturers. Consumer energy-saving activities such as turning off unused lights and monitoring A/C usage peaked in 2010, and as the economy has slowly recovered, consumers’ energy consciousness has Continue reading →
Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC), winner of The Best Nonprofit to Work For 2012 in the up to $500,000 operating budget category, is a Metro Atlanta based nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of sustainable energy through the adoption of a reliable, efficient, and secure smart grid and ensure long-lasting sustainable benefits to consumers. Nominator DeMika Continue reading →
The Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) today announced its second annual “Call for Creative” in conjunction with the 10th Anniversary National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid occurring from July 9-11, 2013 in Washington, DC. Members of the DR and smart grid community have witnessed a dramatic shift in the Continue reading →
Multiple smart grid benefits resonate with consumers — it’s not just about saving money — and when consumers are provided with information about the benefits and key concerns of smart grid technology, the positive statements are more persuasive, according to a report issued today by the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative. The 2013 State of the Continue reading →
Demand response technologies, such as smart appliances, thermostats and home energy management systems, could revolutionise our energy consumption. By encouraging consumers to buy controls or appliances that can automatically reduce or shift power use during peak demand periods, demand response (DR) solutions can deliver benefits in many areas, including pricing and grid reliability. In principle this Continue reading →
I’m often asked how I see energy storage fitting into the new smart grid paradigm and, possibly, the energy markets of tomorrow. First, a viable business model?for energy storage should create financial incentives for all stakeholders. The opportunity to participate in an energy market may convince consumers skeptical of all of the coming changes to Continue reading →
Demand response technologies, such as smart appliances, thermostats and home energy management systems, could revolutionise our energy consumption. By encouraging consumers to buy controls or appliances that can automatically reduce or shift power use during peak demand periods, demand response (DR) solutions can deliver benefits in many areas, including pricing and grid reliability. In principle this Continue reading →
Call it a smarter way to get ‘powerful.’ The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is taking its first tentative steps into the futuristic world of the ‘Smart Grid’ by rolling out a pilot scheme among its Low Tension (Industrial) category consumers. Testing the waters, the KSEB is looking at how it can improve metering electricity Continue reading →
United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 12 states will receive loan guarantees to improve generation and transmission facilities and implement more than $8 million in smart grid technologies to help utilities make efficiency improvements to the electric grid and help consumers lower their electric bills by Continue reading →
The CEIVA Homeview Energy Display, which enables customers to view home energy usage along with pictures of friends and family, will be installed in a portion of National Grid customers’ homes who are participating in the utility’s smart grid pilot in Worcester. According to the company, “Displaying instant energy information in context with constantly updating Continue reading →
Southern California Edison (SCE) is planning a demonstration project, scheduled to launch on June 30, 2013, that will include electric-distribution infrastructure, substations, residential homes, cyber security networks, battery energy storage systems, and EV charging stations at the University of California, Irvine. Doug Kim, Southern California Edison’s director of Advanced Technology, says, “We’re moving the smart Continue reading →
The old adage is true – “Trust, but verify.” In this day and age, standards associations, like ZigBee, consist of many different individuals from numerous companies coming together to put together a standard in order to provide consumers with solid, reliable products that interoperate together. Unfortunately, as there are many different individuals (even speaking different Continue reading →
Many years ago, I used to work for one of the largest Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) in the country. The employees understood that our main job was to keep the lights on, safely and affordably. There was also an understanding that most end-consumers don’t think about their electrical infrastructures until the lights are out. This Continue reading →
A new survey conducted by Pike Research gauges U.S. consumers’ level of support for a variety of energy topics, including solar and wind power, the overall smart grid, and smart meters, among others. For the study, the company polled more than 1,000 adults during the third quarter of this year. via Renew Grid: How Do Continue reading →
In yesterday’s piece on Empowered “digital natives” becoming a force to reckon with we highlighted industry insiders’ perspectives on how (and why) we need to get consumers excited about the benefits they can reap from a smart grid. Most recognize it’s an uphill battle – and not just because of angst over smart meters. A recent Continue reading →
With the winter months coming upon us, many homeowners are beginning to think about their heating bills. Conserving energy is a goal for most people, but in practice it can be difficult. M2M technology for smarter energy offers tools to help consumers gain a better understanding about how and when they use energy, potentially allowing Continue reading →
