Smart appliances may be critical to future smart-grid in U.S.

Professionals are approaching energy efficiency in a multitude of ways ranging from hybrid or electric cars to energy generated by algae. Most of those methods are focused on ways to create greener energy or making vehicles and devices more efficient. Building on that, what if devices and appliances could monitor the electric grid and make adjustments as necessary to accommodate during peak usage times?

The energy industry wants to do just that and points out that appliances like water heaters and air conditioning units that monitor themselves could help avoid the need to build more power plants or temporarily open polluting auxiliary plants. The problem is that these appliances currently have no communications equipment and are one-way directed by consumers making thermostat adjustments. Installing communications equipment on those existing appliances would allow them to communicate with power companies and reduce energy consumption during peak demand hours.

It may sound a little scary at first, but the equipment would also include a manual override so ultimate control is still with the homeowner. However, as with most solutions there are challenges, and in this case that’s finding a way to pay for installation of the communications equipment on appliances in countless homes.

Stephen Hirsch, manager of demand response programs at Consumers Energy says:

Once you scratch the surface, most consumers tend to default to cost-conscious mode. If it's more than 5 percent, then nobody wants to do it. Via CNET.

The question is, would consumers be ok with something like their air conditioning unit powering down by half during peak usage each day, which could also be the hottest part of the day. Or would they be ok with charging an electric car at specific times during the night. That remains to be seen as ongoing sacrifice tends to create some foot dragging. Still, energy companies benefit from this sort of cost cutting because it eliminates operating costs so they’ll continue to explore the possibility.

Though it certainly isn’t without drawbacks, this sort of efficiency gain could have a big impact making a smart-grid work better without a huge impact on daily life.