Whirlpool, Best Buy, and Others Collaborate on Energy Information Display

Posted by Carol Sonenklar on January 1, 2010 at 9:06 am

A previous energy information display from OpenPeak could provide a model for the new HEM. (image: openpeak.com)

In case you don’t have enough high-tech gadgets, next year you’ll be able to buy one that offers an interesting array of information, reports earth2tech. Whirlpool, Best Buy, energy reseller Direct Energy, and developer OpenPeak are planning to launch an energy information display, called the Home Energy Management (HEM) center. The HEM will be unveiled at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show on January 7.

The HEM will use an open platform that uses smart meter data, and it will be compatible with Whirlpool smart energy dryers and Lennox smart thermostats. In an effort to consumers who might ignore a simple energy device, the HEM will also be able to interact with social networks like Facebook.

Tim Woods, founder of POCO Labs, which is conducting in-home tests of the HEM, says the pilot program will test the devices in the homes of 40 Direct Energy customers in Houston. The HEM will be unique in that it will focus on the consumer, unlike current products that appeal to utilities.

So far, no word on how much the HEM will cost; Woods says that they’ll figure it out through the pilot tests but that it would be “extremely reasonable.” They could be available in Best Buys by the middle of 2011.

And for those who are confused about the differences between smart meters and energy information displays (EIDs) (also called home management energy devices or electronic display devices) here’s a quick primer from EDF Energy:

Energy Information Displays:

• Measure electricity current only, not current and voltage, as a meter does

• Give you only an indicative reading of your electricity use

• EIDs are “stand alone” and don’t communicate with your supplier (meter readers must still come and read your meter)

• EIDs are self-installed and are available in stores now.

Smart Meters (which are given to consumers from utility companies):

• Must operate in line with accuracy standards set by law

• Designed to automatically send readings to your supplier

• Exist as the platform onto which future technology can be added

• Able to provide you with your present and past consumption, helping you to see where you can change your energy usage to save money.

• Becoming more available but not to everyone yet.