Although the US is working hard to change automotive standards to reduce emissions, home efficiency standards are still pretty weak. We are doing well with the adoption of LED and CFL lighting, but it’s grudgingly and so many people use electric heating and stoves from the 70s that the energy saved from lighting is a drop in the bucket. Being aware of how much energy your home is drawing is difficult right now, but there’s no reason it should be — other than the cost of getting smart meters and readers out there. The UK is making that a priority, which I think is a smart move.
They’re aiming to replace all old-school meters by 2020, which is probably about as close as they dare put the date. Since it’s not just a switcheroo with the old one, and requires a little “consumer education,” it means that those lonely souls deep in rural Wales and the like will have to learn how to use these newfangled Frggaulinseggitsensiisuns (that’s Welsh for modern electrical meters). Good idea, and hopefully we and others will follow their example.
Readers of CrunchGear are probably using more energy to power their video cards than to heat their home, so I guess that’s another place we ought to be investigating.
[via Treehugger]
File this under Unintended Consequences. One more piece of private information that will no doubt end up in the hands of Wacky Jacqui & Company. Next up will be monitoring what goes down ones’ sewer (all in the name of the environment of course). The finishing touch will be the requirement of transparent walls (merely to take advantage of solar heating!).
Very good point. Privacy is already a serious concern… at least not TOO much can be deduced from your electricity usage if it comes to it.
I think it’s a good idea too.
In addition to the technical benefits of reducing manual meter-reading, fewer peak-hour plants and allowing microgeneration, the UK’s smart meter plans also include a requirement for a visual front-end to the meter. Known as a real-time display, this communicates how much energy the home is using to the occupants in an engaging way.
Trials show that these displays can encourage people to change their behaviour, generally saving 5-15% of energy, but to be as engaging and persuasive as possible, it’s important to get the interaction design right.
More details here if anyone is interested:
http://designandbehaviour.rsablogs.org.uk/2009/05/12/calling-interaction-designers/
‘n ddiweddar ‘n drydanol fesurau
I know, right?