The Energy Problem
Home energy usage in most of the U.S. is at an all-time high, and utilities across the country are struggling to keep up with demand. Meanwhile, America’s 110 million households needlessly waste energy, mainly through thermostats that are incorrectly programmed, lights and appliances that are left on, and the occurrence of leak current (the power used by electronic devices when they are plugged in but not in use).
At the same time, we’re all motivated to reduce our carbon footprint and save money. But aside from changing to compact fluorescent lightbulbs or choosing Energy Star appliances, we don’t know where or how to begin—because we don’t have the tools or information.
The Need for Information
Utility companies send a bill at the end of the month showing a dollar amount that reflects total usage. That bill does not tell you how much you could have saved if you upgraded your air conditioner or refrigerator. Or adjusted your thermostat by a few degrees. Or what you wasted on leak current. Or how your usage compares to your neighbors’. Or when the grid in your area is in danger of a blackout.
Track and Control Energy Usage
EnergyHub will give you all of that information and in real time. Our system lets you track every appliance in your home, down to the last cell phone charger. The system also connects you to other people in your community, and creates a way for your utility to communicate with you directly.
But EnergyHub does more than just provide you with information—it lets you take action.
Using our easy-to-install system, you can control appliances and devices—essentially anything in your home that consumes energy—from our touchscreen Dashboard. Put your house to sleep with the touch of a button. Automatically turn off your window air conditioners when you leave for work, and schedule them to turn back on before you come home. Automate your devices and cut leak power. Access and control your data and appliances from the Internet or your mobile device. Find out how much your friends and neighbors are consuming, and get tips from your utility for lowering your energy costs.
For the first time, you will be in total control over how and when you use energy. You will have an easy way of communicating with your utility. And you will have the power to reduce your consumption and save money on your utility bills, all without sacrificing comfort.
The EnergyHub Experience
How Does it Work?
The EnergyHub Starter Kit consists of a touchscreen Dashboard and Temperature Control Unit. The two devices communicate using a low-power ZigBee wireless link. Automatically adjusting your home’s temperature while you’re asleep or away can be the most effective way of conserving energy, saving you as much as 30% on your heating and cooling costs. And unlike programmable thermostats, EnergyHub’s system is easy to use. The Dashboard also talks to your electric or gas meter to display your home’s total energy use (as long as your utility has installed a modern “smart meter” with wireless capability).
You can complement the Starter Kit with our Sockets and Strips. Plug them into your regular outlets, then plug in your appliances and devices as you would normally. The Dashboard receives the wireless data from the Sockets and Strips, configures appliances in each room, and organizes the information in a way that’s easy to read and manage. The system also recognizes devices that should always be turned on—like alarm clocks, refrigerators, or DVRs—and will not cut power to those.
If you already have a ZigBee-enabled “smart meter” in your home—provided by your utility—our system is automatically set up to communicate with the meter. If you don’t yet have a smart meter, we will provide a simple add-on to our system that measures whole-home usage.
How Do I Get One?
EnergyHub will be available directly to consumers soon. Click here to get on our waiting list. Many utilities in the United States are offering the EnergyHub system to their customers in a series of pilot projects. Sign up here and we’ll let your utility know that you’re interested in receiving a system.