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Helping out the electrical grid
I've been trying to get more information from that Galvin Electricity Initiative, but so far I've had no responses to my emails requesting more technical background on their "perfect power system." Nonetheless, I have gone back and poked around on their Website periodically and found an interesting story about an experiment done with electric power consumers (Who isn't one?) in the Seattle area. Their homes were outfitted with simple technology that responds to demand on the power grid. When demand is highest, it begins to shut off high power devices such as clothes dryers, hot water heaters, and throttles back thermostats to reduce heating or air conditioning. While all these actions can be overridden easily if necessary, the cumulative effect could have a major impact on the grid.
Moreover, the device indicates to the family members what the current electric cost is, so they can decide if that is a good moment to run the dishwasher or hold off to a time when the rate drops a bit. Consumers involved in the experiment found their electric bills fell by about 10%. This kind of thing makes a whole lot of sense. Hopefully some people have already put some such ideas in practice. (I have been found more than once in the basement on a July morning loading the clothes dryer at 5:00 am so as not to run it while the air conditioning is on.) However, if there are ways to make it automatic or at least drive the point home that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day, it's a pretty good idea. Our utility companies should be behind this as well. As I am fond of saying, "If you're done in here, turn off the light!"
Helping out the electrical grid
March 24, 2008
I've been trying to get more information from that Galvin Electricity Initiative, but so far I've had no responses to my emails requesting more technical background on their "perfect power system." Nonetheless, I have gone back and poked around on their Website periodically and found an interesting story about an experiment done with electric power consumers (Who isn't one?) in the Seattle area. Their homes were outfitted with simple technology that responds to demand on the power grid. When demand is highest, it begins to shut off high power devices such as clothes dryers, hot water heaters, and throttles back thermostats to reduce heating or air conditioning. While all these actions can be overridden easily if necessary, the cumulative effect could have a major impact on the grid.Moreover, the device indicates to the family members what the current electric cost is, so they can decide if that is a good moment to run the dishwasher or hold off to a time when the rate drops a bit. Consumers involved in the experiment found their electric bills fell by about 10%. This kind of thing makes a whole lot of sense. Hopefully some people have already put some such ideas in practice. (I have been found more than once in the basement on a July morning loading the clothes dryer at 5:00 am so as not to run it while the air conditioning is on.) However, if there are ways to make it automatic or at least drive the point home that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day, it's a pretty good idea. Our utility companies should be behind this as well. As I am fond of saying, "If you're done in here, turn off the light!"
Posted by Peter Welander on March 24, 2008 | Comments (0)
Industries: Information Control
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