Web-based Energy-aware Smart Homes

GRIMSBY, England, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Optimizers Limited's (EOL) metering device, called the plogg, now allows researchers to evaluate ubiquitous monitoring solutions for individual appliances and electronic devices using the Web in order to improve energy efficiency in the home and across the electricity grid.

A team at the Networks Research Laboratory, University of Cyprus, has Web enabled the Plogg, using RESTful architecture, in feasibility studies with variable pricing tariffs. These studies examined the effects of simulated Demand Response programs when activating connected appliances in low-tariff hours. The team has shown that by applying an optimizing policy for all electrical appliances in the home can achieve monthly savings of EUR 6 in a 10% tariff reduction and EUR 19 in a 30% reduction or the equivalent of a 10.85% reduction in the bill of a typical average home.

Similarly, the MiDDaS dynamic demand and battery storage project (EC Framework 7) has prioritized scheduled load events, including Electric Vehicle (EV) charging, when tariffs are low and exporting electricity from battery storage (static or EV) when the tariff prices are high. The plogg is used to create a wireless smart metering network inside the house to implement dynamic demand for EV charging and grid-tie export. The plogg network controller is the gateway that communicates with a Utility supplier's central server, sending minute interval data and receiving variable price tariffs.

"Advanced home automation, high flexibility and energy conservation can be achieved when using the Web as a platform," said Andreas Kamilaris of the University of Cyprus. "A future cloud-based smart grid strategy would allow the seamless integration of the grid with Web-based, energy-aware smart homes."

The plogg is used widely in research and field trials offering access to accurate and high resolution at the data capture level. The serial interface to the Teridian meter module and the simple API/DLL allow integration and a variety of demand response options to be evaluated quickly.

About Energy Optimizers Limited

Energy Optimizers Limited designs and manufactures Smart Grid technologies including wireless gateways, smart meter plugs, data loggers and load controls for domestic and commercial appliances. Energy Optimizers Limited participates in a number of publicly funded European research and development projects.

http://www.plogginternational.com

http://www.plogginternational.com/docs/gridHome.pdf

http://www.netrl.cs.ucy.ac.cy/

http://www.middas.eu