The Grid is Both Smart and Green!: Smart Grid Technology Articles: Eco20/20

The Grid is Both Smart and Green!

With the demand for more eco-friendly options today and the rising number of power outages across the country, the smart grid is becoming more popular. Most people know that the electricity that is supplied to them is part of a grid, or a set number of plants supplying power to so many miles of homes throughout a specified area.

The system was first developed in the 19th century by Tesla, the father of modern electricity. However the conventional system of grids is overloaded and outdated for today's standard. The new smart grid uses technology to produce energy while reducing the harsh effects on the environment.

Smart meters are one way the power companies are using to help the grid be both smart and green. These meters are digital compared to the analog system of old. Smart meters use technology to measure how much energy is actually used in intervals of an hour or less and reports back to the utility companies. This means better pricing for the consumer. This also means less energy is actually produced over time. In this way the smart meter is an eco-friendly choice. Less energy produced and wasted means less fossil fuels, like coal, are used thus saving the planet from the harsh effects of this nonrenewable source.

Another way the power companies are going green and smart is by using alternative sources. Wind, solar, and water power all use renewable resources to produce energy. Many of the larger power companies are looking to these alternatives to produce energy. By using these sources the companies leave a smaller carbon footprint; this reduces the effects on the environment. Using the resources nature gives us is very smart. The old system that uses oil and coal will eventually run out of resources to use in order to produce energy. On the other hand, using renewable resources like sunlight, wind, and water companies have an unlimited source to use to make the energy required to keep the world running up to speed on a daily basis.

The electricity grid is getting a much needed upgrade. The new smart grid is efficient and green at the same time. Reducing the harmful consequences of traditional fossil fuels while still producing the required energy is the responsibility of all people. Power companies have implemented new technology into the old system to help consumers and the environment both. The use of renewable resources and smart meters is only the beginning. As technology advances the grid will only get smarter and greener. What once may have sounded like science fiction is actually happening today. Hoover dam is one example of using water to produce electricity and has been since 1936. Austin, Texas, has been operating on a smart grid since 2003. Italy currently has the largest scale of smart grids. As the demand for more eco-friendly solutions continue to rise so will the number of places using smart grid technology. The system is smart and green now; it will only improve as time marches on.