Why the Smart Grid is Smart for Everyone: Smart Grid Technology Articles: Eco20/20

Why the Smart Grid is Smart for Everyone

From the private homeowner to the business owner, the smart grid is not only a smart idea, it is increasingly becoming a necessary one as well. From reducing energy costs and usage to helping find newer and better energy solutions, the smart grid is going to eventually change the way that the world does business, one business at a time.

Private home owners

The smart grid will make smarter home owners by allowing them to connect their appliances and other items to a home area network, also referred to as a HAN. The HAN is connected to the utility company's interface allowing for real-time pricing and usage information. When the user logs into the HAN information, the homeowner can see how much energy each appliance or device is using and where that energy can be reduced. In addition, the pricing information can allow for changes in energy usage to take advantage of lower energy cost periods and dial back on the use when there is a higher price coming. The HAN can also be connected to web-enabled mobile devices allowing the home owner to get text message alerts of price changes when they are not at home. The home owner can then adjust the devices remotely, no matter where they are located.

Business owners

In addition to private home owners, the smart grid can allow business owners to save money for their own company in much the same way. Seeing where they are having the biggest energy usage vs. the highest energy waste can help the business make the adjustments that they need to get on track and to stay on track. Spiraling energy costs are one of the biggest expenses that many companies face making many of them come to the difficult decision of downsizing their operation or closing down completely because they are no longer making the profits that they need to survive.

Allowing both to give back

As both the homeowner and the business owner come to grips with the reality of their energy usage, they may make decisions about using alternate energy sources. The smart grid can help them, not only by spurring them to viable alternatives but to allow them to sell their excess energy back, further reducing their need on dwindling resources and lowering their energy costs greatly. Saving money and saving resources helps the smart grid create smart consumers, making it smart for everybody.