By Maisie Ramsay

GE has unveiled a Zigbee-compliant in-home energy monitor that transmits real-time energy consumption data to computers and smartphones. The Nucleus communicates with smart meters to collect and store real-time household electricity consumption and pricing data for up to three years.

“Currently consumers have little more than a monthly utility bill to determine what they’re using and spending,” said Dave McCalpin, manager of GE’s Home Energy Management, in a statement. “[GE's Nucleus] serves as the command center for energy and cost conscious homeowners to make smarter, more informed decisions.”

The Nucleus is expected to be available for consumer purchase in early 2011 at an estimated retail price of $149-$199. GE will launch computer software and a smartphone app for the device.

U.S. utilities are expected to install more than 400 million smart meters by 2012 as part of an effort to make the country’s aging electric grid more efficient, according to estimates provided by GE. The meters allow utility companies to charge time-of-use rates for electricity throughout the day. When demand is low, electricity will cost less, and when demand is at its peak, utilities will charge more to encourage off-peak consumption.

The Nucleus is targeted at helping consumers take advantage of off-peak rates and is the first product in GE’s Brillion lineup of smart home energy management products. Future options in the Brillion lineup will include alerts to assist consumers with daily tasks, such as when to change the refrigerator’s water filter or when the dryer cycle ends. Software upgrades will further enable Nucleus to monitor water, natural gas, and renewable energy sources, as well as plug-in electric vehicle charging.

BY JOHN COX, Californian staff writer
jcox@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Jun 05 2010 12:00 PM

Short of buying solar panels or a new air conditioner, Rosedale homeowner Clint Phillips has done just about all he can do to control his summer electric bills without sacrificing his family’s comfort.

Some of the steps he has taken — such as analyzing his online SmartMeter data, and signing up for a “SmartRate” plan — came courtesy of his electricity provider, Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

Other measures he more or less invented himself. Instead of leaving on his coffee maker for two hours a day (at a cost of $25 a month), he pours it into a thermos as soon as it’s brewed. He also lowers his air conditioner to 72 degrees at about 5 a.m., then at 2 p.m. he lowers it to 80 degrees, thereby reducing his total monthly usage by as much as 15 percent.

Phillips said his monthly bill of about $550 in peak summer heat hasn’t gone down noticeably, probably because of PG&E’s periodic rate increases. But his bills haven’t gone up, either.

“I think I have done what I can do,” he said confidently.

((continued below)

Energy efficiency is the other side of Bakersfield’s struggle with steep electric bills. Much attention recently has focused on problems with PG&E SmartMeters, the way its tiered rate structure has grown increasingly lopsided, and the ever-rising costs that are passed on to PG&E’s customers.

But one thing the utility and its critics agree on is that ratepayers can and do save money when they reduce their energy consumption.

As Phillips’ case illustrates, there are many things even the most frugal people can do to keep down their energy costs, often with PG&E’s direct assistance.

Spending to save money

Investing in energy-efficient appliances helps, too, as the experience of Bakersfield retiree Bruce Rapp shows.

When his 3,300-square-foot home was being built in 2002, Rapp bought a high-efficiency air-conditioning system, a whole house fan to make the most of cool morning air, and had only fluorescent lights installed. He also spent big on an energy-saving washer and dryer.

Now his bills run about $400 a month in the summer. And although he said he probably could afford to pay more, having invested wisely over the years, he doesn’t want to.

“If I got a choice between sending my money to PG&E or going out to dinner,” he said, “I’m going out to dinner.”

Help from PG&E

PG&E offers various programs and services to help its customers reduce their usage, from incentives designed to lower consumption at times of peak demand, to a new option that allows the company to turn down air-conditioners remotely.

Free home energy audits are available, too. When customers request one (by calling 800-743-5000), the company sends out an inspector who tours the home looking at things like attic insulation, air-conditioning units and pool pumps.

“Basically, it’s an evaluation of your home’s energy efficiency,” local PG&E spokesman Denny Boyles said. “They can be pretty in-depth.”

The inspector’s recommendations can be wide-ranging, and may include investment suggestions. Boyles said there’s no obligation to carry out any changes.

“It’s just basically someone saying, ‘If you’re looking at your home energy bill, this is some stuff I’d do,’” he said.

(continued below)

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Saving the planet

Some efficiency improvements are simple, like unplugging appliances that use energy even when they’re turned off.

“Anything with an AC adapter, anything with a clock or a light, anything that uses electricity should be put on a power strip and turned off when not in use,” Mindy Spatt, spokeswoman for The Utility Reform Network, a San Francisco-based consumer advocacy group, wrote in an e-mail.

She added that an estimated 5 percent of the nation’s electricity usage is wasted on stand-by power.

“Simple conservation measure(s) can help consumers save money — and the planet,” she wrote.

Posted : Thu, 27 May 2010 09:00:51 GMT
Author : Pike Research  

May 26, 2010

By Amy Kuntz (Projectline Services) This is an example of a Hohm Score, provided by a free online Microsoft service, that estimates a home's energy use and compares it to others.

This is an example of a Hohm Score, provided by a free online Microsoft service, that estimates a home’s energy use and compares it to others.

More than 60 million U.S. homeowners, by simply typing in their address, can now see how their energy efficiency compares with others in their neighborhood or state.

Microsoft Hohm, a free online service that gives tips on how to boost home efficiency, announced Wednesday a new feature that scores homes nationwide. Its estimates are based on public information about a home’s size, age and location and other data on an area’s typical weather and utility bills. 

By Hohm Score Homes in Honolulu are the most efficient, followed by those in several cities in California and on the East Coast, according to Microsoft's Hohm Score,

Homes in Honolulu are the most efficient, followed by those in several cities in California and on the East Coast, according to Microsoft’s Hohm Score,

“The big deal here is that we built the Hohm Score to answer a simple question: Am I an energy hog or an energy miser?” Troy Batterberry, Hohm Score’s general manager, says in the announcement. 

This new tool comes as companies increasingly compete in the home energy market, either by offering smart meters that connect a home’s appliances or — like Hohm and Google’s PowerMeter — online services. 

Which states have the most and least efficient homes? 

The average Hohm Score is 61, based on a 1-100 scale. Homes in Hawaii top the list, with an 81, followed by those in Delaware and Maryland (each 70), District of Columbia (68) and New Jersey (67.) 

The lowest score went to homes in Texas, Tennessee and Nevada, each with a score of 51, followed by those in Oklahoma (52) and Arkansas (53.) 

The scores are estimates unless a homeowner inputs more detailed information, which allows Hohm to provide customized tips for conserving energy such as caulking windows or adding insulation. 

Consumers can automatically link their energy bills to a private Hohm page if they’re served by these utilities: Seattle City Light, Sacramento (Calif.) Municipal Utility District, and Xcel Energy (eight states in the Midwest and West.) 

“Someone could easily save $200, $300, $400 a year just by taking advantage of some of the more basic recommendations we offer you with Hohm,” Batterberry says in the announcement. 

Hohm charges nothing for its reports, but it may at some point start charging contractors for consumer referrals and utilities for its software, Marja Koopmans told Green House in a March interview. Koopmans is general manager of marketing for Microsoft’s start-up business group, which includes Hohm.

May 24, 2010 – Energy costs for the average household have more than doubled over the past six years. On top of that British Gas have just reported a 7% rise in gas consumption due to the cold winter.

But, how do you know if you are using more gas and electricity than other similar homes? How do you know if you are paying more than you should?  

A new, free website – Energy Average http://www.energyaverage.co.uk – helps you keep track of your gas and electricity usage and cost, showing you an instant comparison with similar homes in your area.

Once you have created an account and entered some basic information about your household, you simply enter a few details from your gas and electricity bills as you receive them. Energy Average will keep track of your monthly energy usage and cost.

With the click of a button it will also present a graph showing how your energy usage and bills compare with similar households nationally and in your local area.

The website has been developed by Ascend Online Media Ltd. David Melvin, Ascend’s Managing Director, explains the inspiration behind Energy Average.

“Living in a home with two teenagers constantly on their laptops,as well as watching TV and charging mobile phones or other gadgets, I was curious to know how our energy bills compared with other homes.

“But when I looked around I could find very little information. Industry regulator Ofgem produces figures for average annual household fuel consumption, that are used by energy suppliers and switching sites. But these were last reviewed in 2003. Just think how much more you have in the way of electronic goods and gadgets in your home since then. The official Ofgem average figures also don’t take the type of heating or household sizes into account.

“So we set about designing EnergyAverage.co.uk to enable householders to compare like-with-like, letting them see if their energy usage and their bills are higher, or lower, than the average nationally and in their area.”

Energy Average works by using aggregated data compiled from information entered by other site users to calculate national and local averages for similar households. The gas and electricity bill data for new users is then compared with these averages.

Because users are constantly entering new data, the averages are always being updated, meaning that the information is always current. That means the figures reflect weather conditions, such as the particularly cold winter we have just experienced.

# # #

- – - end – - -

May 13, 2010 | Camille Ricketts

The Smart Grid, an upgrade to our energy infrastructure driven by information technology, is unquestionably gaining momentum as an industry in its own right. But it can also be divvied up into many different segments ranging from smart meters, to transmission-line upgrades, to demand response. The fastest-growing sector within the Smart Grid is home energy management.

There has been an explosion of venture-backed enterprises looking to take advantage of this new area of interest — not to mention several major corporations, including Microsoft and Google, who also want a generous piece of the pie. But, so far, all of this has amounted to a lot of noise. Most consumers looking to increase their energy efficiency want to accomplish it as easily and simply as possible, and may be deterred by the morass of options to choose from.

What do most people want out of a home energy-management system? Interests vary. Some want to see exactly how much they are using on a granular basis, and how much it is costing them in real time. Some want a service that will generate a list of recommendations for how they can make their homes more energy-efficient. And still others, perhaps the bulk of these people, want a tool that will take care of efficiency for them, ideally without compromising their comfort.

There are services and tools tailored to meet each of these needs — but the best of all would necessarily meet all of these needs. Here, to provide some insight, are five qualities to look for in an optimum home energy-management system, and examples of companies that could provide one.

1. Simplicity. There are many people out there who consider themselves green early adopters. They are the ones that want a system to show them how much energy they are using in real time, what happens when they switch off appliances, how much electricity is costing them based on overall demand, etc. But this is only a sliver of the population that is generally interested in conserving energy in their homes. Most people don’t want to worry about it at all — they just want it to happen.

These are the same people who should consider only targeting major energy sucks in their homes, like refrigerators, and especially heating and air-conditioning systems. For example, one of the most elegant tools to make thermostats more efficient is EcoFactor, a startup that makes two-way thermostat software to automate heating and cooling, simultaneously shaving off energy (and money off your monthly bills), while maintaining your desired level of comfort.

2. Utility-free. Some of these home energy management systems only work when they can be integrated with smart meters installed by electric utilities. But not every home has a smart meter, and those that do have equipment that is wholly owned by the utility in question. For those interested in consistent energy-efficiency management, it is best to choose a solution that works regardless of whether a smart meter is installed or not.

Many of these architectures are also very simple. A prime example is The Energy Detective (which can also transmit data to the Google PowerMeter interface graphing how much energy you are using). It consists of a transducer that sits outside at your home’s power mains. The component then transmits consumption data to a very simple display that reflects the most digestible of information: How much your electricity is costing you per hour, how much electricity you are currently using, and how much your monthly bill is to date. These are very actionable figures. AlertMe, another system working with Google PowerMeter, offers the same capabilities without an upgraded meter.

3. Rule setting. Between those who watch their energy use like a hawk, and those who don’t worry about it at all, is a subset of consumers looking to play an active role in efficiency, but only to a certain extent. They want more options to be involved, but they want them to be simple to execute.

Several companies, including Control4 and Tendril, offer web-based interfaces that make it possible to set rules for your home’s energy use. For example, you can specify that you never want to pay over a certain amount at an hourly rate (so it won’t let you run your clothes dryer, or it will toggle power flowing to your fridge), or that you only want to complete certain energy intensive actions (like making ice, or charging your plug-in vehicle) during off-peak hours when energy is at its cheapest. These customers can set these rules directly in their internet browsers. That way they only have to worry about it one time, and their home will take care of the rest.

This fits into the rapidly growing trend of home automation, which includes energy-efficient lighting systems that know when to turn off or on, automatically-adjusting thermostats, and smart appliances that get their jobs done while conserving as much energy as possible.

4. Remote control. Leaving the coffee machine, pool filter, or air conditioner running after we leave the house is something we can all relate to. It’s been a problem practically since the introduction of household appliances, and it eats up a surprising amount of energy. For this reason, the best home energy management solutions also give you the option of controlling your electronics remotely.

Several venture-backed companies offer or are working on mobile applications that allow you to switch appliances on and off from your phones. Tendril, again, is a prime example of this. It offers a mobile app that not only presents you with a heat map of where the most energy is being used in your home at the time, it will eventually allow you to deactivate your pool filter from wherever you are. So the next time you leave the AC running, you won’t have to worry about racking up your bills for no reason.

5. A how-to attitude. Home energy efficiency isn’t all about automation, tracking consumption on an hourly basis, or only running certain appliances at certain times. There are a lot of simpler actions you can take that can actually have more of an impact on your overall energy use and bills. Most people aren’t aware, for example, that weatherizing your home (caulking windows, adding insulation, and the like), drastically slashes the amount of energy you use without requiring permanent changes in behavior. Even fewer people know how to accomplish these tasks, and who can help them.

Luckily, some of the home energy management systems on the market today generate detailed and custom-tailored recommendations for home improvments that can take a bite out of your electricity use. The best example here is Microsoft Hohm, a tool that will one day incorporate most of the desired qualities listed above. Not only does it operate independently from smart meters, and convey data via a simple interface, it lists efficiency actions its users can take, based on information they volunteer about their homes. It also helps them find local contractors, the right materials, and relevant discounts to get the jobs done as easily and affordably as possible.

Closely related to this kind of recommendation engine, is the ability to see how your home’s energy use and efficiency stack up against those living around you, in your neighborhood, city, state or even on a national level. That way, if your consumption greatly exceeds local averages, you can identify pain points and changes that can be made. This is also something Microsoft Hohm excels at.

It might be difficult to find a home energy management system that offers all of these features right off the bat. Even the most advanced players in the field, Tendril and Microsoft Hohm a cut above the rest, are still working on expanding these capabilities and making them easy to use. That said, there is a lot of value in choosing an easily upgradable system, that won’t require you to buy new pricey hardware, re-enter home specifications, or reset energy rules every time an advance is made.

Fortunately, the best systems out there right now will make this possible. I would suggest keeping a close eye on what Tendril, Microsoft, and Control4 are releasing. It looks like they have the best handle on what the average consumer is will to do, what motivates people, and the most strategic ways to up efficiency as much and as fast as they can

 By Jennifer Hicks | May 7th, 2010

Want to reduce your energy bills but don’t know where to start or what to do? Brain-numbed by all you need to know to make the best choices?

The quest is over.  Wattbot was designed with you in mind.

“Wattbot helps people save money on their energy,” says Wattbot’s co-founder and vice president of business development, Diane Loviglio.   “We do that by giving personalized energy-saving recommendations so that all a user has to do is type in his or her street address and from that we already have lots of data, which you can edit as needed.  Then, we provide personalized recommendations for what you can do to cut your energy costs.”

Watt who?

Wattbot is  a residential electricity monitoring and feedback system that allows users to track their home energy use and offers tips to reduce consumption. The company’s current five-member team grows as is needed. The tool launched in beta last year and the public beta began in January, 2010. The company has received some angel funding.

Quick instructions for Wattbot use

The site is designed for visual rather than textual learners.  It is void of easily-found instructions.  But, the tool really does make all the try-and-fail, try-and-get it attempts at using the tool worth your time. Here are some essential steps to get you started:

1. Enter your address on the home page.  Unless you live in a densely populated West Coast area or some Eastern regions, you’ll likely see this:  “Sorry, Wattbot is not yet available in your area.”
2. Not to worry.  Scroll down that same page and click on “create a sample Wattbot project,” or just use this address for step 1: 5 Timberline Dr, Poughkeepsie, NY.
3. “Edit” will be your favorite word on the page that then crops up. Use the light blue icons to change the pre-populated data to suit your home and environment. It is here that all the personalized data is entered so that you get recommendations specific to you.

“Personalized data is really what drives people with action and we’re all about helping people take action to reduce their energy bills,” says Loviglio.

What can you get from Wattbot?

While some sites that tout energy efficiency offer the tired cliché “turn your thermostat down and put on a sweater,” Wattbot attempts to “simplify that problem and solution,” says Loviglio. “We know not everyone is an environmentalist; Wattbot is here to simplify your life and help you lower your bills.”

If you go though all the data input steps and really do make the sample project as close to your reality as possible, you might learn that—for your particular home—investing in a new Energy Star refrigerator really cost you money rather than save you—and that you might do better adding wall cavity insulation.

And, you learn the upfront costs, the anticipated savings and the rationale behind the recommendations. You also get a list of contractors and suppliers in your area to help make the recommendation a reality should you choose.

Providers associated with Wattbot

Loviglio says there are thousands of providers who have registered their services for free on the site, just as consumers do.  There is a difference, though.  Consumers are given a list of “best matching providers” for free when they get their energy-savings recommendations. If they choose one of the providers, they fill out a pop-up Web form which goes to Wattbot.  Wattbot then charges the provider—who has been given a $500 credit by the company—between $20 and $200 to receive the information you provided as a lead.

“We don’t make money on product recommendations,” Loviglio points out. “We are unbiased in our recommendations.”

The technology behind the tool

The tech geniuses behind Wattbot have taken Amazon’s database and merged it with the appliance database from Energy Star.  To that mix, they’ve added their own database of mid-price energy-saving products. They’ve merged in municipal, state and federal rebates and any incentive programs. They’ve developed complex algorithms that deal with climate, your site-specific data, energy prices and your usage characteristics. And, they update all this each day.

If you take the time to become familiar with the site and how it works, and the time to input your specific information, you really can get a personalized recommendation.

Wattbot’s future plans

Right now, Wattbot makes recommendations about solar hot water, solar electric, insulation, refrigerators and dishwashers.  But, it plans to include additional household essentials.

It also plans to create its own financing arm so that if you are, say, interested in adding solar panels to your abode, you’ll be able to apply for financing from the company.

By Bryan Macias/For the Avalanche-Journal
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Story last updated at 4/20/2010 – 12:38 am

Jim Betts of the 1400 block of Monticello Avenue said the solar panels on his 2,800 square-foot house produce the energy he uses during the day, while the electricity he needs to draw from the power company at night is paid for through credits he earns from excess voltage production. He has a 100-percent solar-powered house.

“It’s free, it doesn’t create CO2, and you’re putting less demand on the grid,” Betts said, referring to the network, or grid, that is the system by which electrical power is distributed through a region.

He said that while he doesn’t usually pay out of pocket for electricity, he usually still receives a bill for assorted taxes and fees from his power company, the South Plains Electric Cooperative. That bill that usually amounts to about $19.

 In addition, during heavy use periods such as a Christmas visit from 15 family members, Betts said he may pay small amounts.

In February, Betts said, his system generated the 400 kilowatts of power used in his home plus an additional 680 kilowatts of energy. He said his power consumption was lowered and the surplus increased by the installation of energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs in his home. This extra energy does not go to waste.

“For every kilowatt he used, he was producing two,” said Cris Been, president of Therma Breeze Inc., the company that installed the solar-power system on Betts’ house.

Betts’ initial plan was to have 75 percent of his home’s electricity come by way of solar power, but the high efficiency of newer solar panels allowed him to move that number up to 100 percent at a fraction of what it once cost.

A system known in the energy industry as net metering allows Betts to send excess energy he produces back onto the grid. The co-op then credits him at retail price for the energy he has produced. The credits offset the cost of  electricity used at night when his system is not producing power.

Additionally, the co-op charges Betts a discounted rate for electricity because of his status as a “green” customer.

Despite the advanced technology of the solar-power system, Been said, the assembly requires little upkeep. He said all the panels really require is to be washed once in a while if dirty — although dirty panels usually only decrease by efficiency 2 percent to 3 percent.

“It’s as close as you can get to maintenance-free,” Betts said.

As good as this may sound, Betts said the system was not without cost: a little more than $46,000 to be exact, including sales tax. Betts said he was helped by a federal tax credit for 30 percent of his purchase, but found no other incentives to help cover the cost of switching to renewable energy.

“Unfortunately for the state of Texas, there are no incentives,” Betts said.  “There are no tax incentives. There are no programs available for the local resident statewide.”

He compared this to California, which offers incentives on the state, city and even county levels for those wishing to invest in renewable energy for their homes or businesses.

Despite the cost, Betts said, he had calculated that the system would pay itself off completely within three or four years.

“A lot of people just don’t know,” Betts said. He said when he mentions the price tag, most people assume he will be paying off the system for the next 10 or 12 years. When he explains, most are shocked.

“These kinds of things just don’t depreciate,” Been said. He said the solar panel system will retain its value and add to the value of the home, both of which are a plus.

Nonetheless, Betts is happy with the solar-power system installed on his house and looks forward to seeing more people taking advantage of systems like this. He said at least one neighbor has come by to ask about getting a solar system of his own.

“To me, this is just dollars and cents,” Betts said. “I’m trying to save money. I want to be a good steward with my finances and the resources that I readily have. I’m saving money, and the good additional point is that I’m reducing CO2, and I’m reducing demand on the grid and doing my share to try to conserve what resources we have.” 

Been also pointed out that cheaper systems are available for individuals wishing to take smaller percentages of their power from the solar-power system.

Been said that Lubbock Power and Light does not allow its customers to install and use distributive power sources such as solar panels.

Chris Sims, public information officer at LP&L, said that though the company has not taken a position on the matter, one important note for customers is that LP&L cannot give credit for or buy excess energy from customers. He said this would violate the company’s contract with Xcel Energy, the sole provider of energy to LP&L, and added that buying power from customers could make for an unstable electrical grid.

“If we buy from a wholesaler, we’re guaranteed the amount of power we need,” Sims said. He said without guaranteed power and a constant voltage, the grid could become unstable,  leading to increased problems.

Currently, Lubbock customers are unable to switch between the two power companies. Both are run on separate lines that do not cross and operate in different portions of the county.

-ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy is first gateway to seamlessly connect ZigBee Smart Energy certified devices before or with Smart Meter deployments-

MINNETONKA, Minn., Feb 09, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Digi International /quotes/comstock/15*!dgii/quotes/nls/dgii (DGII 9.23, -0.19, -2.02%) today introduced the ConnectPort(R) X2 for Smart Energy gateway. It is a ZigBee Smart Energy certified gateway that easily connects certified ZigBee Smart Energy devices from a Home Area Network (HAN) to an energy service provider via broadband. It is the industry’s first gateway that connects, controls, or gathers data from ZigBee Smart Energy devices equally well before or with Smart Meter deployments. When a Smart Meter is present the gateway can make meter information immediately available to any energy management application. As part of iDigi(TM) Energy, energy service providers can use the ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy and iDigi platform to easily integrate thermostats, smart meters, in-home displays, load controllers and other ZigBee Smart Energy devices into complete energy management systems.

“The ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy provides a sub-$100 integration point for thermostats, smart meters, in-home displays, load controllers and other ZigBee Smart Energy devices in energy management systems,” said Larry Kraft, senior vice president of global sales and marketing, Digi International. “It provides a standards-based method to connect ZigBee Smart Energy devices and iDigi provides a standards-based application interface. Utilities can deploy energy management systems based on the ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy and iDigi knowing they have maximum future flexibility.”

“Utilities will deploy millions of ZigBee Smart Energy metering devices over the next several years,” said Charles Porter, Chief Strategy Officer, ista North America. “Our ista|net EMS platform uses Digi’s ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy gateway to engage consumers in real-time energy decisions, allowing them to save money and improve the environment.”

The ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy can be deployed as a stand-alone ZigBee Smart Energy HAN for areas without Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)/Smart Meter deployments or participate in an AMI network providing broadband connectivity for enhanced energy management services. Gateways deployed in advance of AMI can join a Smart Meter based network once it is installed, using iDigi to remotely make all software changes required for an easy upgrade, and always preserving the simplicity of a single Energy Services Portal (ESP) Smart Energy architecture. The ConnectPort X2 also separates consumers’ energy management data from the utility’s “cash register” meter network, adding to the security and integrity of the AMI system.

Built on the XBee-PRO(R) ZB ZigBee module, the ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy gateway features ZigBee Smart Energy certified firmware enabling compatibility with all devices defined in the ZigBee Smart Energy public application profile. These include energy service portals (ESPs), metering devices, in-premise display devices, programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs), load controllers, range extenders, smart appliances and prepayment terminals.

“ZigBee Smart Energy offers consumers secure, easy-to-use wireless home area networks for managing energy,” said Benno Ritter, vice president of marketing and business development at the ZigBee Alliance. “Digi is a leader in the Smart Energy space by making it easier for utilities and their customers to communicate with thermostats and other Smart Energy devices.”

The flexible ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy offers Ethernet and ZigBee connectivity. It also features easy-to-use local customizable open scripting standards via Python. This allows customers to leverage the in-home processing capability of the gateway to optimize their energy service offerings. Professional services are also available through Spectrum Design Solutions, Digi’s wireless consulting group, to speed development. All Digi gateways can be remotely configured and upgraded using iDigi Energy allowing new services to be offered after the system is installed.

The ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy is available now starting at $99. ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy Starter Kits that include iDigi login and a ZigBee Smart Energy XStick(R) USB adapter for demo and development environments are available now for $149. For information regarding the Smart Grid, download a free white paper at www.digi.com/pdf/wp_smartgrid.pdf. For more information about the ConnectPort X2 for Smart Energy, visit www.digi.com/products/wirelessdropinnetworking/gateways/connectportx2.jsp#overview

ZigBee: Control your world

ZigBee is the global wireless language connecting dramatically different devices to work together and enhance everyday life. The ZigBee Alliance is a non-profit association of more than 330 members driving development of ZigBee wireless technology. The Alliance promotes world-wide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in consumer electronic, energy, home, commercial and industrial areas. For more information, visit: www.ZigBee.org.

About Digi International

Digi International is making wireless M2M easy by developing reliable products and solutions to connect and securely manage local or remote electronic devices over the network or via the Web. Digi offers the highest levels of performance, flexibility and quality, and markets its products through a global network of distributors and resellers, systems integrators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). For more information, visit Digi’s Web site at www.digi.com, or call 877-912-3444.

About ista North America

ista is the world’s leading company in the metering, billing and management of energy, water and ancillary costs. ista North America serves multifamily, manufactured housing, commercial and utility clients throughout the entire process chain, from delivery and installation of equipment to meter-reading, billing and management of utility and ancillary costs. Learn more: www.ista-na.com.

All brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

SOURCE: Digi International

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Digi International
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jan_mcbride@digi.com
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