Proponents of the smart grid hope it will pave the way for real-time electricity pricing, enabling you to lower your utility bills by powering down appliances during peak demand periods when the kilowatt-hour cost of electricity is at its highest.
But what if your appliances could make those cost-savings adjustments on their own? That's the brave new world proposed by GE's new smart appliances.
Unlike traditional models, these smart appliances can receive a price signal from the power company and adjust their electricity consumption accordingly, claims GE. The dishwasher, for example, is designed not to start its cycle until after the peak energy period, while the refrigerator is supposed to avoid defrost mode when power is priciest.
In the video (right) Bob Markovich, editor of the Consumer Reports Home franchise, checks out GE smart appliances as well as the home-energy manager that serves as their nerve center.
Read more of our 2010 International Builders' Show coverage via our Twitter page, blog posts, and videos.
—Daniel DiClericoEssential information: If you need new appliances now and can't wait for smart appliances to hit the market, take advantage of a rebate associated with the $300 million cash for clunkers for appliances rebate program. Use our interactive map to find the start date in your state and learn about eligible products.
These appliances will not save a residential customer a dime on their electric bill. Residential rates are not based on the time of day unless the customer has a "special" time of day meter. Utilities expermited with time of use meters many years ago but elimated them due to lack of consumer acceptance. Also, the "savings" the consumer receives is based on the diffence in "cost" the utility has for energy generated during on peak vs off peak periods. No utility in this country has a 60% difference. Even high priced power generated with natural gas vs low cost nuclear is not this much. In addition residential meters are not "demand" meters. The customer "price" for enegy is no different if every appliance is on one hour or if each appliance is only on by itself for one hour. Only the utility will benifit from these appliances.
These "would" save money if they allow appliances to not always be in 'stand-by' mode, which is common across ALL electronics verticals.
One of the highest uses of energy is those alarm clocks, cell chargers, Xbox's, and other appliances that still use electricity while plugged in - even though the device is not per say. If this technology allows the device to not user "peak power" when it doesn't have to, then it's a good invention. As the previous reviewer pointed out, timing things isn't available to most cities and utility companies as this article would suggest. For GE and Whirlpool, it's yet another gimmick that will cost the average buyer far more $$$ than the proposed tradeoff. Go with EnergyStar and look at the cost savings over a year and do your comparison that way - and obviously do you homework!
I have ben trying to get info on water heaters,and I have been having a very hard time getting the info that I need to make an informed decision on the best one for my needs, your site is very difficult to work with.I could not pull up any information.Very confusing.
I have had a demand meter back in the 1970s. It was a large pain in the neck. My wife could not use her washer and dryer at the same time because using both would push demand to a very high level, thereby raising the electricity rate to a very high level for that month. We purchased a demand miser for about $1000 (in 1976 dollars)that shut off unnecessary power usage when demand got too high. As a result, our clothes dryer took forever to dry a load of clothes if dinner was being prepared. All in all, it is so not worth it.
Previous
