| Get Smart |
| Friday, 22 May 2009 19:44 | |||
 Louisville, Kentucky, May 2009 – Six months into the GE Consumer & Industrial and Louisville Gas & Electric Company (LG&E), pilot program that uses smart meters, smart or demand response appliances, and a tiered pricing program - results reveal participants are choosing money-saving options.
The program tests the use of “smart” appliances to help offset energy costs when higher prices are implemented during peak usage times – generally 3-8 p.m. “We believe with our Demand Response appliances, GE will help consumers significantly decrease power usage during peak demand periods, which will help the utilities reduce the need for more power generation and help consumers save on their energy bills,” notes Kevin Nolan, vice president of technology for GE Consumer & Industrial. “GE can provide consumers a solution that will give them control over their energy usage with little to no disruption to their lifestyles.” Pilot participants were a select group of GE employees living in the LG&E Louisville market. They were provided with a suite of GE “smart” appliances — or Demand Response appliances — to replace their standard appliances. In most cases, this included a refrigerator, range, microwave, dishwasher and laundry pair. In addition, LG&E installed a programmable HVAC thermostat in the participants’ homes, as well as a “smart” utility meter. GE’s “smart appliances” receive a signal from the utility company’s smart meter which alerts the appliances, and the participants, when peak electrical usage and rates are in effect. In the pilot program, the signal word “eco” comes up on the display screen. The appliances are programmed to avoid energy usage during that time or operate on a lower wattage; however, participants could choose to override the program. Residential energy use continues to increase. Consumers have more electronic devices — including TVs, computers, DVD players, iPods, and cell phone chargers — than ever before. During peak times, consumers are cooking, doing laundry, taking showers, using their computer, or watching TV. Looking to the future, when they come home from work, they may also plug in their hybrid car. Experts agree the growing demand cannot be satisfied without more power generation. However, to lessen the need for more, which is costly to produce and would add more carbon into the environment, we need to learn to use the power we have more wisely. Other examples of savings are: • The refrigerator delays the defrost cycle from occurring during peak hours and goes into energy saving mode. One participant’s energy efficiency efforts with refrigerator usage over 10 weekdays showed over a 20% reduction of energy usage during peak hours. • Microwave ovens power down slightly by reducing wattage used when operated during peak hours. Martha Callahan mentioned that her two sons (ages 11 and 13) have had no trouble adjusting to the varying power levels as they heat up snacks. • The “smart” dishwasher can delay starting the cycle to off peak times. • Choosing to delay laundry to off peak time can help consumers meet their own energy efficiency targets. Understandably, interaction with the dishwasher and laundry appliances was noted as the most challenging by the participants. General Electric -- imagination at work, sells products under the Monogram®, Profile™, GE®, Hotpoint®, SmartWater™, Reveal® and Energy Smart® consumer brands, and Entellisys®, Tetra®, Vio™ and Immersion® commercial brands. For more information, consumers may visit www.ge.com. SOURCE: General Electric
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