Smart Grid Technology at the Consumer Electronics Show

While it’s mostly known for showing off the latest TVs, this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas also featured several home energy management technologies that could make the “home of the future” more energy efficient. From controlling HVAC systems and appliances with a smart phone to automatically charging an electric car at off-peak times, the ability to actively monitor and control home energy usage plays the most significant role in these technologies. Although the home automation and energy monitoring industries still face many obstacles to their widespread adoption, their proponents believe that increasing consumer information and control over energy usage will simultaneously save energy and open up new opportunities for manufacturers and energy companies.