One way to get a sense of the future is to watch companies that provide enabling technology. Here are just a few of the products that could and should be measuring and monitoring their own power : Smart plugs , Submetering for industrial and commercial equipment , Servers , PCs , Air-conditioners , Freezers and refrigerators , Industrial motors and equipment ... A world of power-savvy devices opens up vast new possibilities for the many companies that have started to circle the smart grid in search of killer applications.
- Industrial energy management companies such as PowerIt Solutions
- Demand response companies such as EnerNOC and Comverge
- Home energy management hopefuls such as Google PowerMeter, Microsoft Hohm, and TED (The Energy Detective)
- Home automation companies such as Control4
And let’s not forget about utilities who want to give their customers more and better information about their energy consumption. Already drowning in smart meter data, they may soon be getting data at the device level, at least from their biggest customers. Most observers talk about smart appliances in the home (and a few manufacturers have already started building such devices). In reality, the first widespread rollouts will occur in commercial and industrial settings. That is where you find power-hungry devices. And that is where customers have a bottom-line motivation to reduce energy usage.
