Home Energy Manager Named As One of the Green Technology ‘Game Changers’

The Home Energy Manager – a new system that has been designed to connect all appliances that consume energy in the home, and allow householders to set budgets through a touchscreen interface – has been named as one of the ‘game changers’ of green technology and the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The Home Energy Manager (HEM) has been developed by a partnership consisting of Whirlpool, Direct Energy, Best Buy, Open Peak and Lennox – as reported by the International Business Times.

The HEM works by connecting appliances and devices that use energy in the home. This includes the heating, lighting, TVs, microwaves and more: all linked into one control station where homeowners will then be able to set maximum limits for their use.

The device will be programmed to alert householders who are reaching their limits, and it will also provide recommendations on how to reduce bills and make homes more energy efficient.

It is hoped that knowing exactly what is used will help encourage householders to reduce consumption, by using less electricity as well as by installing measures in the home such as double glazing – to make the building itself more energy efficient.

The HEM will be able to be programmed either directly or remotely, to help ensure energy usage is cut back during peak periods.

The system is to be trialled in the US this spring.

At the CES, a new device was also showcased that could help residential property owners to control their hot water and heating by sending text messages to a central hub.