GE unveils Net Zero Energy Home concept and launches Smart Grid projects
July 19, 2009
GE unveiled plans for a Net Zero Energy Home project that combines GE’s most efficient appliances and lighting, new energy management systems, and GE power generating and storing technologies in new home construction. When applied together, GE says the system would enable a homeowner to achieve net zero energy costs by 2015.
As part of the company’s ecomagination strategy, the GE Net Zero Energy
Home offerings will consist of three major groups within the product
portfolio: energy-efficient products (including appliances and
lighting); energy management products that will enable consumers to
manage their costs and energy consumption; and energy
generation/storage products, like solar PV (photvoltaics), energy
storage and next-generation thin film solar.
“Much of today’s electrical grid dates back to the days of our founder, Thomas Edison,” explained Mark Little, senior vice-president and director, GE Global Research. “And while that grid has served us well for decades, we recognize that by investing in technologies to transform the current electrical infrastructure, GE will be able to provide powerful solutions for customers around the world for the next 100 years. We’re working with our utility and government partners to deploy energy-efficient technologies today, in a way that will empower consumers without compromising their lifestyle.”
One new product that will give consumers more control will be available as early as 2010, when GE will introduce the Home Energy Manager—the central nervous system for the Net Zero Energy Home that will work in conjunction with all the other enabling technologies in the home to help homeowners optimize how they consume energy. GE will also introduce a line of smart thermostats in 2010 that, together with the Home Energy Manager, will inform consumers on their energy use and empower them to make smarter decisions on their energy consumption.
The Net Zero Energy Home announcement comes as a new GE/Ipsos poll gauging existing U.S. and U.K. consumer awareness and comprehension of smart grid found that three out of five people in both countries would change their electricity consumption behaviour around smart grid adoption. Two-thirds in both countries would monitor their energy usage online at least once a week.
Additionally, 73% of U.S. and U.K. respondents are interested in the pricing structure behind electricity bills and how smart grid could affect those bills, with half of respondents in the U.S. and over one-third in the U.K. willing to pay an increased monthly rate for smart grid technology were there a corresponding reduction in overall energy costs by 15%.
CLICK HERE for GE Global Research.
“Much of today’s electrical grid dates back to the days of our founder, Thomas Edison,” explained Mark Little, senior vice-president and director, GE Global Research. “And while that grid has served us well for decades, we recognize that by investing in technologies to transform the current electrical infrastructure, GE will be able to provide powerful solutions for customers around the world for the next 100 years. We’re working with our utility and government partners to deploy energy-efficient technologies today, in a way that will empower consumers without compromising their lifestyle.”
One new product that will give consumers more control will be available as early as 2010, when GE will introduce the Home Energy Manager—the central nervous system for the Net Zero Energy Home that will work in conjunction with all the other enabling technologies in the home to help homeowners optimize how they consume energy. GE will also introduce a line of smart thermostats in 2010 that, together with the Home Energy Manager, will inform consumers on their energy use and empower them to make smarter decisions on their energy consumption.
The Net Zero Energy Home announcement comes as a new GE/Ipsos poll gauging existing U.S. and U.K. consumer awareness and comprehension of smart grid found that three out of five people in both countries would change their electricity consumption behaviour around smart grid adoption. Two-thirds in both countries would monitor their energy usage online at least once a week.
Additionally, 73% of U.S. and U.K. respondents are interested in the pricing structure behind electricity bills and how smart grid could affect those bills, with half of respondents in the U.S. and over one-third in the U.K. willing to pay an increased monthly rate for smart grid technology were there a corresponding reduction in overall energy costs by 15%.
CLICK HERE for GE Global Research.
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