Consumers growing more aware of Energy Consumption

One key finding from Parks Associates energy research is that consumers are growing more aware about their energy consumption. Eighty percent of U.S. households are interested in learning more about how to cut their energy costs (although this interest does not equal a desire or need to learn about smart grids, which will be discussed later). Over one-half already have a programmable thermostat, meaning the majority of U.S. households have at least one energy-saving device in their home.

If current utility plans come to full fruition, U.S. households will soon have many more energy-saving options through AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) deployments. Utilities have deployed over 13 million smart meters, with plans to install 50 million more over the next five years. Predictably, other firms are eyeing this space for new market opportunities, hoping to build off this new bedrock technology and create more avenues for service and product opportunities in the home.

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U.S. Electronic Systems Contractors optimistic about business prospects in 2010

On average, U.S. home systems integrators, who have had revenues fall for the past two years, expect sales to pick up by more than 9% in 2010 over 2009, according to Home Systems: Channel and Consumer Monitor.

This report includes results of a fourth-quarter 2009 survey of integrators installing home controls, entertainment systems, and energy management solutions, conducted as a joint effort from international research firm Parks Associates and the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA).

Home Systems: Channel and Consumer Monitor reports that integrators continue to generate two-thirds of their revenue from A/V systems but many integrators plan to diversity in 2010 by adding lighting controls and solar panels to their 2010 offerings. Approximately 40% of integrators plan to begin installing photovoltaic solar panels, and another 38% are seeking more information on this product category to determine its viability. In addition, the trend toward more retrofit projects, which accounted for 63% of 2009 revenues, will continue.

Visit www.parksassociates.com for more information on Home Systems: Channel and Consumer Monitor.

Google approved to buy and sell energy

According to CNET News, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has authorized Google Energy to buy and sell electricity.

"Google has expressed a desire for access to larger amounts of renewable energy to help produce the electricity it consumes as part of its vast search-engine empire. Google has long maintained that its goal is to become a carbon-neutral company. As a side note, it's not unusual for large companies to be granted the authority to trade in the wholesale electricity market for the purpose of managing their own energy costs."

Google has been investing in the energy industry via green energy technology research and start-up projects involving wind, solar, solar thermal and geothermal. Other projects include plug-in hybrid cards and smart metering software.

For more information, click here.

Nation's Largest Public Power Provider Selects SmartSynch Solution for Distributed Renewable Generation Program

SmartSynch, Inc., a smart grid infrastructure company utilizing standard IP communications via public wireless networks, has been selected by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as the smart metering solution provider for Generation Partners, a distributed renewable generation program offered by participating local power companies that distribute TVA power. TVA is the nation’s largest public power company, providing energy to large industries and power distributors that serve approximately 9 million consumers in seven southeastern states.

Generation Partners incentivizes end-use customers, both residential and commercial, to purchase and install eligible renewable energy generation systems such as solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, biomass, and small hydro-electric systems. TVA purchases 100 percent of the green energy output from the renewable generation system by paying the retail rate, plus any fuel cost adjustment (FCA), plus a premium of 12 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for solar and 3 cents per kWh for all other eligible technologies.

SmartSynch’s turn-key Managed Services solution will handle the reading, uploading, storage and delivery of generation data for TVA and the local power companies. SmartSynch’s use of public wireless networks as the communications backbone for the solution will streamline the deployment process for local power distributors.

U.S. - Japan Clean Tech Symposium 2010

Parks Associates is supporting the U.S.-Japan Clean Tech Symposium 2010: Why Being in Japan and Partnering with Japanese Companies are Essential for Clean Tech on February 18th in San Francisco.

This event will highlight clean tech opportunities and encourage collaboration between U.S. and Japanese companies through discussion and sharing of strategies and plans (e.g., investment in U.S. and Japan; innovation opportunities for U.S. and Japanese companies; entry into third-country markets by U.S. and Japan collaboration).

For more information, click here to see event brochure.

New Residential Energy Management Whitepaper Available from CableLabs

Creating a Robust Market for Residential Energy Management through an Open Energy Management Architecture

Read more about CableLabs® ideas for public policy framework to advance the adoption of residential energy management.

Policies that allow and encourage innovative new solutions and stimulate new markets for residential energy management are largely missing from state and federal Smart Grid strategies.

Without an open market for residential energy management, there will be minimal private investment and new product development, leaving the promise of a ubiquitous national Smart Grid unrealized. Read More

White paper provided by CableLabs®. The views and opinions expressed in this white paper are from the author and not of Parks Associates.

Parks Associates hosting Residential Energy Management Webcast

Parks Associates is hosting a Residential Energy Management on Thursday, February 25th at 1 PM Central.

With the president’s stimulus bill squarely behind Smart Grid development, 2010 should see significant investment in new technologies from the back office to the network to the meter and to devices in the home. Will consumers pay to purchase devices with energy savings potential?

For more information, visit
http://www.parksassociates.com/events/webcasts.htm