Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems, today announced the extension of its EMS 100 Energy Management System through interoperability with load control device and energy monitor manufacturers Entek International LLC, EpiSensor, Jetlun, Eaton, and TED - The Energy Detective. By broadening the ecosystem of interoperable devices within the home area network, Control4, maker of the EMS 100, can help electric utilities offer consumers more ways to participate in demand response programs to save energy, particularly during peak periods. These strategic relationships also give consumers the ability to manage their energy use without smart meters.

Control4 has partnered with leading providers of electricity monitors and load controllers so that consumers can control multiple devices in the home. Leveraging the Control4® platform to automate home appliances and deliver usage information by device, consumers can choose how to respond to or override demand response and price signals from utilities. Control4 will demonstrate the interoperability of its platform with its energy management ecosystem partners at Autovation, September 12^th-15^th, 2010.

"Control4’s business success has been built by working with strategic partners to simplify the control of the multitude of electronic devices in the home,” said Richard Walker, President of Control4’s Energy Systems Division. “We are applying this expertise to the Smart Grid by seeking the best energy management product partners in order to help our utility customers deliver effective energy and demand management solutions to consumers."

These strategic relationships benefit consumers by enabling broader control of devices throughout the home. Plug load controllers and sub-metering solutions measure both whole-home and individual appliance consumption...

By ALEX DOMINGUEZ (AP) – 18 hours ago

BALTIMORE — Smart meters alone are not enough to save energy and money, a new study finds.

Significant savings are possible, however, and consumers save more when given information tailored to their use. Programs that focus on energy efficiency and conservation also produced more savings than those that sought to move energy use to off-peak hours.

Those are some of the findings of a review of 57 studies conducted over three decades for the Washington-based American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Smart meters are part of efforts to develop a smart grid that allows communication between power producers, transmitters and end users, enabling conservation and savings when consumers, for example, know how much power costs at different times of the day, and producers can respond better to outages and increases in demand.

Most take advantage of the Internet and other advances in computer and communication technology.

ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel said the key is not only the ability to communicate, but what is communicated.

"The more useful, readily understandable and actionable information you can provide, the better," Nadel said. "You don't just want to inundate consumers."

While the most widely used programs are called enhanced billing — in which information on power pricing is provided in monthly bills or separate mailings — devices are being developed to provide consumers with more timely information, including desktop orbs that glow different colors during peak and off-peak times, and web portals.

"One of the nice things about the orb is it's a very simple color, you don't have to get out your calculator and say 'So, what does this information mean?' You know green is good and...