According to Greenbiz’s Michael Ellis, the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) featured a wide assortment of home energy management systems. As Ellis put it, “the home energy management ecosystem is rife with competition across the entire value chain, creating a range of viable solutions for consumers”.

Savant Systems is just one company among many to showcase their residential energy management system at the CES.

Their system, called Smart Energy, is a whole-home platform designed for Apple devices, including iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touches, rather than control panels.

Energy Saving Features

Savant's Smart Energy System has many automated and controllable features for saving energy.

The system automatically adjusts lighting not only based on motion and occupation sensors, but also in coordination with the amount of sunlight. Residents can use their Apple devices to turn off all intelligent lights when they're not home.

The Smart Energy platform also regulates the home's thermostat based on the outdoor temperature. The system can close the window shades to block out sunlight and keep the home cool in warm weather.

Aside from these automated and intelligent features, residents can control their home's systems remotely using their Apple devices. Also, they can use their iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch to track their energy consumption, meaning that they can make adjustments that will optimize their energy savings.

 

The Savant Smart Energy home energy management system applies to the LEED for Homes rating system. While the LEED for Homes rating system does not currently address home energy management systems, they could contribute points in Innovation in Design (ID).

Clearly, LEED for Homes projects have used home energy management systems for ID credits in the past, because USGBC has created an Innovative Design Request Form specifically for energy management and monitoring systems. A system can contribute 1 or 2 points to a LEED certified home based on its functions.

According to the form, "an energy management system that provides the occupant automated control over various loads in the home" will receive 1 point toward ID.

If the system "provides the occupant with clear and regular feedback on their energy and/or resource usage", it will receive 1 point.

If the system both provides automated control AND provides feedback on energy/resource usage, it will be awarded 2 points.

Since Savant's Smart Energy system can provide both automated control and feedback, it can earn up to 2 points in the LEED for Homes ID credit category.

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