Tech Brand Talk

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First there were smart phones, then smart meters, and now here come smart appliances and smart electronics.  Does this mean that smart appliances and electronics will be better?  Not necessarily.

What is smart?

In general, when you hear the term “smart” applied to a product type it usually means that the device has the ability to connect to other devices. 

Your smart phone not only connects you to people, but also to the Internet. A smart meter connects to the utility and to devices inside the home, and now your smart appliance will connect to other appliances or electronics.

You might be wondering how this relates to energy efficiency and why would someone at BC Hydro care. Well,  I’m going to try to lay out two different views of smart; features that could save energy, and features that will consume more energy. 

In some cases, it may turn out to be a wash.

Smart features

For appliances, “smart” refers to features such as the ability to control devices remotely, including the ability to see the operation and to view content from afar.

Sounds odd, but the new LG THINQ™  range refrigerator – which was on display at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas – can check what is in the fridge and let the owner know what to buy. 

Samsung’s WiFi-enabled fridge can let users interact through an LCD screen to look for recipes, check the weather, leave notes or view photos.

You can also think of TVs as a new category of smart devices because they do a lot more then just show you moving pictures, allowing interaction with the video content web sites and social media.

Smart energy

Another term that is being tossed around is “smart energy”, which was discussed a bit in the previous blog. In connection with smart appliances, this does have the potential to save energy and money.

One great example of a smart appliance is the Panasonic air-conditioner equipped with sensors that can determine how many occupants are in the room, how active they are, and even how close they are to the air conditioner. With this information, it  adjusts to keep people cool without overdoing it.

Another innovative feature will allow appliances to run when electricity demand is lowest, ideal in regions where there are varying time-of-use energy charges. You can preload your dishwasher, clothes washer, or even dryer, knowing that the device will listen for a smart energy signal to turn on at the lowest-cost period. 

Expect electric cars to also be able to sense energy rate information and charge when it’s cheap – and perhaps to even earn a few dollars by giving energy back to the grid when it’s more expensive.

Want one now?

This is a fast-changing and growing market,  so I’d suggest holding tight instead of rushing out to buy all new appliances and electronics tagged with “smart.”

You’re likely to pay a 20% to 40% premium,  and may have limited success in energy savings with them. Once smart meters are fully deployed so that you can take advantage of accurate energy information, it might be a good time to let your appliances get smart.

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