do you know How much power do your gadgets and appliances use when you’re on the go? Or how often do energy costs fluctuate? These factors are becoming increasingly important as electricity prices soar and blackouts become more common. This is something Schneider Electric wants to help.
The power management company recently released Schneider Home, a system that promises insight and control over the electricity in your home through an app on your phone. It includes smart power distribution boards, backup batteries, electric vehicle chargers, solar inverters, smart light switches, dimmers, and smart outlets. Of course, it doesn’t come cheap, with a complete system running around $10,000. Not to mention, the installation would break.
The U.S. Department of Energy sees home energy management systems (HEMS) as an essential part of enabling a smarter grid. But HEMS come in many shapes and sizes. Many of us have cobbled together retrofit systems with smart thermostats, smart plugs, and Wi-Fi connected devices. By adding solar panel generation and battery storage, and installing control systems on top, those who can afford these systems can significantly reduce energy use.
Schneider’s approach is to simplify the process. Once installed, you can monitor your entire home’s electricity usage, see how much each device is using, and get an accurate view of all costs. You can set up automations to reduce energy waste. For example, you can schedule various outlets and lights to turn off automatically while you’re at work—this cuts power to TVs, smart speakers, and other non-essential vampires on standby, while specifying that appliances like refrigerators should remain on. Cheapest off-peak or overnight arrangements for EV charging. With home batteries and solar panels, you can store energy during the day and use it during peak hours to save money. Batteries also allow you to maintain power to specific outlets in the event of a power outage.
Modular Home Energy Management
Photography: Schneider
The brain of the system is the Schneider Pulse, a smart electrical panel that interconnects your home’s energy and gives you granular control through the Schneider Home app. It enables you to balance power distribution, which is especially handy for those with limited capacity. The system has the intelligence to balance your load, possibly shutting down your EV charger while you’re cooking, and restarting to reduce load when you’re done.
