Smart devices that turn down household heating when energy prices peak can not only save consumers money but also ease the load on power grids.
The US Department of Energy equipped 112 homes in Washington state with meters that receive updates on energy prices every 5 minutes. Homeowners also received devices which could regulate their heating systems. They programmed in an ideal temperature and how many degrees they were willing to have it vary in response to a price change. The system – called – combined this information with thermostat and price readings and switched the heating off and…
