HVAC equipment is responsible for a significant portion of energy consumption in a home or building. The primary energy consumers are the air conditioning systems, which use energy to cool the air, and the furnace, which uses energy to heat the air. Fans, pumps, and other components that are necessary to move the air through the ductwork of a home or building also require energy to operate. The amount of energy consumed by these systems varies based on the size and efficiency of the equipment and the climate in which the home or building is located. In order to reduce energy consumption and optimize efficiency, it is important to regularly maintain and inspect HVAC equipment. Additionally, utilizing modern technology such as programmable thermostats and variable speed motors can help to further reduce energy consumption.
The processes utilizing the most energy in one's house include the cooling and heating process consuming 47% of energy, water heater consuming 14% of energy, washer and dryer consuming 13% of energy, lightning consuming 12% of energy, refrigerator using 4% of energy, electric oven using 3-4% of energy, TV, DVD, cable box consuming 3% of energy, and dishwasher consuming 2% of energy.[i]
With this increased energy consumption, people should consider saving significant amounts of energy and money, as well as to making the planet greener, by controlling the usage of HVAC equipment, water heater, washer & dryer, lighting, refrigerator, dishwasher, etc. as control can enable an individual or businesses to reduce their energy consumption and costs.
In addition, the innovation of "dumb to smart appliance conversion" is revolutionary for the home appliance industry, allowing homeowners to upgrade their existing appliances to smarter, more efficient models without breaking the bank. Not only does this save money, but it also reduces the amount of waste created by replacing outdated appliances. Plus, these smarter appliances can help to reduce energy consumption, meaning lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint. This innovation has the potential to totally revolutionize the home appliance industry, making our homes smarter, more efficient, and more environment-friendly.
Appliance companies like GE, Samsung, LG, and others have shifted toward the adoption of SMART Appliances such as smart HVAC, smart water heaters, smart washers&dryers, smart lights, and smart refrigerators in the Western world, but they come at a premium price, sometimes costing 2x-5x of their Dumb (Legacy) counterparts. With a mobile app, the energy consumed by these Smart appliances and the associated cost can be monitored by an end-user from anywhere. If the energy consumption or cost exceeds a threshold, the end-user can switch off their cell phone, giving them full control over the energy consumption of their house and the ability to keep their electricity bill in check.
Unfortunately, in developing countries, people are unable to purchase expensive Smart Appliances due to their poor economic conditions, despite desperately needing them. In response to this, Infosys colleagues, including the narrator, Sanjoy Paul, developed a Smart Power Strip/Plug that could convert any Legacy (Dumb) Appliance into a Smart Appliance inless than $50. This invention allowed individuals to monitor their energy consumption and switch off appliances remotely via a mobile App, and thus keep their costs within their budget.
Sanjoy Paul has an impressive career, starting as a computer scientist and technology executive, and later becoming a business consultant and author. He is currently the global managing director at Accenture, leading the research and development of systems and platforms, as well as a part-time teaching faculty at Rice University. Sanjoy is an innovator, who has founded RelevantAd Technologies, Inc., an EdTech company, Almawiz Inc., a digital contact center and lead generation company, and DigiNotebooks. His research works are focused on the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), Computer Networks, 5G and Wireless Networks, Multimedia Streaming, and Content Distribution.
Sanjoy ventured into the world of Information Technology and Business Consulting and quickly rose in the ranks, becoming the AVP and General Manager at Infosys. He was responsible for the Convergence Lab and R&D or Communications, Media, and Entertainment business unit of Infosys. During this time, Sanjoy and his colleagues Kumar Padmanabh and Siva Prasad Katru developed a smart power strip that could be hooked into one or more equipment (such as a refrigerator, air conditioner, lamp, fan, water heater, TV, microwave, etc.) and be controlled remotely via an app on a mobile device. His method for converting "legacy" appliances to "smart" appliances for less than $50 set an impeccable trend.
The system is designed to measure, monitor and control electrical power directed through one or more electricity-directing devices, such as electrical sockets that supply power to the necessary devices. This system includes a potential transformer, which is connected to the socket and receives AC voltage. This voltage is then relayed to the processing device, which is responsible for the control and management of the power. This system not only ensures that the electrical power is properly managed and used, but also that it is safe and secure. It provides a reliable, efficient, and effective means of power management, allowing users to trust that their devices are receiving the proper amount of power. Additionally, this system can help reduce the risk of power outages, as well as provide peace of mind that the power is being used most efficiently and responsibly.
The system includes a current sensor that can sense the current drawn from the socket and relay it to the processing device. This current sensor is connected to a microcontroller, which is able to receive analog or digital values of voltage and current. With this information, the microcontroller then measures the values of voltage and current, calculates the electrical power consumed, and generates a control signal. This control signal then activates a switching device, which is operationally connected to the socket and controls the flow of power through the socket. In this way, the system is capable of controlling and monitoring the power use of any given socket.
This innovation earned Sanjoy the Grand Challenges for India 2010 Award from MIT Technology Review as well as the Infosys Excellence Award for Innovations and Thought Leadership for the most inventive product of the year in 2010. The ground-breaking concepts of this innovation were realized in US Patent 9013060, entitled "Method and system for measuring, monitoring and managing electrical power usage," which was issued on April 21, 2015.[ii]
Today, we utilize Siri or Alexa to operate the gadgets rather than a typical mobile app because smart plugs have evolved into a 'new category' of products that you can find on Amazon (lights, fans, TV, etc.).From being able to simply switch them on and off using a mobile app, to using voice commands like "Alexa, turn off the TV" or "Siri, turn on the air conditioner", Smart Plugs are making it easier than ever to control the devices. But the implications of Smart Plugs don't end there. They also have a profound effect on demand response systems for energy companies, giving them the ability to manage energy consumption and costs more profoundly. Thus, investing in Smart Plugs for increasing the efficiency of the house is a great way to get started.
Knowing the expanded benefits of Smart Plugs, Sanjoy exploited its usage for the implementation of demand response systems as well. These systems offer an innovative energy solution that allows users to modify their energy consumption in response to changing electricity prices or incentivization, providing a way to maximize the cost-effectiveness of end-user energy use.[iii] By providing users with the tools to reduce their electricity use during peak demand times, these systems can help reduce the strain on the grid and create a more efficient and sustainable energy landscape.
With the ever-increasing demand for energy consumption, Energy companies are paving their way to keep the electric bills down - and even get some cash back in return. This can also be achieved with the help of a Smart Power Strip/Plug, such that, one can connect their appliances to a mobile app and turn them off in exchange for cash back from the energy company at the end of the month.
Witnessing the fact that in many countries, the energy demand often exceeds the capacity of the energy company, resulting in an unwelcoming interruption of power for certain segments of a city-a practice known as "load shedding." This can be especially frustrating for consumers, as their essential appliances and equipment become completely unusable when the power is cut off. Load shedding is all too common in developing countries, where the energy demand is increasing but the capacity of the energy company is not able to keep up. In order to overcome this issue, Sanjoy promoted the adoption of Smart Plugs as theycan help Energy companies eliminate "load shedding," allowing one to prioritize their appliances and maintain the power they need. By categorizing the appliances into Essential (must be on), Desirable (would be nice to have them on) and non-essential (not needed to be on), Energy companies can systematically turn off non-essentials, followed by Desirables, and bring the Demand for energy below the Supply. This way, people would never have to worry about having essential appliances switched off, eliminating "load shedding" for good. Better yet, since Smart Plugs are connected remotely, Energy companies can control appliances from anywhere.
Thus, Smart Plugs are transforming the way electricity is used, providing consumers with the power to reduce their energy costs while positively impacting the country's economy. Knowing that Smart Plugs can allow users to manage their own electricity usage, Sanjoy employed them to reduce the demand on the power grid and lessen the need for additional energy production, helping to lower energy costs. With its increased usage, the management of energy is made better by reducing overall energy costs. This remarkable technology is revolutionizing the way electricity is used and bringing positive economic benefits to the country.
[i][ii][iii]https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6397647 https://patents.google.com/patent/US20110266869 https://www.calendar-canada.ca/faq/what-uses-the-most-electricity-in-the-house