The vision of a future where homes and buildings operate dynamically with the grid to make electricity more affordable and provide multiple benefits for homeowners and utilities isn’t so far off. In fact, the concept is here now, poised for growth, and critical to meeting building decarbonization and carbon reduction goals across. As the smart homes and buildings market continues to mature, it has increased the ability to make buildings positive contributors rather than negative drains. Through the use of grid-interactive solutions, the region can combat climate change in a meaningful way - all at the tips of our fingers. When consumers and building owners understand their building’s energy usage, they can make energy efficiency improvements, reduce reliance on carbon-based energy sources, and improve the health and comfort of their homes. In order to further reduce the region's energy use and carbon emissions in homes and buildings, the region must continue to adopt energy efficiency practices and smart energy technology within homes and buildings. By focusing on policy and program initiatives that speed smart energy home and building technology adoption and efforts, the region can begin to realize the energy efficiency and grid-modernization solutions including load management, increased electrification, and demand response.
Resources: