tag:theconversation.com,2011:/au/topics/smart-appliances-17810/articlessmart appliances – The Conversation2023-06-04T20:04:59Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2042812023-06-04T20:04:59Z2023-06-04T20:04:59ZUsing electric water heaters to store renewable energy could do the work of 2 million home batteries – and save us billions<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523358/original/file-20230428-28-izz5as.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C5472%2C3612&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Australia’s energy transition is well under way. Some <a href="https://iea-pvps.org/snapshot-reports/snapshot-2022/">3 million households have rooftop solar</a> and <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/first-past-the-post-evs-race-to-front-in-sales-of-medium-sized-cars-20230420-p5d1yj.html">sales of medium-sized electric cars</a> are surging. But as we work towards fully electric households powered by renewable energy, have we overlooked a key enabling technology, the humble electric water heater?</p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="a smart electric water heater" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529729/original/file-20230602-17-jsaz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529729/original/file-20230602-17-jsaz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529729/original/file-20230602-17-jsaz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529729/original/file-20230602-17-jsaz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529729/original/file-20230602-17-jsaz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529729/original/file-20230602-17-jsaz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529729/original/file-20230602-17-jsaz8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">By storing solar energy as hot water, a smart electric heater can effectively act as a household battery.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
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</figure>
<p>About <a href="https://www.energynetworks.com.au/resources/fact-sheets/reliable-and-clean-gas-for-australian-homes-2/">half of Australian households</a> use electric water heaters, while the rest use gas. So what’s so great about electric water heaters? </p>
<p>Electric water heaters offer a cheap way to store large amounts of energy, in the form of hot water. A heater with a 300-litre tank can store about as much energy as a second-generation Tesla Powerwall – at a fraction of the cost. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/isf/explore-research/projects/domestic-hot-water-and-flexibility">Our research</a> at the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures has found Australians could use household electric water heaters to store as much energy as over 2 million home batteries of that kind. This could eventually save over A$6 billion a year on our energy bills while getting us closer to net-zero carbon emissions.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/2023-06/Domestic%20Hot%20Water%20and%20Flexibility.pdf">Our report</a>, published today and funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), recommends that, to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050, we urgently need policies to rapidly replace gas water heaters with “smart” electric water heaters. Smart heaters can be switched on and off in response to changes in electricity supply and demand across the grid. </p>
<p>This means these heaters can soak up excess “off-peak” renewable energy, particularly from solar, and so help us solve two key problems at once. They can help reduce and eventually eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. And they can make our electricity grid more stable by providing flexible demand that helps balance out the fluctuating supply from renewable sources.</p>
<h2>Cutting emissions</h2>
<p>There are three main types of electric water heater. A conventional “resistance” heater uses electricity to heat water directly. Solar water heaters use sunlight and electricity, but have become less popular as newer “heat pump” units emerged. These collect heat from the air and “pump” it into water. A heat pump uses three to four times less electricity than a resistance heater. </p>
<p>Back in 2010, a resistance electric water heater typically produced around four times more emissions than its gas equivalent. Heat pump emissions were about the same as for gas. That’s because electric water heaters <a href="https://www.energy.gov.au/households/hot-water-systems">use a lot of electricity</a>, and most of it came from burning coal. </p>
<p>As we generate more electricity from renewables, this picture is changing dramatically. Australia’s energy market operator, AEMO, publishes regularly updated pathways to a clean-energy future. In the most likely outcome, the “<a href="https://aemo.com.au/en/energy-systems/major-publications/integrated-system-plan-isp/2022-integrated-system-plan-isp">step-change scenario</a>”, gas will become the most greenhouse-intensive water-heating option by 2030. </p>
<p>By 2040, once the transition to a renewable electricity system is largely complete, emissions from resistance and heat pump water heaters will be much lower than for their gas counterparts. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529733/original/file-20230602-25-jsaz8u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Graph showing projected emissions from 3 kinds of water heaters: electric resistance, heat pump and gas" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529733/original/file-20230602-25-jsaz8u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529733/original/file-20230602-25-jsaz8u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529733/original/file-20230602-25-jsaz8u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529733/original/file-20230602-25-jsaz8u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529733/original/file-20230602-25-jsaz8u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=523&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529733/original/file-20230602-25-jsaz8u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=523&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529733/original/file-20230602-25-jsaz8u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=523&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The projected emissions intensity of resistance and heat pump water heaters in NSW will soon be much lower than for their gas counterparts. Results for Queensland, Victoria and the ACT are similar to those for NSW.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Water heaters can last 15 years or more. So the stock of heaters in our homes for the next two decades depends on what we install today. Replacing gas heaters with electric heaters should therefore be an immediate priority in our energy transition. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/Domestic%20Hot%20Water%20and%20Flexibility.pdf">Our work</a> explored a range of scenarios, each with a different mix of water-heating technologies. One was a business-as-usual baseline where gas water heaters remain prevalent. In alternative scenarios gas is phased out over the next 10–20 years. </p>
<p>We found that replacing gas with electric water heating would not only help us get to net-zero emissions sooner, it would save us money. </p>
<p>Gas is expensive and unlikely to get much cheaper. Abundant renewables offer an excess of cheap electricity that water heaters can help soak up. Embracing this opportunity could save over $6 billion a year on our energy bills by 2040.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529735/original/file-20230602-23-u38b97.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Graphs comparing stock of different water heater technologies across the NEM from 1990 to 2040" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529735/original/file-20230602-23-u38b97.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529735/original/file-20230602-23-u38b97.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=340&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529735/original/file-20230602-23-u38b97.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=340&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529735/original/file-20230602-23-u38b97.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=340&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529735/original/file-20230602-23-u38b97.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=427&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529735/original/file-20230602-23-u38b97.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=427&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529735/original/file-20230602-23-u38b97.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=427&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">In our modelling of the National Electricity Market, business-as-usual policy (left) locks in costly and high-emissions gas units for decades to come. In our rapid electrification scenario (right), electric water heaters rapidly replace gas units.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Boosting grid stability</h2>
<p>Solar and wind are now the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/renewables-cheapest-form-power">cheapest technologies we’ve ever had for generating electricity</a>. But to maintain a stable electricity system, we need to match demand with the fluctuating supply from renewable sources. Batteries offer a partial solution, but are still relatively costly. </p>
<p>Electric water heaters offer a much cheaper way to store large amounts of energy and provide the demand flexibility the grid needs.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/isf/explore-research/projects/domestic-hot-water-and-flexibility">Our research</a> found that, compared to the business-as-usual baseline, a scenario that emphasises demand flexibility using smart electric water heaters could provide an extra 30GWh of daily flexible demand capacity. That’s the equivalent of over 2 million home batteries across the National Electricity Market, which supplies electricity to eastern and southern Australia. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1361120769548320770"}"></div></p>
<h2>Back to the future for water heating</h2>
<p>Since the 1950s, “off-peak hot water” has seen Australian electricity providers turning household water heaters off during the day and on at night to better match demand and supply. In return, customers received heavily discounted prices. </p>
<p>In recent decades we’ve moved away from off-peak electric hot water, as incentives dwindled and more homes <a href="https://www.energynetworks.com.au/resources/fact-sheets/reliable-and-clean-gas-for-australian-homes-2/">connected to natural gas</a>.</p>
<p>As we electrify our hot water, which technology should we embrace: resistance or heat pump? The answer is both. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/isf/explore-research/projects/domestic-hot-water-and-flexibility">Our research</a> explored the trade-off between highly flexible resistance water heaters versus highly efficient but less flexible heat pumps.</p>
<p>Heat pumps use less electricity and cost less to run. Where electricity prices are high or power flow is limited, using heat pumps makes sense. However, they have a higher upfront cost and are not suited to all homes. Many apartments, for example, lack access to suitable outdoor space. </p>
<p>And because they use less electricity, heat pumps offer less flexible demand. As renewables, particularly solar, increasingly power our grid, the ability of resistance electric heaters to soak up excess “off-peak” renewable energy is a big advantage.</p>
<p>With the right policies and market reforms, we will all benefit from a system that once again rewards customers with cheap off-peak electricity in exchange for network operators being able to switch our water heaters off and on as needed.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/204281/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>David Roche works for the Institute for Sustainable Futures, which received funding for this work from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).</span></em></p>A heater with a 300-litre tank can store as much energy as a home battery at a fraction of the cost. Being able to store surplus solar energy at the right times helps grid stability and cuts emissions.David Roche, Research Director - Strategic Energy Collaborations, University of Technology SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1974152023-01-18T19:23:49Z2023-01-18T19:23:49ZHow to maximise savings from your home solar system and slash your power bills<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/504576/original/file-20230116-20-8lxhys.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=77%2C0%2C6974%2C4671&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/federal-budget/australians-will-feel-the-pinch-later-this-year-with-the-treasurer-revealing-one-key-date/news-story/86f3e0ddb9c7753ca8726ccdb622a4cc">Soaring electricity prices</a> have made 15% of Aussies think about installing solar panels, a <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/soaring-energy-bills-push-australians-to-consider-solar">recent survey</a> found. Another 6% were already weighing up the move, on top of the 28% who had panels. </p>
<p>With costs falling, the average system size is growing rapidly. Households now typically install 8-10kW solar systems, often with a battery – roof area often limits the system’s size. </p>
<p>But does that guarantee no future electricity costs? No, some are still paying stubbornly high bills. </p>
<p>This is because they are often feeding energy into the grid during peak sunshine hours, when retailers pay low feed-in tariffs of five cents per kWh or less (a response to surging rooftop solar generation). To encourage customers to use energy at these times, retailers offer generous time-of-use (“solar sponge”) tariffs. </p>
<p>But the cost doubles during peak demand periods (around 6-10am and 3-11pm) when solar output is low or zero. Most rooftop solar owners are still paying for the electricity they use then.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-closely-monitoring-households-energy-data-can-unleash-their-solar-outputs-and-possibly-make-them-more-money-196134">How closely monitoring households' energy data can unleash their solar outputs and (possibly) make them more money</a>
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<p>The solution is a matter of getting three things right:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>choosing efficient appliances</p></li>
<li><p>using smart technology or simple timers to run them during times of ample solar generation</p></li>
<li><p>choosing a retail electricity plan that best matches your use. </p></li>
</ol>
<h2>How much difference can appliances make?</h2>
<p>To cut energy costs, the starting point is to understand your usage patterns. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/504566/original/file-20230115-25905-13i0d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Pie chart showing breakdown of energy use in the average Australian home" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/504566/original/file-20230115-25905-13i0d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/504566/original/file-20230115-25905-13i0d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=496&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504566/original/file-20230115-25905-13i0d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=496&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504566/original/file-20230115-25905-13i0d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=496&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504566/original/file-20230115-25905-13i0d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=623&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504566/original/file-20230115-25905-13i0d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=623&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504566/original/file-20230115-25905-13i0d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=623&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A breakdown of energy use in the average Australian home.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/energy-and-environment/using-saving-energy/home-energy-use">www.sa.gov.au</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/top-10-tips-to-keep-cool-this-summer-while-protecting-your-health-and-your-budget-193723">Top 10 tips to keep cool this summer while protecting your health and your budget</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
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<p>Heating and cooling account for 30-45% of typical home energy use. Our testing at the University of South Australia suggests air conditioners use more energy as they age. Yet many homes have air conditioners older than ten years with 2-3 star ratings. Modern split systems with 6 stars use less than half as much electricity.</p>
<p>Users can program or control air conditioners remotely with a mobile phone to run for an hour or two before getting home. They then use cheap solar electricity to create a comfortable home. Smart and affordable controllers can also reduce cooling or heating when they sense a room is unoccupied or windows are open. </p>
<p>Typically, another quarter to a third of energy use is for water heating. Ample solar electricity and soaring gas prices make heat pump water heaters the best option. With <a href="https://enviro-friendly.com/solar-hot-water/heat-pump-hot-water-rebates/">government subsidies</a>, their initial cost is similar to conventional gas or electric systems and they typically use a third of the energy. </p>
<p>Again, they can be programmed to heat water at times of peak solar generation and store it, thus providing almost free hot water when needed. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/heat-pumps-can-cut-your-energy-costs-by-up-to-90-its-not-magic-just-a-smart-use-of-the-laws-of-physics-185711">Heat pumps can cut your energy costs by up to 90%. It’s not magic, just a smart use of the laws of physics</a>
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</em>
</p>
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<p>Many other smart appliances and lights are available. Induction cooktops deliver fast and impressive results using little electricity. Along with the microwave, air fryer and pressure cooker, they can reduce energy use. Ovens and slow cookers can be programmed to use solar power and have meals ready when we get home. </p>
<p>As well as having options with high star ratings, appliances to wash and dry clothes and dishes can easily be set to run during sunshine hours. </p>
<p>Energy-efficient fridges also cut costs. However, while people are happy to buy such fridges, our <a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au/research/research-node-for-low-carbon-living/lochiel-park-research-projects/sustainable-housing/">research</a> <a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au/siteassets/episerver-6-files/global/itee/bhi/lochiel-park/whaleyberrysaman_impactoffeedbackdisplays_eedal.pdf">survey</a> found some keep the old one, using three to four times the electricity, for drinks. </p>
<p>Homes with swimming pools or spas are notorious for having the highest electricity bills. A pool will typically use 2,000-3,000kWh of electricity per year (depending on type of pump, hours of use and whether the pool is heated), at a cost of A$700-1,200. Solar pool heaters are an excellent alternative. A simple timer switch can ensure most power is consumed during sunshine hours. </p>
<p>A typical outdoor spa uses 5kW for water heating and circulating. Much heat is lost to the surroundings if you let the thermostat keep it warm all the time. By installing a timer switch, you can use solar power for heating and have the spa ready for use after working hours.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A backyard swimming pool" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/504577/original/file-20230116-25-5xgp61.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/504577/original/file-20230116-25-5xgp61.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504577/original/file-20230116-25-5xgp61.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504577/original/file-20230116-25-5xgp61.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504577/original/file-20230116-25-5xgp61.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504577/original/file-20230116-25-5xgp61.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504577/original/file-20230116-25-5xgp61.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Pools can rack up big bills for running pumps and heaters – unless a timer ensures they’re using solar power.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Use smart technology to control time of use</h2>
<p>The key to making the best use of your solar output is avoiding energy wastage and matching the timing of energy supply with household demand. An affordable smart control system – for the whole home or individual appliances – can do this. </p>
<p>This system can set seven-day schedules for all appliances. It can turn off lights and air conditioning after you leave home. On a hot day, it can lower blinds and switch on the ceiling fan and air conditioner before you return, then adjust the bedroom temperature for comfortable sleep. </p>
<p>With improved energy supply and demand forecasting and artificial intelligence, future controllers will provide the optimal energy options with little human intervention. If smart gadgets are not for you, simple timer switches start at less than $10.</p>
<p>Energy storage remains a key technology for enabling use at night and on days of no sunshine. A recent <a href="https://theconversation.com/thinking-of-buying-a-battery-to-help-power-your-home-heres-what-you-need-to-know-192610">Conversation article</a> discussed home batteries. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/thinking-of-buying-a-battery-to-help-power-your-home-heres-what-you-need-to-know-192610">Thinking of buying a battery to help power your home? Here's what you need to know</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Another emerging technology is <a href="https://www.ecohome.net/guides/2208/thermal-batteries-all-about-storing-solar-heat/">thermal batteries</a> for heating and cooling. During sunshine hours a reverse-cycle air conditioner generates heat or cool to store in the thermal battery (commonly as hot or chilled water) for later use. </p>
<p>Electric vehicles that connect to the grid will go a long way towards making better use of rooftop electricity and storing it for evening use. Their battery capacity is several times that of home batteries. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Mother and son head into house leaving electric vehicle plugged in to charger in the garage" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/504579/original/file-20230116-47292-h1zqc6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/504579/original/file-20230116-47292-h1zqc6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504579/original/file-20230116-47292-h1zqc6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504579/original/file-20230116-47292-h1zqc6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504579/original/file-20230116-47292-h1zqc6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504579/original/file-20230116-47292-h1zqc6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/504579/original/file-20230116-47292-h1zqc6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Electric vehicles can help households make better use of solar generation.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Find the best energy plan for your home</h2>
<p>With 45 energy retailers in southern and eastern Australia, each offering multiple tariffs, it’s no wonder consumers are confused about which one to choose. The Australian Energy Regulator provides the most reliable <a href="https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/">guide</a>. By uploading a few basic details, including the National Meter Identifier (NMI) shown on your bill, you can find the best offers based on your recorded electricity use. </p>
<p>Using this site, my son, who had paid an $800 quarterly bill despite having a large solar system, achieved a potential annual bill below $1,500 simply by switching retailers. Installing a timer switch so their outdoor spa uses solar electricity, instead of paying 33c/kWh, is likely to further save up to $5 a day. Their goal of no electricity bills is becoming a reality.</p>
<p>We are seeing the emergence of a new Australian dream of living in a well-designed home with rooftop solar, an electric car and smartly controlled energy-efficient appliances. It will enable most single/double-storey households to be carbon-neutral while living in comfort without a big hit to their hip pockets.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/197415/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wasim Saman has received multiple federal and state research grants from the Australian Research Council, government departments, the CRC for Low Carbon Living and several industry partners for research into low carbon housing.</span></em></p>To achieve low or even no electricity bills, there are three areas owners of home solar systems should focus on getting right.Wasim Saman, Emeritus Professor of Sustainable Energy Engineering, University of South AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/822522017-08-14T20:14:19Z2017-08-14T20:14:19Z‘Smart home’ gadgets promise to cut power bills but many lie idle – or can even boost energy use<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/181906/original/file-20170814-28467-p2bbyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Cutting energy use takes more than just the flick of a smartphone.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">3dfoto/shutterstock.com</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>“Smart” home control devices promise to do many things, including helping households reduce their energy bills.</p>
<p>Devices such as <a href="http://www.belkin.com/au/Products/home-automation/c/wemo-home-automation/">“connected” lightbulbs and smart plugs</a> let you operate or automate lights and other appliances from your smartphone, and are widely available from major retailers and online. </p>
<p>They are one of many innovative technologies advocated by the energy sector, and the recent <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/energy/publications/electricity-market-final-report">Finkel Review</a> of the energy market, to help consumers manage their energy use.</p>
<p>However, <a href="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b38874b25e686137780eb836e/files/5d00ecfb-2098-4148-89dc-49b72b98d0aa/ECA_SHC_Final_Report_CURRENT.pdf">our research published today</a> suggests that these devices are not the “easy” answer to energy management. In our trial, we found that households can use them in ways that increase energy use rather than reduce it, and that many people find them too complicated to get up and running.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/dream-homes-of-the-future-still-stuck-in-the-past-21169">Dream homes of the future still stuck in the past</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Smart home techs on trial</h2>
<p>In our study, funded by <a href="http://energyconsumersaustralia.com.au/">Energy Consumers Australia</a>, we supplied 46 volunteer households in Victoria and South Australia with a couple of market-leading smart control devices to try out. We made sure we included a broad range of households – not just tech-savvy, early adopter types.</p>
<p>The results were surprising. A quarter of the households didn’t even attempt to install the devices; another quarter tried but failed to install them, and a further quarter successfully installed them but then abandoned them because they were considered inconvenient or not useful. </p>
<p>That left one quarter who were actively using the devices on an ongoing basis.</p>
<p>Unsuccessful installations weren’t just thwarted by the devices themselves or by a lack of persistence or knowledge. Householders who tried but gave up on the devices did so for a range of reasons, including smartphone compatibility issues, unreliable WiFi or Internet access, forgotten passwords, device app problems including recurring error messages, and concern over requests to hand over personal information.</p>
<h2>Who used the devices?</h2>
<p>The people most likely to successfully set up and continue using the devices were technology enthusiasts – and most often male. This is consistent with <a href="http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2370292&dl=ACM&coll=DL&CFID=796124584&CFTOKEN=79485464">previous studies</a> which have found that men are more likely to be interested in home automation.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/181926/original/file-20170814-23846-dnrk2h.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/181926/original/file-20170814-23846-dnrk2h.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/181926/original/file-20170814-23846-dnrk2h.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=656&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/181926/original/file-20170814-23846-dnrk2h.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=656&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/181926/original/file-20170814-23846-dnrk2h.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=656&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/181926/original/file-20170814-23846-dnrk2h.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=825&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/181926/original/file-20170814-23846-dnrk2h.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=825&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/181926/original/file-20170814-23846-dnrk2h.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=825&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Older users in particular can struggle with smart home technology.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Energy-vulnerable households (those at higher risk of difficulty paying energy bills) were more interested in the devices than “regular” households, possibly because they placed greater value on the promised energy savings, or had more time to persist with the installation process. However, energy-vulnerable households are less likely to have the necessary technology infrastructure to use smart home control devices successfully, such as high-end smartphones and fast, reliable home internet connection.</p>
<p>Older participants in our study (those over 55) rarely used the devices. Households with children were concerned about the entry of more digital technology into their lives. Smart home control can also be inconvenient if some occupants continue to use the manual switches on lights or appliances (such as children without their own smartphones), as this can deactivate smart control for the rest of the household.</p>
<h2>Lifestyle improvements beat energy savings</h2>
<p>The households we interviewed were very interested in the potential for smart home control to improve their lifestyles, through improved security and safety, better comfort, conveniences such as turning lights off from bed, and aesthetic features such as “mood lighting”.</p>
<p>Yet while our study did not measure energy consumption, it was clear from the results that the ways households were using (or wanted to use) their devices could both decrease and increase energy consumption. </p>
<p>While some households reduced the operating time of lights or small appliances, others used smart control to <em>increase</em> their operating time, for instance by switching their heater on before getting home. </p>
<p>Pre-heating or pre-cooling homes, or running appliances when not at home to give the house a “lived-in” look intended to deter burglars, can be beneficial for health, comfort or well-being but can also increase energy consumption.</p>
<p>Tellingly, no household in our study used their smart devices to shift the timing of their energy use, even though most said their electricity rates were cheaper at night. When asked if smart plugs could help shift energy use to off-peak periods, many respondents said they did not see these devices as a necessary or convenient way to do it. They were more interested in simple timers and automation functions on the appliances themselves.</p>
<h2>Doing more with smart home control</h2>
<p>Six of the 46 households involved in our trial said they were interested in doing more with smart home control. However, they were mainly interested in lifestyle improvements rather than saving energy. This is consistent with the way these products are being <a href="http://cur.org.au/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/smart-home-control-briefing-paper-final-compressed.pdf">marketed</a> to households by technology companies.</p>
<p>Our findings are also consistent with another <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09613218.2017.1286882">recent trial</a> of smart home technologies in the UK. That study found that participants made either limited or no use of similar devices to manage their energy use. Like us, the research team raised concerns about the potential for smart control to generate new forms of energy demand.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/slash-australians-power-bills-by-beheading-a-duck-at-night-27234">Slash Australians’ power bills by beheading a duck at night </a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>These findings call for more caution in how smart home control is promoted by the energy sector. We need to be realistic about how these products are marketed, how the media influences the way the products are used, and how the other benefits of smart home control may affect home energy consumption.</p>
<p>The extent of technical and usability issues also needs to be acknowledged. There is a real risk that householders could spend considerable time and money on devices that don’t deliver energy savings. The devices are not equally accessible for everyone, and older users in particular might need help in using them effectively.</p>
<p>The danger is in assuming that lower power bills can come neatly packaged in a box – the reality, as always, is more complicated.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/82252/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Yolande Strengers receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Energy Consumers Australia, electricity utilities and consumer advocacy organisations. She is a member of the Australian Sociological Association (TASA).</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Larissa Nicholls receives funding from Energy Consumers Australia and Victorian Council of Social Service. She also works on projects funded by the Australian Research Council and electricity utilities.
She is a member of the non-profit organisations, Alternative Technology Association and the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE).</span></em></p>Smart appliances, which let you control lights and power outlets via your phone, promise to cut energy bills. But research suggests these gadgets are confusing, and can just as easily raise power use.Yolande Strengers, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT UniversityLarissa Nicholls, Research Fellow, RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/509762015-11-24T03:14:22Z2015-11-24T03:14:22ZSmart homes promise to end the ‘wife drought’, but where do women fit in?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/102603/original/image-20151120-10441-1dhc1wd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Demand for smart home products has fallen short of expectations, so exactly who are the intended buyers? </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-274738499/stock-photo-smart-house-home-automation-device-with-app-icons-man-uses-his-tablet-pc-with-smarthome-app-to.html?src=mxVCKJnaqjxvI0_nVCMB-w-1-51">Alexander Kirch from www.shutterstock.com</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>“Imagine, if you would, coming home from a long day’s work,” invites a <a href="http://www.entrepreneurial-insights.com/smart-home-intelligent-home-automation/">typical smart home article</a>. “You open the door, and the lights immediately turn on a shade past dim – just the way you like it.” Such tantalising offers are characteristic of an industry that has often <a href="http://www.connectedhome.com.au/consumer-demand-for-connected-home-products-slows-dramatically-in-first-half-of-2015/">struggled to keep pace with its anticipated reality</a>. </p>
<p>This raises the questions: <em>who</em> is the smart home intended for, and <em>why</em> has it not gained more traction? <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/YolandeStrengers/the-gendered-smart-home-outsourcing-domestic-labour-to-automation-devices">Our analysis</a> of the 21st-century smart home reveals one possible explanation: the smart home is primarily envisioned by and for men. </p>
<h2>Domestic activity: exit stage left</h2>
<p>Domestic activity or traditional “women’s work” (cooking, cleaning, washing up, or doing the laundry) is strikingly absent from the smart home. Our analysis of smart home articles (print and online) published since 2000 found just a handful contained any sign of domestic labour. </p>
<p>Where household chores are discussed, smart home technologies promise to make them simpler and more efficient. Typical examples include fridges that <a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/lg-homechat-allows-you-to-text-your-fridge-and-receive-a-text-back/story-e6frfrnr-1226796284606">text you a shopping list</a> and washing machines that <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/7/5285316/lg-homechat-instant-message-control-smart-appliances-through-line">send you a message</a> when the cycle is done. But the “work” that sits behind these smart applications – going to the shops and doing the laundry – is rarely mentioned. </p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/102596/original/image-20151120-10417-1pb3y2a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/102596/original/image-20151120-10417-1pb3y2a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/102596/original/image-20151120-10417-1pb3y2a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=829&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/102596/original/image-20151120-10417-1pb3y2a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=829&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/102596/original/image-20151120-10417-1pb3y2a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=829&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/102596/original/image-20151120-10417-1pb3y2a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1042&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/102596/original/image-20151120-10417-1pb3y2a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1042&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/102596/original/image-20151120-10417-1pb3y2a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1042&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">This 1953 Woman’s Day advertisement promoted the spinner washer’s benefits to women, as was typical of the times.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/29069717@N02/10764331305/in/photolist-hpd1F4-tRh3FK-opQdoN-trN1ym-ni4Yb7-d3udhb-nmST8B-7yVqtA-6GYoxj-ogPDDz-hw5VD3-86G2Jc-eUA9Pj-banRsv-oQYEfJ-fhw8x-oxQF89-3mgtpi-JJL4g-oyvHba-ABT2Kq-6GzzsS-oQnZ3X-oR2duH-p7vV7r-q4fES6-q2apBE-q4oHLd-pLVoPJ-q4oHjG-q4683t-p7thU1-pLTHjR-p7vUKV-q467WM-p7tjid-pLTG2F-p7vU5r-q467RB-pLSr9h-q4fELV-63rZB4-63rZ4K-63wjCm-63wmFw-epSXro-4HS2p8-bhUFG4-6H5tZw-98kv6Y">flickr/Classic Film</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Instead, the smart fridge is marketed (presumably) to men, who can ask their fridge to inform them <a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/lg-homechat-allows-you-to-text-your-fridge-and-receive-a-text-back/story-e6frfrnr-1226796284606">how many cold beers are available</a>.</p>
<p>These features distinguish the 21st-century smart home from its predecessors. The “industrial home” (think vacuum cleaners and irons) and the <a href="https://theconversation.com/dream-homes-of-the-future-still-stuck-in-the-past-21169">“electric home”</a> (think refrigeration, cooking, lighting) were marketed as ways to free up <em>women’s</em> time. In contrast, the modern smart home is subtly aimed at producing more leisure time for men.</p>
<h2>A dutiful new wife: enter stage right</h2>
<p>The 21st-century smart home offers a way to solve Annabel Crabb’s <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/annabel-crabb/the-wife-drought-9780857984289.aspx">“wife drought”</a>. Rather than asking men to step up in the home – or take a step back from their careers – household and parenting work can be assigned to smart technologies. Siri, Lili, Ivee or a “Rosie the maid”-type robot offer men (and women) a nostalgic opportunity to purchase a 1950s-style wife.</p>
<p>The late-‘90s Disney Channel movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192618/">Smart House</a> beautifully enacts this vision. Single dad Nick and his two children are in need of a mother and wife. The gendered <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192618/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ql_6">PAT smart home system steps in</a> to help. </p>
<p>This vision is re-enacted in some 21st-century smart home articles: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>You like to talk; you want a home that will listen to – and obey – you. Ever wish you could stumble through the front door after a long day and say, “Turn on the TV and start dinner!” Unless you have a particularly servile spouse, that tactic is unlikely to get you anything but silence - or nasty glares. The [insert smart home system here] can bring you closer to that vision. (PC Computer, 2000)</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/smart-homes-are-simplicity-itself/story-e6frg9zo-1226755178531">Another more recent article</a> discusses how the smart home can make dad’s life easier:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>So when dad arrives home, smart-home technology will turn on his favourite music play list, boil the kettle, dim the lights to his preferred level, turn the television on and switch to the news. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>While there is an element of tongue in cheek here, the implication is clear. The smart home can end the wife drought.</p>
<h2>Where are the women?</h2>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/102598/original/image-20151120-10412-5k40jw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/102598/original/image-20151120-10412-5k40jw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/102598/original/image-20151120-10412-5k40jw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/102598/original/image-20151120-10412-5k40jw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/102598/original/image-20151120-10412-5k40jw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/102598/original/image-20151120-10412-5k40jw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=649&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/102598/original/image-20151120-10412-5k40jw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=649&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/102598/original/image-20151120-10412-5k40jw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=649&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Many smart home products, like this Goji smart lock, are promoted to men.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/pestoverde/15207853585/in/photolist-paSe3a-eZkNaf-pScFRi">flickr/Maurizio Pesce</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There are moves to make smart homes more appealing to women and to lose the industry’s “boys’ toys” stigma. Many women are now buying – and using – smart home technologies. More women are working in and writing about the industry, even though men wrote the majority of articles we analysed. </p>
<p>The problem is sometimes cited as a lack of women in the industry, with the solution presented as enrolling more women in tech-related disciplines and professions. However, this runs the risk of perpetuating the same vision. </p>
<p>Another alternative is for the smart home industry to prioritise expertise about everyday life. This means <em>valuing</em> women’s (and men’s) skills in housework as a design resource. The fields of society and culture – which have <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features20Sep+2012">high female participation rates</a> – are concerned with understanding the messy, improvisational and adaptive ways in which people live. These disciplines can provide (and are already providing) a reality check for the smart home.</p>
<p>It is also important to call out the gender dynamics at play here and acknowledge that they are not a fait accompli. Let’s be clear. It has never been (and is unlikely to ever be) possible for technologies to replace wives or parents. Nor is it necessarily desirable.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.cs.cmu.edu/%7Ejohnz/pubs/2006_UBICOMP.pdf">Past research</a> shows that parents and partners give and receive pleasure and meaning by doing domestic and caring work. Technologies can value and support these roles, rather than erase or replace them.</p>
<p>This is exactly what other <a href="http://www.boygirlmodernworld.com/2015/11/introducing-and-unpacking-technology-dad-juggling-work-and-home-in-the-21st-century/">sociological research is finding</a>. Technologies such as smart phones, tablets and laptops are <em>supporting</em> a quiet revolution of “technology dads” who are challenging traditional gender roles in the home by engaging in flexible child care and work arrangements. </p>
<p>There may indeed be benefits for both sexes from successfully assigning some domestic tasks to smart technology. However, the smart home sector can only benefit from a deeper appreciation of the complexity of household roles and work, leading to a more inclusive vision of everyday life.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>A presentation on this topic was given to The Australian Sociological Association <a href="http://conference.tasa.org.au/">(TASA) Conference</a> in Cairns this week, co-authored with Larissa Nicholls.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/50976/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Yolande Strengers receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). This research was supported under the ARC's Discovery Early Career Researchers Award funding scheme (project number DE150100278). Yolande is also a member of the Australian Sociological Association (TASA).</span></em></p>Who is the smart home for and why has it not taken off as expected? Perhaps because it has been primarily envisioned by and for men.Yolande Strengers, Senior research fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/419372015-06-12T10:18:06Z2015-06-12T10:18:06ZCould one million smart pool pumps ‘store’ renewable energy better than giant batteries?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/84611/original/image-20150610-6823-1sxzzu4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Lots of wind blowing – often at night when there's little demand for power.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ncbob/3781036383/">ncbob/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>As more wind and solar energy comes online, the people who run the power grid have a problem: how do they compensate for the variable nature of the sun and wind?</p>
<p>California plans to spend <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/12/23/250031679/could-big-batteries-be-big-business-in-california">billions of dollars</a> for batteries to even out the flow of power from solar and wind, much the way shock absorbers smooth out bumps on the road. But do they need to? Not at all!</p>
<p>In my <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/spmeyn/demandside-flexibility-for-reliable-ancillary-services?related=2">research</a>, I’ve found that we can accommodate a grid powered 50% by renewable energy without the use of batteries. </p>
<p>Systems flexible enough to accommodate the ups and downs of solar and wind production can be made by adjusting the power at millions of homes and businesses on a minute-by-minute or even second-by-second basis. This approach requires no new hardware, some control software and a bit of consumer engagement.</p>
<h2>Massive balancing act</h2>
<p>Already, electric power procured from the wind or sun is leading to large and small “bumps” in the energy fed to the grid. </p>
<p>For example, on a typical week in the Pacific Northwest, power can increase or decrease by more than one gigawatt in an hour. That’s the equivalent of the output from one huge nuclear power plant able to supply a million homes.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/84607/original/image-20150610-6804-ibc5b4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/84607/original/image-20150610-6804-ibc5b4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/84607/original/image-20150610-6804-ibc5b4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=442&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84607/original/image-20150610-6804-ibc5b4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=442&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84607/original/image-20150610-6804-ibc5b4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=442&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84607/original/image-20150610-6804-ibc5b4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=556&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84607/original/image-20150610-6804-ibc5b4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=556&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84607/original/image-20150610-6804-ibc5b4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=556&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Look at the green line. Wind power generation is volatile and not always in sync with the actual demand for power (red line, below the blue).</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://transmission.bpa.gov/business/operations/Wind/baltwg.aspx">Bonneville Power Administration</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This is an enormous challenge to grid operators in this region. Massive fluctuations in power require equally massive storage devices that can charge when the wind is blowing, and discharge during periods of calm. </p>
<p>Now, the balance of supply and demand for power is primarily done by generating more power rather than storage.</p>
<p>Grid operators draw on what is called the balancing reserves obtained from fossil fuel generators or hydro plants, when available. These power plants ramp up and down their output in response to a signal from a grid balancing authority. This is just one of many ancillary services required to maintain a reliable grid.</p>
<p>Many states are now scrambling to find new sources of ancillary services, and the federal government is also searching for incentives: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) orders 745, 755 and 784 are recent responses by a government agency to create financial incentives for <a href="http://www.di.ens.fr/%7Ebusic/papers/HICSS48_Sept1.pdf">responsive resources to balance the grid</a>.</p>
<h2>Are batteries the solution?</h2>
<p>Storage is everywhere, but we have to think beyond electricity.</p>
<p>Consider a <a href="http://www.meyn.ece.ufl.edu/assets/uploads/2014/12/HVACtoGRID2014.pdf">large office building</a>. Will anyone notice if the fan power is reduced or increased by 10% for 10 or 15 minutes? This makes no demands on the comfort of occupants of the building, but the resulting deviations in power can provide a substantial portion of the needs of the grid. A building can be regarded as a virtual battery because of thermal inertia – a form of thermal storage.</p>
<p>What about for longer time periods? Residential pool pumps (as well as pumps used in irrigation) are a significant load in Florida and California – well over one gigawatt in each state – that can be run at different times of the day.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/84610/original/image-20150610-6798-qrg3up.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/84610/original/image-20150610-6798-qrg3up.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/84610/original/image-20150610-6798-qrg3up.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84610/original/image-20150610-6798-qrg3up.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84610/original/image-20150610-6798-qrg3up.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84610/original/image-20150610-6798-qrg3up.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84610/original/image-20150610-6798-qrg3up.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84610/original/image-20150610-6798-qrg3up.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Turning down, or turning on, many of these = enough power smooth out solar and wind, while still cleaning the pool.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://pixabay.com/en/pump-pool-filter-water-pump-pool-318331/">Pixabay</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Through local intelligence – in the form of a chip on each device or a home computer for many devices – the collection of one million pools in Florida can be harnessed as massive batteries. Through one-way communication, each pool will receive a regulation signal from the grid operator. The pool will change state from on to off based on its own requirements, such as recent cleaning hours, along with the needs of the grid. Just as in the office building, each consumer will be assured of desired service.</p>
<p>Pools are, of course, just one example of a hungry but flexible load.</p>
<p>On-off loads such as water pumps, refrigerators or water heaters require a special kind of intelligence so that they can accurately erase the variability created from renewable generation. Randomization is key to success: To avoid synchronization (we don’t want every pool to switch off at once), the local intelligence includes a specially designed “coin-flip”; each load turns on or off with some probability that depends on its own environment as well as the state of the grid.</p>
<p>It is possible to obtain highly reliable ancillary service to the grid, while maintaining strict bounds on the quality of service delivered by each load. With a smart thermostat, for example, indoor temperature will not deviate by more than one degree if this constraint is desired. Refrigerators will remain cool and reliable, and pools will be free of algae.</p>
<h2>Where do we go from here?</h2>
<p>We first must respect the amazing robustness of the grid today. </p>
<p>This is the result of ingenious control engineering, much like the automatic control theory that brought the first human to the moon and makes our airplanes so reliable today. We cannot pretend that we can transform the grid without partnering with the control and power engineers who understand the mysterious dynamics of the grid. Instabilities and blackouts occur when we are too aggressive in attempting to balance supply and demand, just as they occur when we are too slow to respond.</p>
<p>We are certain that the engineering challenges will be largely solved in the upcoming years – it is an exciting time for power!</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/84618/original/image-20150610-6796-ib511x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/84618/original/image-20150610-6796-ib511x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/84618/original/image-20150610-6796-ib511x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=166&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84618/original/image-20150610-6796-ib511x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=166&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84618/original/image-20150610-6796-ib511x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=166&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84618/original/image-20150610-6796-ib511x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=208&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84618/original/image-20150610-6796-ib511x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=208&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/84618/original/image-20150610-6796-ib511x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=208&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">“Intelligent” loads, or devices with controllers, can balance supply and demand of power along with generators and batteries.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The next challenge is participation. </p>
<p>Today, about 750,000 homeowners in Florida have signed contracts with utility Florida Power & Light, allowing them to shut down pool pumps and water heaters in case of emergencies. How can we expand on these contracts to engage millions of homeowners and <a href="http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=6483455&tag=1">commercial building operators</a> to supply the virtual storage needed? Recent FERC rules that offer payments for ancillary services for balancing the grid are a valuable first step in providing incentives.</p>
<p>It is possible that little incentive is required since we are not subjecting consumers to any loss of comfort: it is the pool or fridge that provides flexibility, and not the homeowner.</p>
<p>A sustainable energy future is possible and inexpensive with a bit of intelligence and flexibility from our appliances.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/41937/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sean Meyn receives funding from NSF, DOE, and Google.</span></em></p>Smoothing out variable wind and solar is a growing problem. Instead of storing energy with batteries, utilities can adjust the power of millions of devices in buildings and homes.Sean Meyn, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of FloridaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.