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'Dial it down, buddy'
Homeowners who use the EnergyBuddy system lean out their electricity use while thickening their wallets.
by jacy danquePublished: August 01, 2012
Thanks to the EnergyBuddy Home Energy Monitoring System, homeowners can follow electricity consumption to create budgeting goals, which in turn will save them money and lessen their impact on the environment.
The FutureDash system indicates whether an electricity budget is on target. For comprehensive home readings, the 24/7 monitoring-and-reporting system collects data through a current sensor and transmitter located in an electrical panel, or from the firm’s ZigBee Smart Energy meter. The system also can send budget warnings and alerts via email and text message to help homeowners maintain suitable energy consumption.
“We designed EnergyBuddy not only to be functional and help users save energy and money but also to be a stylish addition to the home environment,” says Kevin Strong, FutureDash CEO. “Historically, home energy-management systems are passive and somewhat nondescript. EnergyBuddy changes that. In addition to delivering energy-management dashboards on computing and mobile devices, it features a top that glows with changing colors to give a simple indication of energy consumption as it happens.”
Data is transferred to an iPhone, iPad, Android or computer screen using the home network or Internet and is secured with FutureDash’s built-in GridLock data. Graphs appear on a vivid dashboard to indicate where the home’s electricity is being used and how to reduce usage. The system stores data and calculates key values such as dollars per hour and kilowatts per day. Optional SmartPlugs expedite readings of individual appliances, devices and power strips.
“I decided to create the EnergyBuddy after watching my energy usage – and the resulting bills – skyrocket as our lives got filled with a greater number of electronic gadgets,” says Allan Hundhausen, FutureDash CTO. “I realized how difficult it was to know where all that power and expense was going, and I was determined to make a practical solution to bring that normally invisible consumption into the light.”
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The FutureDash system indicates whether an electricity budget is on target. For comprehensive home readings, the 24/7 monitoring-and-reporting system collects data through a current sensor and transmitter located in an electrical panel, or from the firm’s ZigBee Smart Energy meter. The system also can send budget warnings and alerts via email and text message to help homeowners maintain suitable energy consumption. “We designed EnergyBuddy not only to be functional and help users save energy and money but also to be a stylish addition to the home environment,” says Kevin Strong, FutureDash CEO. “Historically, home energy-management systems are passive and somewhat nondescript. EnergyBuddy changes that. In addition to delivering energy-management dashboards on computing and mobile devices, it features a top that glows with changing colors to give a simple indication of energy consumption as it happens.” Data is transferred to an iPhone, iPad, Android or computer screen using the home network or Internet and is secured with FutureDash’s built-in GridLock data. Graphs appear on a vivid dashboard to indicate where the home’s electricity is being used and how to reduce usage. The system stores data and calculates key values such as dollars per hour and kilowatts per day. Optional SmartPlugs expedite readings of individual appliances, devices and power strips. “I decided to create the EnergyBuddy after watching my energy usage – and the resulting bills – skyrocket as our lives got filled with a greater number of electronic gadgets,” says Allan Hundhausen, FutureDash CTO. “I realized how difficult it was to know where all that power and expense was going, and I was determined to make a practical solution to bring that normally invisible consumption into the light.” |
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