New 'Smart Panels' Give Homeowners Real-Time Control of Their Energy Use
Below is a snippet from a WSJ article that quoted PLMA member company, Lumin. ...For homes already equipped with solar and a backup battery that stores power to use in the event of a grid outage, smart panels can also obviate the need for additional batteries—a huge cost savings since backup batteries range in price from $7,000 to $14,000. Lumin’s dashboard, for example, includes a feature known as “dynamic whole-house backup.” Basically, it works like this: Since Lumin’s smart panel knows how much power every appliance in the house needs to operate, a homeowner can access the app and switch appliances on and off to match the power state of the existing battery, thereby preserving battery life while keeping critical appliances running, says Alex Bazhinov, president and chief operating officer of Lumin, a seven-year-old Charlottesville, Va., company. Another benefit: Because of smart panels’ grid interactivity, installing one can also eliminate the need of a homeowner for an expensive service upgrade from their utility. Most American homes operate on a 100-amp system, but increasingly, says the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Dyson, consumers are adding appliances and features—hot tubs, heat pumps, EVs—that require a 200-amp service. CLICK HERE to read the full article. |