1 Community Pilot Device Information The Customers’ Perspective on Tools and Technologies Information gathered by: Andy Mendyk Joe Kramer

1

Community PilotDevice Information

The Customers’ Perspective on Tools and Technologies

Information gathered by:Andy MendykJoe Kramer

2

• Tools & Technology – Customer Input on Devices


3


Allouez

Brillion

Plover

3 communities

5 technologies

Interviews over 18 months

4

• General Takeaways– Successes:

• Improve awareness of energy use prompting behavior change

• Customers appreciated the utility program/benefits• Proud to be in the pilot• Felt the devices had intrinsic value• Conversation piece - word of mouth promotion of program

and devices

– Challenges:• Education on device functions and purposes• Quality of connectivity affects device performance• Devices had design/production flaws


5

• ecobee Smart Thermostat– Programmable thermostat with multiple

access modes (Web and smart phone)– Tested in Allouez households– Phone interviews of 10 households


6

• ecobee Smart Thermostat– Successes:

• Improved knowledge of energy usage & cost• Remote access and user friendly• Minimal use issues• Checked often for weather information

– Challenges:• Remote scheduling is difficult• Thermostat enrollment cumbersome• Touchscreen complaints


7

• Google PowerMeter– Web-based energy

report with graphics• Data feed on home page• Weekly email report on

energy use• Gave estimate of costs• In-home interviews in Brillion

and Allouez


8

• Google PowerMeter– Successes:

• Customers liked energy use tracking over time• Used the resource steadily over time• Interface was easy to read quickly but could “drill-

down”• Interactivity with The Energy Detective (TED)

– Challenges:• Not coordinated with TOU rate• Could not get appliance-specific data• Could not get detailed data beyond 2 days past• Was discontinued by Google


9

• WPS Usage Graphs– WPS-hosted energy use data with graphs– Profile of energy use throughout the day in TOU

periods– Customers could compare current with historical

use– In-home interviews in Brillion and Allouez


10

• WPS Usage Graphs– Successes:

• Found interface to be user-friendly• Graphs easy to interpret• Comparisons over time and to other households

are useful– Challenges:

• Confused content with other WPS web content• Used relatively infrequently


11

• The Energy Detective (TED)– Handheld device that provides instant information

on electricity being used in the home– Several modes of connection:

• Handheld device• Dashboard web interface• Via Google PowerMeter

– Graphics of energy use andcost information

– In-home interviews in Brillion andAllouez


12

• The Energy Detective– Successes:

• Real time data helps users pinpoint energy issues – improved knowledge and control

• Used frequently and high satisfaction• Device presence keeps energy use in mind• Device caused “TED envy”

– Challenges:• Many flawed devices returned• Many devices still without full functionality

(signal/charge issues)• Few would pay full price


13

• Home Energy Management System (HEMS)– Central hub networked with other devices– Packages:

• Home base• Home base, socket & strip• Home base, socket & strip, and

programmable thermostat

– Control and monitoring of household energy use, and of specific items

– Graphs and other visual displays of data– Remote access– 2 rounds of in-home interviews in Plover


14

• HEMS – Home Base– Successes:

• High overall satisfaction• Easy to set up and use, unobtrusive• Web and smart phone interface options• Simple, understandable data presentation• People used it analytically to make buying/energy use

decisions• Conservation customers appreciated threshold alerts• Used to check current use, projected use, appliance use, use

over time

– Challenges:• Reliance on home networks/connectivity• Reconnection can be difficult


15

• HEMS – Socket and Strip– Allows monitoring and control of appliances


Socket used for:• Refrigerator/freezer• Dehumidifier• Laptop/computer• Space heater• Coffee maker• Microwave

Strip used for:• Entertainment center• Computer and

peripherals• Fish tank and

peripherals• Toaster and can opener• Paraffin hand bath• Fans

16

• HEMS – Socket and Strip– Successes:

• Used to learn about energy used by individual devices and make management decisions

• Used to manage equipment for load shifting/bedtime enforcement

– Challenges:• Often not used or under-used, and usage

declined over time• Lack of surge protection• Few locations where strip use made sense• Customers overloaded/fried device• Low motivation to use scheduling unless on TOU rate


17

• HEMS – Thermostat– Allowed remote access and control– Successes:

• Several used “home,” “asleep,” “away” settings• Smart phone remote access worked well

– Challenges:• None


18


• What did they do with the information?– Load shifting – AC, laundry, dishes, pool

pump, dehumidifier

– Conservation – fish tank lights, cooking, plug load, lights

– Buying decisions – CFLs/LEDs, The Nest, motion sensor, TV, refrigerator

19

• Customer Recommendations:– Loan devices and rotate to new households– Include monitoring of natural gas use– More choices on packages– Expand information devices to provide:

• Information on what other homes are doing• Rate plan comparisons based on home’s energy use• Breakdown of energy used at each price level during the day• Periodic usage reports by email

– Sockets/strips that can handle higher voltages– Hour by hour highs and lows for energy use


20

Thank you.

Joe KramerEnergy Center of [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

Documents

1 Community Pilot Device Information The Customers’ Perspective on Tools and Technologies Information gathered by: Andy Mendyk Joe Kramer