HAN & Building Automation

Mixed Greens: GE Adds Smart-Grid-as-Service Customer; Renewables Pray for Sect. 1603 Revival

Mixed Greens: GE Adds Smart-Grid-as-Service Customer; Renewables Pray for Sect. 1603 Revival

Jeff St. John: November 30, 2011

In other news, Opower calls rival a copycat and EnerNOC adds more megawatts.

Retroficiency Lands $3.3M, Buys Meter Data Smarts From NexAmp

Retroficiency Lands $3.3M, Buys Meter Data Smarts From NexAmp

Jeff St. John: November 30, 2011

The startup that crunches real estate data to find energy efficiencies has bought insight into the other side of the meter.

PG&E’s Home Area Network Pilot: Silver Spring and Control4 on Board

PG&E’s Home Area Network Pilot: Silver Spring and Control4 on Board

Jeff St. John: November 29, 2011

PG&E’s regulator-mandated HAN pilot includes early deployments with Silver Spring Networks and Control4—and a lot of variables to be worked out in coming years.

Viridity, Enbala Try Negawatts to Balance Pennsylvania’s Grid

Viridity, Enbala Try Negawatts to Balance Pennsylvania’s Grid

Jeff St. John: November 23, 2011

Startups Viridity Energy and Enbala Power Networks are doing first-of-a-kind projects that use demand response for super-fast grid regulation. It’s already selling, they say.

EnTouch: Energy Management Tailored for the Little Guys

EnTouch: Energy Management Tailored for the Little Guys

Katherine Tweed: November 22, 2011

When cheap and easy is a good thing

Energy Results Help Best Buy Dive Into Home Energy Efficiency

Energy Results Help Best Buy Dive Into Home Energy Efficiency

Katherine Tweed: November 4, 2011

Plus, get ready for the Geek Squad Garage Survey for electric vehicles.

Nest Labs is “Sold Out” Until 2012 on Its Fetish Object Thermostat

Nest Labs is “Sold Out” Until 2012 on Its Fetish Object Thermostat

Eric Wesoff: November 2, 2011

We are trying to find out if “sold out” means 200 units or 2 million units. Will these brave industrial designers remake the home thermostat experience?

Reliant Energy: Embracing Lifestyle Plans and Social Media

Reliant Energy: Embracing Lifestyle Plans and Social Media

Katherine Tweed: November 2, 2011

Is this what the utility of the future might look like?

Powerhouse Dynamics: $3M to Shift Energy Focus From Homes to Chain Stores

Powerhouse Dynamics: $3M to Shift Energy Focus From Homes to Chain Stores

Jeff St. John: November 1, 2011

The maker of high-end home energy systems wants to move into fast food chains and convenience stores, where utility bills are a business expense, not an afterthought.

Smart Apartments for San Diego, and Green Buttons for Californians

Smart Apartments for San Diego, and Green Buttons for Californians

Jeff St. John: October 28, 2011

San Diego Gas & Electric and GE look at smart appliances for apartments, and California utilities promise customers a “green button” for standardized energy data.

What’s the Use of Having a Smart Grid Connected to Dumb Buildings?

What’s the Use of Having a Smart Grid Connected to Dumb Buildings?

Jeff St. John: October 27, 2011

Most building owners are far more focused on spending on energy efficiency than on preparing for connection to smart grid systems.

Nest Labs Unstealths: Can Apple and Google Alums Make Thermostats Sexy?

Nest Labs Unstealths: Can Apple and Google Alums Make Thermostats Sexy?

Eric Wesoff: October 25, 2011

Will these brave industrial designers remake the home thermostat experience?

Opower, Facebook, NRDC Team Up on Energy Efficiency App

Opower, Facebook, NRDC Team Up on Energy Efficiency App

Katherine Tweed: October 17, 2011

Opower extends its reach to 800 million Facebook users.

Verizon Launches Home Automation, via Z-Wave

Verizon Launches Home Automation, via Z-Wave

Jeff St. John: October 11, 2011

Verizon opens a new front in the home energy automation wars—and sets up potential competition for utility home networking tech favorite ZigBee.