Brace yourself for a race to see who can be the bringer of the smartest appliance as, it would appear that there is a race on. Even if nobody actually wants them.
This time it’s the turn of Whirlpool who, at CES last week, annouonced that they were pressing ahead with the introduction of SMart-Grid aware appliances. Even though the infrastructure isn’t in place. And, even although there is little evidence that anyone wants to buy them.
Anyone else seeing a flaw in this plan?
If you don’t know, Smart-Grid is also mooted for Europe with Indesit and others involved. What it does, basically, is to move the energy consumption onto non-peak hours which costs less from the energy providers, think White Meter just a bit smarter as the machien uses the energy automatically when it is best. However, it doe snot (as alluded to by some) use any less energy and we suspect that the electricity tariff that you choose will be a very important decision.
Whether anyone will pay the extra for what is a limited function feature, is yet to be seen.
Full press release from Whirlpool
Whirlpool Corporation continues to be committed to providing consumers technology with purpose. Today, the convergence of technology with everyday household appliances is evolving to optimize energy consumption and allow appliances to work together. In 2012, the company’s flagship brand, Whirlpool brand, will bring connected appliances to the marketplace – yet another step closer to making many of its appliances “smart” by the end of 2015. Over the next 18 months, four appliances will be introduced including a refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer.
“Our electric grid is more than 100 years old and not designed to handle all of the appliances in today’s home. Today appliances work independently from one another with little opportunity to optimize,” said Warwick Stirling, global director of energy and sustainability for Whirlpool Corporation. “And while manufacturers continue to explore innovations that improve the energy efficiency of individual products, the incremental gains are getting smaller and becoming more expensive to achieve.”
The concept of Smart Grid-enabled appliances has evolved to a broader conversation around the connected home and overall home management. With these new smart appliances, consumers can easily shift their energy consumption to off-peak times – saving money and benefitting the environment. A home energy management device will read usages from appliances and signals from power companies to optimize energy use. Even more appealing for consumers is peace of mind driven by alerts and notifications and ‘remote control’ functionality.
What Consumers Want
While consumers want to be green, they still want to retain control but will change their energy consumption choices if they are given real-time information about how much energy is being used. More importantly, users don’t want to just monitor and manage energy but control functions on their appliances and all home management functions including security systems and water and temperature management. A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Whirlpool Corporation found that:
Seventy-eight percent are interested in monitoring their household’s energy use.
Most want to use their smartphone to make life easier. In fact, 90% of 18-34 year olds who have a smartphone would be happy to have their smartphone tell their appliances anything; 17% want to know when it’s time to switch the laundry and 17% want to know when items are ready (food, etc.).
When asked about smart phones communicating with appliances, respondents were split on what would be most useful: alert when the washer is done; notify me when items are ready (i.e. cooked/clean); Preheat my oven or turn it off; start appliances for self-clean; tell me what I need to stock the fridge; start or refresh the laundry; start the dishwasher.
What’s Next?
Bringing all of this functionality together for the end user is the current focus for manufacturers, utilities and software companies. Ultimately, the Smart grid won’t consist of just one app but multiple ways of accessing it through a bundle of applications. This will also affect product design. For example, some of the controls on appliances may be eliminated and be controlled via mobile phone.
Appliances will be able to provide even more feedback to consumers whether it is the concept of preventative maintenance or use and care guides. For example, a clothes dryer needs to have the lint cleaned out of the venting pipe periodically and the appliance could automatically notify consumers when this needs doing. With many washers now offering bulk detergent dispensing, the washer could alert the owner that the reservoir needs to be refilled.