EcoFactor energy management solution wins Utility Technology Challenge

EcoFactor's EcoFactor energy management solution has won the Utility Technology Challenge hosted by the Clean Technology & Sustainable Industries Organization (CTSI).

The technology was chosen, in part, for the automated benefits it delivers to consumers.

"Many solutions only provide feedback on energy use and then require the consumer to act upon the information in order to optimize energy use. What distinguishes EcoFactor is that its solution implements an automated yet individualized program that addresses both energy efficiency and demand response," Scott Hublou, Senior Vice President of Products and Co-Founder of EcoFactor, said in an interview with FierceEnergy. "EcoFactor is like an autopilot for your thermostat: The consumer doesn't have to actively micromanage their energy use, but they still have the ability to adjust the temperature as desired."

A key part of enabling this kind of automation is connecting the thermostat to the rest of the house and outside weather conditions. By evaluating the data collected by the thermostat, EcoFactor develops a regimen that accommodates the homeowner's desired temperature in the most energy-efficient way. The homeowner does not sacrifice time or comfort, and they can adjust temperature settings on their thermostat at any time.

Utilities must find ways to reduce the load on the grid, particularly during peak periods. Consumer buy-in is essential, so utilities need solutions that do not require consumers to give up comfort or control. Traditional residential demand response often locks participants out of their thermostats (for example, by forcing people to reduce the indoor temperature of their home in the middle of winter), or applies a one-size-fits-all temperature offset. As a result, consumers are reluctant to participate in such programs.

A conventional approach to residential demand response often involves resetting thermostats 3 to 4 degrees above or below the user's preferred temperature. In contrast, EcoFactor's system has been shown to provide value to the grid--up to a 36 percent increase in residential demand response yield--by adjusting the consumer's preferred temperature by as little as 0.5 degrees.

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