New Energate device combines thermostat, in-home display

Energate announced this week its new home energy management system, which combines a smart thermostat and an in-home energy display into a single, easy to use console.

On display at the 2012 Distributech convention, the Foundation device is, above all, designed for simplicity. It contains a programming wizard that allows customers to adjust a thermostat around everyday activities, such as when they wake up, or go to bed or return from work.  Users can choose to override pre-set temperature settings to offset peak pricing periods or improve conservation. To make things even simpler, real-time energy savings appear as dollars and cents and different devices can be isolated to view percent energy usage.

In addition to the main device, Energate has also developed an optional larger, colored screen console that can be placed over the smaller display. It's all part of what Energate calls its "consumer-connected demand response," an idea that customers can make the biggest impact in helping utilities reduce energy consumption.

"Energate is focused on reducing peak demand in the home for the utility in smart grid. But if you're in the home, you have to think about the homeowner as well," said Energate CEO Niraj Bhargava during a Wednesday presentation in San Antonio.

Energate believes the most effective way to achieve this customer-driven demand response is by making technology easy to understand -- an idea that has been integrated heavily into the Foundation product.

"When we think about the homeowner and how they are going to embrace this type of technology, the first thing we think about at Energate is simplicity," Bhargava said.

For more:
-see this release

Related articles:
CEIVA puts energy use picture into focus   
Energate sets Foundation for future DR, HEM