GE announced Tuesday that it is developing a suite of projects that will allow homes to achieve net zero energy costs by 2015.
The “Net Zero Energy Home” project combines GE’s most efficient appliances and lighting, the company’s new energy management systems, and GE power generating and storing technologies in new home construction.
Residential housing consumes 37% of the electricity produced in the US. Appliances, Lighting and HVAC represent 82% of that usage. A recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission report has identified that residential demand response programs represent the largest potential reduction in U.S. peak demand.
GE plans to be the first manufacturer to offer a full suite of demand
response appliances that will work with utility smart meters to help
shed load from the grid, while helping consumers save money during peak
demand usage and pricing times. GE said its appliances and products will work
with smart meters to delay or reduce energy use without major
interruption to consumer’s lifestyles by giving the consumer control
over their energy use.
One new product that will give consumers more control will be available as early as 2010, when GE plans to introduce the Home Energy Manager, the central nervous system for the Net Zero Energy Home that will work in conjunction with all the other enabling technologies in the home to help homeowners optimize how they consume energy.
GE will also introduce a line of smart thermostats in 2010 that, together with the Home Energy Manager, will inform consumers on their energy use and empower them to make smarter decisions on their energy consumption.
GE also said it plans to develop residential power generation products like solar PV and residential wind products.
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