Honeywell has announced that it will be launching a city-controlled thermostat system to be used in homes. When a city’s energy demand spikes, the municipalities will enable an energy-reducing strategy with an automated demand response (ADR) to the participating homes.
In summer months, the use of air conditioning systems not only demands a large wattage per unit, but also causes sudden spikes in electricity demands—mainly due to the units cycling on and off. On especially hot days, the combined surge in city AC usage drastically increases the risk of blackouts.
The collective control of thermostats will, in theory, help to avoid brownouts and blackouts on the hottest days of the year when the power-grid stability is threatened. The Honeywell Total Connect Comfort with ADR thermostat is controlled via Wi-Fi and will be first available to the city of South Sioux City, Neb. Homeowners who participate may be a little warm if their utility company is expecting a blackout. But keeping that in mind, the entire city would be much warmer were a blackout to occur.
The thermostats may also be controlled with a Total Connect Comfort app available for Apple iOS and Google Android devices. Residents that choose to participate will receive the thermostat (valued at $150) for free. Honeywell’s division managing the Total Connect Comfort program is based out of Golden Valley, Mn.
In Xcel Energy territory in Minnesota, a program with a similar aim is offered for free. By enrolling in Xcel Energy’s Saver’s Switch program, residents can save 15% on their June through September energy bills and businesses can save $5 each summer month per ton of air conditioning. A small remote-controlled switch installed outside near the central air conditioner helps manage electrical usage peaks by cutting back just a little on the total time a system runs. Saver’s Switch is typically only activated during the hottest times of the summer (about 10-15 days) and cycles the A/C on and off for brief 15- to 20-minute intervals. Learn more about this program: Residents’s_Switch_for_Residences_-_MN and Businesses’s_Switch_for_Business_-_MN
