HAI, the leader in home energy automation systems has been included in the open4energy list of home energy saving devices.
open4energy has opened a forum for discussion on the HAI Smart Grid Solution to gather real feedback on the energy saving that home owners will achieve through the combination of energy monitoring and energy automation.
HAI is one of the first solutions to provide energy monitoring information which the user can use to plan their energy savings activities, and direct links to the utility company that work with the home automation elements of the system to optimize billing and validate the capabilities of the emerging "smart grid".
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Energy Monitors
open4energy has published a second list of home energy products. The initial list, called "home energy saving devices" included energy saving technology and energy monitoring technology.
The plan is to separate energy saving products from energy monitoring technology for it is our opinion that ultimately monitoring software will be provided as a FREE social networking solution and the monitoring done by the smart meters from the utility companies.
"The List of Home Energy Monitors changes fast. open4energy will need help from readers to update on new product announcements, and provide real user information on using them."
The plan is to separate energy saving products from energy monitoring technology for it is our opinion that ultimately monitoring software will be provided as a FREE social networking solution and the monitoring done by the smart meters from the utility companies.
"The List of Home Energy Monitors changes fast. open4energy will need help from readers to update on new product announcements, and provide real user information on using them."
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Energy Saving Scam Links
It is with much regret that I am posting these links to open4energy. I do not know the businesses who are included, I do not know the quality of their products, and I do not know if they actually make the power factor corrections claimed or not.
But, consumer electricity bills are NOT altered by power factor correction, up or down. It is bogus and false marketing to suggest that any of these products will reduce a consumers electricity bill in any way at all. In fact, if they did by some peculiar interference with the meters working, it would be illegal. A consumer may not do anything to their electrical system which interferes with its readings of electricity consumed.
Fact: Electricity utility companies bill consumers on Real Power. This is the actual amount used, not the amount delivered.
Fact: When the power factor is less than 100% the electricity is not being lost, only its phase is being altered. The consumer electrical tariffs include provision for the losses which this "out of phase" might cause the electricity supplier.
It is true that electricity suppliers need to manage their distribution networks, and that power factor IS one of the factors that impacts their distribution losses. It is also true that large industrial users are charged a penalty for a net power factor of less than 85%. But distribution losses will not be solved by consumers. They are aggregate issues that can only be solved by the utility companies (the smart grid) in partnership with industry and device manufacturers.
If you are considering any of the following products to reduce your home energy bill please STOP NOW - they are misrepresenting the savings you can make!
CFL Power Factor
Dolphin Smart Electricity Saver
Free Power Blueprint
EcoPower4 by EcoTrust Energy
KVAR Energy Controller
KVAR KEC PU 1200
KVAR PFC Unit
KVAR Power Factor Optimizer
Magnetic Generator Plans
Magniwork Perpetual Motion
Nevvus PowerGard - Scam Review
PerpetualGreen EnergySave System
Power Save 1200
Power Saver Enersonic
PowerwoRx e3 Home Energy Management System
Xpower Energy Saver
But, consumer electricity bills are NOT altered by power factor correction, up or down. It is bogus and false marketing to suggest that any of these products will reduce a consumers electricity bill in any way at all. In fact, if they did by some peculiar interference with the meters working, it would be illegal. A consumer may not do anything to their electrical system which interferes with its readings of electricity consumed.
Fact: Electricity utility companies bill consumers on Real Power. This is the actual amount used, not the amount delivered.
Fact: When the power factor is less than 100% the electricity is not being lost, only its phase is being altered. The consumer electrical tariffs include provision for the losses which this "out of phase" might cause the electricity supplier.
It is true that electricity suppliers need to manage their distribution networks, and that power factor IS one of the factors that impacts their distribution losses. It is also true that large industrial users are charged a penalty for a net power factor of less than 85%. But distribution losses will not be solved by consumers. They are aggregate issues that can only be solved by the utility companies (the smart grid) in partnership with industry and device manufacturers.
If you are considering any of the following products to reduce your home energy bill please STOP NOW - they are misrepresenting the savings you can make!
CFL Power Factor
Dolphin Smart Electricity Saver
Free Power Blueprint
EcoPower4 by EcoTrust Energy
KVAR Energy Controller
KVAR KEC PU 1200
KVAR PFC Unit
KVAR Power Factor Optimizer
Magnetic Generator Plans
Magniwork Perpetual Motion
Nevvus PowerGard - Scam Review
PerpetualGreen EnergySave System
Power Save 1200
Power Saver Enersonic
PowerwoRx e3 Home Energy Management System
Xpower Energy Saver
KVAR Energy Controller
There is truth in the fact that our homes have devices which consume electricity at reduced power factors. As an example we know that CFL light bulbs have a Power factor of between 55% and 70%, while incandescent light bulbs have a power factor of 100%. All electric motors, including fridges, air conditioners, fans and computers generate reactive power which will affect a homes power factor.
Based on the above information it sounds logical that a technology which corrects power factor would save money. But this is not a correct conclusion at all. Improving consumer power factor, assuming the technology works as claimed, has ZERO - NIL - NONE - ZILCH - affect on the amount of money a consumer is charged for their electricity.
We have posted a correct explanation as to why power factor correction makes no difference to a consumers electricity bill at open4energy.
In addition we have posted a correct explanation of the claims being made by the biggest offender, a business going by the name of KVAR Energy Systems, and their product called KVAR Energy Controller who have a large network of resellers operating operating under many names. Their solution may (to be validated) be useful in commercial and residential situations but it is simply bogus when it comes to consumers.
Based on the above information it sounds logical that a technology which corrects power factor would save money. But this is not a correct conclusion at all. Improving consumer power factor, assuming the technology works as claimed, has ZERO - NIL - NONE - ZILCH - affect on the amount of money a consumer is charged for their electricity.
We have posted a correct explanation as to why power factor correction makes no difference to a consumers electricity bill at open4energy.
In addition we have posted a correct explanation of the claims being made by the biggest offender, a business going by the name of KVAR Energy Systems, and their product called KVAR Energy Controller who have a large network of resellers operating operating under many names. Their solution may (to be validated) be useful in commercial and residential situations but it is simply bogus when it comes to consumers.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Energy Saving Scams
I received a call from England the other day asking if I thought a particular power correcting technology saved consumer energy bills. I know a little about power factor from an earlier assignment, which included knowing that consumers only pay for real power, and that power factor did not affect their electricity bill at all.
But as I investigated I was astounded to find the extend of the scams and blatant fraud being promoted on the internet.
Worst, I found that my own site is serving a number of Google ads for the very scams I was uncovering. This is most unfair, we cannot control what Google deliver to us, and we pride ourselves on the quality of the information we publish.
I have created a list of energy saving scams at open4energy and I hope they will prove useful to out readers!
Read posting on energy saving scams
But as I investigated I was astounded to find the extend of the scams and blatant fraud being promoted on the internet.
Worst, I found that my own site is serving a number of Google ads for the very scams I was uncovering. This is most unfair, we cannot control what Google deliver to us, and we pride ourselves on the quality of the information we publish.
I have created a list of energy saving scams at open4energy and I hope they will prove useful to out readers!
Read posting on energy saving scams
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Do CFL Bulbs Save Energy
I think that most of us, including me, do believe that compact fluorescent light bulbs save energy. So as I looked for further ways to reduce the amount of energy being used in our apartment, having exhausted all the obvious areas of turning off, etc. etc. I remembered that there were still a few bulbs (twelve to be exact - "the dirty dozen") that had not been given the "full replacement" treatment.
I have posted an article comparing our old light bulbs to the new, each being turned on in the same sequence, with 15 seconds between them .....
Read posting
I have posted an article comparing our old light bulbs to the new, each being turned on in the same sequence, with 15 seconds between them .....
Read posting
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