Electricity hike started since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. This was also followed by sudden inflation in oil price that brings most commodities its rapid boom in prices. Since the conventional source of electricity in the Philippines mostly comes from oil, the bill of every household and business entity has come to a surprise due to sudden blow up of electricity rate per kwh consumption. So even if we are able to retain the usage of appliances, business equipment and the like, the electricity bill that comes startle us.
Energy consumption is very efficient when effectively monitored. Basic kilowatt hour (kWh) monitoring helps users accurately identify portion of the total energy usage is derived from certain appliances/equipment. Businesses greatly benefit from the Energy Management System (EMS). Knowing the energy consumption data is the best way to conserve electricity. With the continuous inflation in commodities, we can not avoid the increase in grid electricity charge. Having EMS makes you aware of the energy consumption of your establishment.
It is necessary to identify the main contributors of certain energy peaks; your smartphone can alert you and exactly know it real-time. Users are able to apply energy saving practices to dodge higher electricity bills when they know the energy consumption data of their establishment.
This is the great thing of having EMS for your business. You have the advantage of monitoring and controlling your energy now that electricity rate per consumption is very resilient. Understanding how your energy meter runs, is the key to knowing the energy data consumed real-time.
With the current rise of our Fuel, one would think of switching to an alternative mode of transportation like Mass transport, carpooling, or going green with bikes or our topic this time; Electric Vehicles.
Are electric vehicles viable and cheaper compared to owning and operating an ICE (internal combustion engine) Vehicle?
Operating an ICE would take your costing to measure km per litre. An average daily car would clock at least at 16km/L and a daily travel going to work or other essential affair would take around 48.3km. However, a vehicle’s consumption changes depending on the road condition and of course, the traffic’s volume.
Enter Electric Vehicles, EVs are starting to gain fame for not only being a cleaner alternative to petrol operated vehicles, but also with its claim of being cheaper to run. Recent studies shows that the average cost to operate an EV in the United States is $485 per year, while the average for a gasoline-powered vehicle is $1,117. A really big difference especially now with our current state where prices are continually rising, we need to look for options where we can stretch more of our budget, right?
Electric Vehicles are undoubtedly more expensive than internal combustion engines upfront. However, one should consider that EVs are just starting to become a trend and ICEs have 100 years of head start. Hence, we should expect EVs to become cheaper upfront in the future as the technology becomes common and parts became available worldwide.
“But EVs are no fun, we can’t race of feed our need for speed”
EVs are designed with high respect to Aerodynamics since these cars need to reach further with its batteries. These vehicles are also faster than your average small displacement vehicles (1.3L up) since Electric Motors offers less friction from its moving parts. Hence a whole lot of power going into the wheels.
Another significant difference of EVs to ICEs are their cheaper maintenance cost. ICEs are mostly consisted of 100s of moving parts which can malfunction or break one at a time or worst, in a chain. While EVs only has few moving part, its motors, making it cheaper if not at all a maintenance free vehicle. Considering that you know how to properly maintain a vehicle.
While ICEs are being refuelled at Gas Stations roadside, EVs are also charged at Electric Charging Stations roadside or comfortably being charged at home every time the owner gets home. With this, the owner gets to have a “Full-tank” vehicle every day when he gets up and get ready to work. Envision Monitoring’s EN-CORE device can be attached and control and monitor the operation of the charger and protect against power demand spiking ensuring maximum efficiency and safety.
With all things considered, we think that EVs have a lot of potential given the chance to fight its way into the market. Offering the same range, quality, function, and fun of operating internal combustion engines we all loved but sooner or later can see its end of reign in our daily roads due to the price and emissions hazard of their fuel.
In the age of technology and innovation, wherein appliances and gadgets (or as you call it “smart devices”) are now interconnected, it is hard to see the line on which consumes more energy and what exactly to do about it.
An assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Public Policy, Mr. Omar Isaac Asensio said that U.S. consumers and businesses already have installed some 3.4 billion connected consumer devices, from color changing light bulbs to streaming security cameras. Though the said devices have minimal physical footprints, they draw enormous amounts of energy, consuming about 15% of the global growth in electricity demand.
In Nature Energy’s September issue, Asensio calls to address consumer misconceptions and wrong perceptions about power usage and to make an action towards energy conservation. He said this in regard to the forecasts about billions of installations for such devices in the upcoming years.
The rise of smart devices is set to outpace traditional consumer electronics. Such events will make it even harder to understand and conserve energy at home. These devices draw power for two-way, on-call communications. Asensio also said,
“This is what economists refer to as a behavioral failure and it brings to center stage the need for behavioral interventions that can correct consumer misperceptions of household energy use.”
A research paper from scholars at Indiana University examined the effectiveness of two types of interventions that are meant to help correct misperceptions of consumers about appliances that use the most energy. A randomized online experiment was done by Indiana University to examine the effect of one intervention called “anchoring” in which the participants were made aware of energy usage across devices that consume power on both high and low ends of the scale, and the other intervention about informing the respondents that large and cooling appliances consume more energy than what is thought of by the majority of people.
The second intervention, in which participants were given simple techniques to estimate energy consumption worked better. The research ended with the conclusion: “simply offering a conservation message may not be as important as how the conservation message is framed to consumers.”
In 2015, Asensio conducted a study using individualized messages sent through websites and emails that highlight the negative impacts of electricity production. These delivered messages resulted in an 8% reduction in power consumption.
Connected devices are indefinitely about to shift patterns electricity use, that is why targeted messages about invisible power are needed ” at the place where it will do the most: built into such devices and the smartphone apps that drive them,” as Asensio put it in his article.
Here at Envision, we believe that energy is the gateway to accelerate sustainable development. Envision is committed to creating scientific & design-driven products that improve the way people interact with energy and nature.
Technology that can Lower your Household Energy Consumption
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With the rise of new technologies almost every day, it may be hard to drown out the noise from all the advertisements around us and see what the practical option is. With prices for utilities such as water, gas, and electricity going higher by the day, the practical option may be the one that can reduce your household’s energy consumption. Reducing your household’s energy use works twofold: it not only helps the environment but also helps you cut down on costs.
We’ve rounded up some tips for your household whether you’re looking to upgrade or you just want to be smarter with your daily consumption.
Technology & Appliances
Use smart technology to save energy. This can work because smart home-hubs can turn off appliances when not in use, keeping them out of the “idling” phase that also contributes to energy drain. These technologies can be controlled by the use of smartphone apps which makes it very convenient to use. Using this technology means buying smart appliances and while this upgrade may be costly, it can pay off.
Unplug appliances when not in use.Saving energy doesn’t always mean shelling out money for a costly upgrade, and can be as simple as making it a habit to unplug your appliances when not being used. As mentioned above, appliances go through an idle or standby mode which can be deceiving as they still use energy even when not outright used. Examples of these include your computer, TV, and some washing machines.
Buy appliances with good energy ratings. The rule of thumb here is that the more stars, the better they are. Though be careful to factor in its size too. A bigger appliance may be more energy-efficient and have a better rating compared to a smaller one but because of its size, it can consume more energy than the smaller variant.
Choose an energy-efficient refrigerator. This is the appliance that will be working non-stop and because of that, it’s energy consumption tends to pile up.
Use a power strip and reduce plug load.It is said that 75% of the energy used to power electronics is consumed when they are switched off. This is handy in turning off all the devices in one go. This has the same effect as one by one unplugging each of the plugs from the wall and can help reduce that idle time your appliance may be experiencing.
Water
Recycle your water. Rainwater collected is ideal for your garden. Investing in a good rainwater tank may be a good option for this. The greywater from showers, laundry tubs, baths, and washing machines can also be reused for the garden and toilets. Devices can be installed in your home to treat this greywater to be reused again around your house water system to your garden or toilet.
Lights
Use energy-efficient bulbs. The use of lights can add to the carbon pollution at the end of every year. Low energy lights such as Halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) lights can all reduce electricity use by up to 80% compared to the more traditional incandescent lights. While they may come off as more expensive, in the long run, they can cost less because they last longer.
No energy reduction can be achieved without any form of discipline and a change of routine. While it may be difficult to move away from what we’re used to whether it’s leaving our appliances plugged in when we’re in a hurry or an old appliance with sentimental value, a little effort can go a long way in being more environmentally friendly. It’s a change that not only benefits the Earth but also us as its inhabitants.
With whatever appliances may be available in your household, there are always tools to figure out where most of your electricity is going. Have more control with your home’s energy usage with a home monitoring system. Let the Envision Monitoring System be your partner with its intelligent system and ease of use. Learn more about Envision here.
Envision Monitoring System: Real-Time Energy Data You Can Check Anytime, Anywhere
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Technology and the internet have given way for users to have more power and control over information and services, making them more informed than they have ever been. With the rise of the informed user, people nowadays want to know more than they ever did before. With this, smart solutions are growing as a way to cater to the informed user in different areas whether it be about current events, delivery services, and the like.
Luckily, energy is now one of those areas. Long gone are the days that you are left at the mercy of your billing at the end of each month. Have the power to check and monitor the energy you use at your fingertips. With Envision Monitoring, we offer our cloud-based energy monitoring system which can be used for businesses both in the commercial and industrial sectors.
What is Envision Monitoring?
Envision provides you with your energy data in a simplified manner by giving you easy access to online tools that can give you both your real-time and historical energy data. Our tailor-fit system monitoring and data analysis reports can suit your business or personal needs.
With its real-time cloud monitoring, you get access to accurate data on your facilities’ energy usage while it also provides you with historical analysis to also look back at the data over periods of time. Convenience is also within your reach with our Alerts and Notifications feature which notify you during alarming events that need immediate attention and downloadable data which you can view anytime, even on mobile.
The Envision System
So how does Envision Monitoring work? Envision provides you with different types of meters to suit your needs. It is flexible and can adapt using hardware that translates commands sent through the system.
This intelligent system can serve as a gateway to transmit and interpret data from the meters to the cloud servers. Being automated, it can be scheduled with instructions being sent to the entire system. What sets Envision Monitoring apart from other monitoring systems is that it is accessible 24/7 online. Data is stored in the cloud and the system would do the rest of the work, presenting the data visually to you for easier understanding, monitoring, and evaluation.
Lastly, you can take Envision with you anywhere you go as the app can give you easy access to our system for portability and convenience. The app can offer Alerts and Notifications during important events, giving you the option to download data as well.
Whether you’re a business owner from commercial, industrial or manufacturing sectors, owner to private office spaces, or even residential properties, Envision Monitoring is the one for you. If you want to stay up to date and have more power over your energy usage, then look no further.
Energy efficiency involves more than just unplugging unused appliances or switching off the lights. Findings show that implementing energy management can reduce electricity consumption by up to 30%. The demand for energy management continues to grow throughout the year for both public and private sectors. To realize the full potential of energy efficiency and management, different tools to streamline energy data and reporting are needed.
Every year, new trends are being
introduced to the market to effectively manage the energy consumption in a
facility. Energy management needs to be responsive and rapid in order for it to
keep up with its increasing demand. We take a look at some of the most
promising future trends that can help improve energy management.
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
According to Aidan
O’Sullivan, head of University College London’s energy and AI research, using
AI to create forecasts for electricity demand, generation, and weather can
lessen the need for backup mechanisms. Another example would be the use of AI
in managing electricity shortfalls by briefly switching off power demand across
entire communities or regions.
With this
technology advancement, businesses can greatly benefit since they’d be able to
control energy use in their buildings, making the most of low demand and
cheaper periods of electricity supply. As for residences, homeowners can
benefit through the proliferation of virtual assistants at home. Integration of
energy data with a virtual assistant may lead to an AI home energy management
system.
Blockchain and IoT
The blockchain
was originally developed to record cryptocurrency transactions but it’s now
being adapted for use in the energy market. Blockchains assure transparent, tamper-proof,
and secure systems that can enable innovative business solutions, especially
when combined with smart contracts. The lack of centralization in blockchain
makes it ideal in eliminating the middlemen of electricity suppliers.
Pairing
blockchain with IoT stands to have a profound impact on energy systems. Devices
can autonomously buy and sell energy at optimal times, optimize energy settings
in a real-time context, plus monitor performance of energy-consuming devices.
With more research initiatives, projects, and studies, we’ll be able to see if
the technology can reach its full potential, prove its commercial viability,
and be adapted in the market.
Battery Storage
Battery storage
offers a viable solution for storing intermittent energy supplies associated
with renewable energy or conventional energy sources. A concern with renewable
power sources is that they may not provide power at the time when most needed,
especially during hours when energy demand peaks. Such challenge can be
resolved by equipping one’s facility with battery storage. It enables renewable
energy generation to be stored until required.
The technology of
battery storage is central to combine a business’s energy efficiency and
productivity goals. Since more and more are adapting the use of renewable
energy in their facility, and in light of sinking feed-in tariffs and rising
electricity prices, these facilities want to use the generated electricity for
their own consumption whenever possible. This allows facilities not only to
lower their energy costs but also make a substantive contribution towards the
success of the energy transition.
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