NickAberleAssignment3

NickAberleAssignment3

Please answer the following questions about the article: what did you find interesting? what did you find not find interesting? what did you not understand? what did you learn (if anything) reading the article?

A very interesting point that the article addresses is the concept of real time power usage monitoring. This seems like it could be extremely effective in helping people use their energy more efficiently. It is much easier to react to relevant and current information rather than having to make a conscious usage plan based off of a bill that is received just once per month.

Another interesting topic addressed was the mention of incentive systems that do not involve monetary rewards. To me, monetary "prizes" may seem like they would almost demean the customers, treating them like kids being rewarded prizes for selling enough candy bars.

One thing that intrigued me was the equation "utility = value / effort." I have never thought to think of things like this in the terms of a mathematical equation. I do like it though. For me it establishes a clear relationship in my mind.

I really agreed with the point made in the article that technology alone is not sufficient enough to move toward an energy conscious smart grid community. Establishing the hardware to monitor and alter power flow is technically feasible and not at all unreasonable. The real challenge seems to lie in motivating consumers to change their power consumption behavior and to become involved in the community.

A concept that was confusing in the article was the idea of a "boundary object." Are these objects supposed to be markers that personal energy consumption is measured against?

Reading the article, I learned that Boulder was the first city to implement a smart grid system, though I am not surprised given Boulder's eco-conscious nature.

Based on an exploration of the web, scientific articles, newspaper stories, ….. ? Write a Short Essay (about 1 page) about an interesting question / website related to one or more of the themes: Energy Sustainability, Smart Meters, Smart Grid

One issue that I did not consider while learning about smart grids and meters is the privacy aspect of giving access to personal power consumption information. Where early smart meter implementations are being rolled out, such as in the San Francisco Bay Area, consumers are opposing the notion that such detailed usage information is available to power companies. Fears have arisen that based on consumption statistics, living habits of consumers could be derived, such as mealtimes and time spent watching television.

Providers may feel tempted to make their customers' information available to marketers to generate pitches tailored to their habits. The site Physorg.com provides a concrete example: "A restless sleeper who gets up frequently throughout the night -- identified by electricity consumption records that show he frequently turns on the lights -- could be targeted with adverts for sleep aids for example."

The potential for Smart Meter and Smart Grid technology is great, but it must be approached cautiously. Detailed information provided directly to the customer could no doubt help him or her make informed decisions about their own power use. If some system could be put in place to ensure the privacy of power customers' data, this would be less of an issue.

People have made the comparison of the smart meter to 1984-esque policy, bringing up the issue of authorities telling people how to live. Many people feel like this is an attempt by someone else to change their lifestyles without them asking for it. The flip side to this argument is that many people may not know that they could be saving more money and energy by using power more efficiently. The smart grid and meter system would be the means of informing them.

Additionally, as with any sensitive computer network, security must be a priority. Since there is no definite protocol defined for how data will flow between the power company and the consumer, it seems as if security efforts are divided. Much work would need to go into deciding a secure protocol to ensure the maximum privacy of customer data.

Sources:

New 'smart' electrical meters raise privacy issues (http://www.physorg.com/news176703307.html)

California’s smart meter fears (http://www.grist.org/article/californias-smart-meter-fears)

Briefly describe your own interests, experiences, actions, changes in your behavior (if any) related to “energy awareness”!

In my experience, I usually do not give much thought about my energy use. This is due, in part, to the fact that my energy bill is included in my rent payment as a flat rate, regardless of how much I consume. However, I would not say that I abuse or over-use energy. I always turn off appliances when not in use and prefer to change clothes rather than the thermostat in my apartment. One thing I may change is entirely shutting down my computer when it is not being used, rather than letting it drift into standby mode over the course of a few hours.