What is Smart Energy?
But what, exactly, is smart energy? And what impact does it look to have on the Global Energy Efficient market? Below, we’ll walk through what you need to know about this increasingly important field.
Smart energy is the process of using devices for energy-efficiency. It Focuses on powerful, sustainable renewable energy sources that promote greater eco-friendliness while driving down costs.
In today’s modern era, smart energy proves increasingly important, with forward-thinking companies making smart energy systems a top priority. This increased investment into smart energy systems poses many benefits to consumers, the environment, and to energy providers at large.
Types of Smart Energy
We’ve heard of smartphones and smart TVs, but what is smart energy? What makes it so “smart,” anyway?
The answer proves to be not so black and white, as the potential uses for smart energy are vast. On the surface, understanding what makes energy smart appears simple.
It has to be renewable. Renewable energy comes from non-depletable sources that won’t run out. Solar energy has become one of the dominant focuses for those looking to harvest the power of renewable energy.
So why the big push for renewable smart energy?
For starters, renewable energy sources have the potential to drive down costs significantly. Instead of relying on traditional sources of energy that will one day run out—such as coal—renewable energy has the benefit of harvesting what’s already all around us. In a sense, the future of renewable energy is one of unlimited potential—and now the industry looks to capitalize on it.
To better understand this potential, let’s look at one popular form of renewable energy in particular and see its impact on the smart energy market.
Solar Energy
One of the more promising renewable energy options, solar energy has already made its impact felt. A particularly recognizable form of renewable energy, solar is one of the most talked about—even among those who know little about the field.
So what has made solar energy so popular? In short, a combination of factors.
For starters, it’s comparatively easy to harvest. The ubiquitous and free nature of sunlight has made it an extremely attractive option. Because it’s an unlimited resource that’s also in constant, high supply, solar energy proves to be one of the most-talked-about forms of renewable energy.
In fact, along with wind, solar energy has become the fast-growing form of renewable energy in the United States. As the push for smart energy continues, a record number of new renewable energy sources can be found each year within the United States.
It’s a push that’s being felt across the globe, as countries around the world join the global effort to move toward energy dependence away from traditional sources.
Natural Gas
Natural gas proves to be another form of popular renewable energy. Unlike traditional fossil fuels, natural gas burns cleaner emissions that have a negligible effect on the environment.
In this way, natural gas offers a safer environmental alternative when compared to current widely-used fossil fuels.
That being said, the burning of natural gas presents one of the problems smart energy now faces. In order to get the environmentally-friendly effects of natural gas, it must be burnt in the proper facility. This highlights the need for greater investment and infrastructure in order for renewable smart energy to be fully implemented and realized.
What is the Future of the Global Energy Efficient Market?
This highlights a larger problem within the field of renewable smart energy. Despite large amounts of investment, the current infrastructure of most energy grids and systems cannot support newer forms of energy.
As the Union of Concerned Scientists notes, the current energy grid is too outdated to handle newer forms of energy. This entails a full overhaul of the current energy grid.
This energy grid, composed of all the different control stations, power lines, and transformers needed to supply electricity to consumers, must first be updated to accommodate growing forms of renewable smart energy.
With the explosion of renewable forms of energy across the nation—indeed across the globe—the need for electrical grid overhaul proves increasingly important. For the current moment, the energy grid has managed to handle the new influx of renewable energy systems, but experts predict that this can only last so far.
Because the grid’s current technology proves outdated and even at times unreliable, experts fear that a large increase in the number of smart energy systems could overload the grid. For this reason, experts have called on both the government and private companies to work on updating the energy grid as newer forms of renewable energy are becoming increasingly available.
Such a massive overhaul isn’t one that will happen overnight. Instead, experts wish to focus on certain high-demand areas and cities first as they begin to introduce renewable energy en masse to the population. In this way, the updating of the energy grid can be coordinated with smart energy demand to optimize its reach.
What Makes a Home Energy-Efficient?
This highlights a larger problem within the field of renewable smart energy. Despite large amounts of investment, the current infrastructure of most energy grids and systems cannot support newer forms of energy.
As the Union of Concerned Scientists notes, the current energy grid is too outdated to handle newer forms of energy. This entails a full overhaul of the current energy grid.
This energy grid, composed of all the different control stations, power lines, and transformers needed to supply electricity to consumers, must first be updated to accommodate growing forms of renewable smart energy.
With the explosion of renewable forms of energy across the nation—indeed across the globe—the need for electrical grid overhaul proves increasingly important. For the current moment, the energy grid has managed to handle the new influx of renewable energy systems, but experts predict that this can only last so far.
Because the grid’s current technology proves outdated and even at times unreliable, experts fear that a large increase in the number of smart energy systems could overload the grid. For this reason, experts have called on both the government and private companies to work on updating the energy grid as newer forms of renewable energy are becoming increasingly available.
Such a massive overhaul isn’t one that will happen overnight. Instead, experts wish to focus on certain high-demand areas and cities first as they begin to introduce renewable energy en masse to the population. In this way, the updating of the energy grid can be coordinated with smart energy demand to optimize its reach.
Why Choose Smart Energy Anyway?
If smart energy requires such an upgrade in infrastructure, why is there such a universal push among experts for its acceptance?
The truth is that there are many reasons that smart energy is quickly becoming the desired energy of the future. We’ve touched on the surface of these reasons already, but to truly understand the full impact of smart energy on the Global Energy Efficient Market, a more in-depth look is in order.
Some of the most prized benefits of updated smart energy technology are:
- A more diverse power supply
- A reduction in air pollution and emissions that cause global warming
- A growing independence from traditional energy sources that harm the environment
In short, the move toward smart energy is one that will create a brighter, eco-friendlier future. With global warming and other climate issues currently a major policy concern for governments around the world, the switch to smart energy is becoming more important than ever.
Fortunately, consumers can do their part to help promote smart energy by taking advantage of the smart energy resources already available. By increasing the demand for smart energy across the nation, consumers can further incentivize development of the critical infrastructure necessary for a future dependent on smart energy.
This can start by making one’s home more energy efficient. Below, we’ll look at the important steps that you can take to help ensure that your home is energy efficient—and that you’re doing what you can to capitalize on the growing smart energy movement that looks to shape the future of global energy.
What Makes a Home Energy Efficient?
To start off with, it’s time to see if your home is energy efficient. Below, we’ll take a look at eight different ways that you can ensure your home is meeting maximum energy efficiency.
Insulate
Before doing anything else, its time to make sure that your home is well-insulated. This proves to be a particularly important issue in older houses that may have poor insulation.
The less insulated your home is, the more opportunities there are for energy to escape. With the proper insulation, you can protect your home and cut back on your energy use.
Even in newer homes, there are spaces you’ll want to check. Attics, in particular, should be checked to ensure that they have proper levels of insulation. Heat and air can easily escape through attic roofs, raising your bill and causing you to use more energy than needed.
Get a Smart Meter
A smart meter is an essential device if you’re looking to monitor your home’s energy usage. Unlike traditional meters, smart meters provide much more detailed results about your home’s power usage.
Most notably, they provide energy readings in a much faster, more precise manner. With hourly reports on your home’s energy usage, smart meters give you a detailed insight into how much power you’re using.
This opens the door for finding new, cost-saving ways to cut down on your energy usage and make your home more efficient.
You’ll want to be careful, however, when getting a smart meter, as you’ll first need to make sure that it is compatible with your home’s energy grid. Usually, these smart meters also come compatible to monitor natural gas usage, making them a great addition to any home looking to make use of smart energy.
Solar Upgraded
If you’re financially capable, consider adding some solar panels to your home. Though they’re not incredibly affordable yet, solar panels have seen a decrease in cost with advances in their development and with an increase in consumer demand.
Depending on your space, however, you may find that the cost of getting solar panels will be reimbursed in the energy costs that you save. This can be quite a complicated process, so make sure that you take time to speak with professionals about just how to optimize your energy usage with renewable energy.
Over time, these renewable upgrades should cut back on your energy bill---and depending on where you live, you might just find that it reduces your power bill to near zero.
Replace Outdated Appliances
But solar panel upgrades are just one option that you can choose when making your home more energy-efficient.
If you’ve got old, outdated appliances, consider getting an upgrade. Older appliances likely don’t meet current energy standards, and they could be costing you more energy than you realize.
Because of this, try replacing your appliances one at a time—or all together, if possible. This ensures that you’re not using any more energy than you should and gives you the most bang for your buck.
By cutting back on energy usage, you’ll also be taking part in a global push for better, more efficient energy usage and for smart energy.
Upgrade Windows
Did you know that even our windows can have an effect on how much energy you’re using? If your windows are old, it’s likely that there are some leaks and cracks that could be costing you energy.
That being said, experts remain cautious about replacing windows for energy saving. Instead, they agree that upgrading windows—such as mending problem areas—prove more cost-effective. If you’re planning on replacing your hones windows anyway, however, you can take the chance to make sure that you’re buying an energy-efficient brand.
Start Landscaping
You can even use energy efficiency as an excuse to beautify your yard.
That’s right—the right landscaping can make your home more energy efficient by protecting windows from direct sunlight. This lowers the temperature of your home and allows you to use less energy in the long run.
Unplug Unused Appliances
Let’s be honest—how many appliances do you leave plugged up that shouldn’t be? Are you really using that toaster when you’re at work all day? Do you really need to have your fridge plugged up in the garage even if you’re not using it?
By making sure that your unused appliances stay unplugged, you can cut down on your home’s energy use and remain more energy efficient.
Consider Upgrading Your Lights
Finally, in your quest for energy efficiency for your home, consider upgrading your lights. Newer, more energy-efficient lights can cut down on energy usage while providing even brighter, more powerful illumination.
Combined with the other tips outlined here, upgrading your lights can keep your home running as efficiently as possible.
The Bottom Line
The future of energy looks smart—literally. With new smart energy devices and technology being developed, governments and private businesses across the globe are looking to usher in a new era of clean, renewable energy.
And that future might be closer than we imagine. With smart meters, solar panels, and other forms of renewable energy already on the rise, smart energy proves to be one of the fastest-growing fields in the industry.
A world dominated by smart energy means more savings and lower costs for you and decreased environmental impact for the world. In the meantime, there are some steps you can take to make sure that you’re cutting down on your own energy usage.
By using the guide above, you can optimize your home for lower energy usage and greater savings in no time.
