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We've had real-time pricing in our area (ComEd/PJM) for over a decade now, and we even have celluar+Zigbee-enabled smart meters attached to all the homes. I ev

We've had real-time pricing in our area (ComEd/PJM) for over a decade now, and we even have celluar+Zigbee-enabled smart meters attached to all the homes. I even bought a gateway where I can read my usage with pretty good resolution every 10 seconds. But, still, none of the large thermostat makers offer any type of integration to the local utility. Or even the local weather! ComEd actually offers a box with a 3G modem that sits outside next to the A/C compressor and will cycle it off when demand is too high. But even that has no connection to the inside system. Ecobee. Nest. Honeywell. Johnson. What's up with everyone?

ceejayoz 4y ago
My utility can (with an opt-in on my part) tell my Nest to go into power-saving mode on a high demand day. https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9244031 https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9244031
- pfdietz 4y ago
  This is reactive; a better scheme is proactive: on a day when the A/C demand is likely to be high, precool the house during off hours to 60 F and then turn off the A/C. Simply exposing homeowners to real time pricing would be useful, even if nothing is done automatically with that information.
  - ceejayoz 4y ago
    Nest's does exactly that; there's a pre-cool phase. https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9749812 https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9749812 > Once your thermostat knows the Rush Hour is coming, it may pre-adjust the temperature in your home before it starts. This is so less energy is needed to heat or cool your home during the Rush Hour event.
  - smileysteve 4y ago
    Ecobee has time of use (limit use during higher rate time) and community savings (allow utility to adjust you up to 78) On the basic levels it allows extra sensors to choose central fan use instead of ac, and proximity sensors to not turn on when your away (also a cell phone integration) in addition to scheduling. It also has humidity based comfort (where it will adjust the set point higher if the system has been able to get to a low humidity). More advanced you can configure how much the ac will overcool for the humidity, or overcool before the time of use. Even more advanced, you can configure your staging, responsiveness, and desired runtimes (though keeping this on auto is better) There is even a project, beestat.io that compares your settings versus houses similar to yours in terms of runtime and insulation factor. (And recommends against an extremely responsive system)

ceejayoz 4y ago

My utility can (with an opt-in on my part) tell my Nest to go into power-saving mode on a high demand day. https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9244031 https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9244031

pfdietz 4y ago
This is reactive; a better scheme is proactive: on a day when the A/C demand is likely to be high, precool the house during off hours to 60 F and then turn off the A/C. Simply exposing homeowners to real time pricing would be useful, even if nothing is done automatically with that information.
- ceejayoz 4y ago
  Nest's does exactly that; there's a pre-cool phase. https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9749812 https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9749812 > Once your thermostat knows the Rush Hour is coming, it may pre-adjust the temperature in your home before it starts. This is so less energy is needed to heat or cool your home during the Rush Hour event.
- smileysteve 4y ago
  Ecobee has time of use (limit use during higher rate time) and community savings (allow utility to adjust you up to 78) On the basic levels it allows extra sensors to choose central fan use instead of ac, and proximity sensors to not turn on when your away (also a cell phone integration) in addition to scheduling. It also has humidity based comfort (where it will adjust the set point higher if the system has been able to get to a low humidity). More advanced you can configure how much the ac will overcool for the humidity, or overcool before the time of use. Even more advanced, you can configure your staging, responsiveness, and desired runtimes (though keeping this on auto is better) There is even a project, beestat.io that compares your settings versus houses similar to yours in terms of runtime and insulation factor. (And recommends against an extremely responsive system)