Tendril taps broadband for energy management

This display shows the primary components of a networked home-energy management system. There is a smart meter that can communicate with a wireless gateway next to it. To the left of that is a wireless thermostat for controlling heating and cooling.

The Tendril Volt is a Zigbee-enabled plug that allows people to monitor energy use and control appliances plugged into it. Insight is the name of the company's energy display that shows people electricity use, associated carbon footprint, and other applications. Data from the system can also be viewed on a Web portal. Like most energy management companies, Tendril's products are available through utilities that are giving customers energy-management systems during smart grid trials.