EnergyHub

Home energy management systems may finally be hitting the mainstream, thanks to lower-cost technology (think smartphones) and increased investment to develop the smart grid.

One such home energy system, from Energy Hub, was actually inspired by the Toyota Prius, according to CEO Seth Frader-Thompson. In this SmartPlanet video, Frader-Thompson explains the inspiration and offers a look at the Energy Hub device.

This video first appeared at SmartPlanet under the headline "Saving energy with a press of a button."

Energy management platform developer EnergyHub announced today it has raised $14.5 million in Series B funding from a pool of both previous and new investors.

The Brooklyn-based company makes a home energy management system and smart-thermostat software accessible via the Web, and compatible with mobile devices including the Android and iOS platforms. EnergyHub also offers cloud servicing to complement them. EnergyHub is similar to Tendril in that it plans to offer a suite of home energy management hardware including smart outlets, home displays, smart thermostats, and load control devices for utilities. EnergyHub also offers smart power strips.

EnergyHub supports ZigBee smart meters and legacy AMR meters that have an Itron ERT meter inside. The reason for this is that those are currently the most prevalent meters being used in the U.S. In Texas, in particular, over 6 million smart meters using ZigBee should be installed in homes by the end of 2013, while approximately 25 million Itron ERT meters are in use across the U.S., according to EnergyHub's marketing director Eric Fleming.

But having a smart meter in one's home is not required to use EnergyHub, according to Fleming.

"We have early customers who are using the system independent of meter connectivity and are realizing energy savings by plugging their appliances like window air conditioners, dehumidifiers, TVs, and other devices into our sockets and strips to monitor and control them remotely. The biggest opportunity to save in the home is with the Home Base plus Wireless Thermostat, which helps people easily put the home on an energy-saving schedule that automatically controls heating and cooling," he said.… Read more

EnergyHub is making smart thermostats smarter by hitching them to a large database.

The residential energy company today announced a software system that works with connected thermostats in people's homes to optimize settings for energy savings. Called Mercury, the software is aimed at broadband providers, utilities, and thermostat manufacturers, which will offer the service to consumers.

Programmable thermostats are one of the most effective ways to lower energy consumption, but many consumers don't own them or don't take the trouble to program them. With EnergyHub's software, people will be able to program HVAC systems through a … Read more

EnergyHub is going to see if it can pique consumer interest in the smart grid without utilities.

The Brooklyn-based company plans to start selling a relatively high-end home energy management system next month from its Web site, its first effort to bypass utility or cable company channels. For the residential energy business as a whole, the program could help signal the level of interest for energy efficiency and control technology.

EnergyHub's initial consumer product package is focused on a smartphone-size touch-screen console, or Home Base, which shows power usage of the whole house when connected to a meter. People … Read more

Verizon later this year plans to expand its offering with home energy management and security, a move that could signal a quicker route to delivering smart-grid services to consumers.

The company is currently developing an "integrated home management system" that includes both energy and security services, according to spokesman Jim Smith. The intent is to add home management to the menu of options Verizon offers.

Last year, Verizon first let out word of its home energy-management plans, but the company is now providing further details on how it could work for consumers.

The security and energy services would … Read more