Networking giant Cisco Systems has entered the electricity management sector with its new software, EnergyWise. This program will eventually help monitor the consumption of electricity by various sources from IP addresses to building systems, including heating and cooling. Much of the work that has been undertaken in “greening the grid” or making a “smart grid” revolves around redirecting electricity to avoid overloading the system. However, one of the main goals of a smart grid remains the incorporation of so-called intermittent, renewable energy. Currently, coal fired, nuclear and natural gas generators deliver energy to the electrical grid at a relatively predictable rate. More energy is produced during peak load; the hottest days of the year for instance. The grid was designed to handle this type of a system, not to route energy from solar and wind installations when they come online.

A major part of the smart grid idea is transparency of electricity’s cost and availability. At this juncture, consumers pay a fixed rate for their energy per unit. A smart grid could enable residents to use energy at lower demand intervals, which would cost less. The individual will monitor their consumption and can control their energy use through a single management system, such as a home computer. In addition to the potential cost savings and the incorporation of renewable energy mentioned above, a smart grid could eventually allow for plug-in hybrids to feed energy back to the grid.

2nd Green Revolution