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Living in a Smart Home

Experiences from KIT’s Smart Home Energy Lab

Dublin, 27th March 2012Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Who is on a dynamic pricing plan?

Who has a smart meter installed at home?

Who owns a feedback device?

Who has equipped his home with smart household appliances?

???

2006/32/EC, § 21g Energy Act, § 40 Energy Act

Variable electricity tariffs: German utilities have to offer tariffs that motivate consumers to save energy and / or shift loads to off-peak periods Only about 100 utilities comply with the law

Smart meters: Meters, that provide feedback on energy consumption and efficiency, have to be installed in new buildings, if technically and economically feasible low number of households are actually equipped with smart meters

Accompanying feedback devices are still tested by the utilities

Only few smart household appliances are offered on the market

Household energy management systems are under research and development

Neither consumer’s acceptance nor the effectiveness of these measures are clear

How effective can these measures be?

While some measures are adressed in policies, hardly any consumer has experienced them

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Finding a suitable methodology

To find answers to this research question, we have used an experimental design a smart home

The Smart Home integrates generation, storage and consumption, …

Generation

PV-Panels (electricity)

CHP (warm water + electricity)

Consumption

Power sockets are controlable (on / off)

Smart appliances in the kitchen (receive signals, provide information on their operating state)

Storage

Batterie Electrical Vehicle (BEV): Opel MeRegio Meriva

… collects the data in a central controller box…

Energy Management System (EMS = central controller box)

Smart appliances connected by central communication gateway

Additional relays and measurement equipment for integration of standard appliances

Real-time monitoring of each electrical consumer and power socket

Based on electricity price information the EMS schedules the smart appliances within certain limits, that are set by the resident

… and interacts with the residents through Energy Management Panels (EMP)

Visualization of information

Electricity prices

Load (overall / each appliance)

PV-generation

Interaction

Preferences (Degree of freedom) for each appliance

Generic software

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Conducting the test-living phases

To analyze behavior and perception we have evaluated quantitative and qualitative data

Screening Questionnaire

Pre-questionnaire

In-depth Interview II

Post-questionnaire

In-depth Interview I

Online Blog

1

2

Metered data

Interview material

The experimental set-up was structured modulary for two test-living phases

Module Test Technologies in use T1 (4 weeks)

T2(8 weeks)

T3(6 weeks)

1 Feedback

EMP, i-App, billing

2Dynamic Pricing

No additions /

3Automated EMS

Setting DOF on EMP /

4Electric Mobility

E-Scooters / /

After a two weeks, several TOU-tariffs have been tested for their practicality

Module Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 Feedback EMP, i-App, weekly bill

2

Tariff schemeFixed scheme (standard tariff)

Dynamic scheme (TOU-tariff with daily changing price scheme)

Price levels 1 2 3 3 3 5 3 3

Prices [ct/kWh]

2212

28

17

22

27

7

22

37

7

22

37

714223037

7

22

37

7

22

37

3Load management

Manually Automatic (EMS)

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Looking at the results

Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling”

Dynamic Pricing

Feedback Fun exploiting myths and checking

all the appliances

Initial interest in single appliances is outweighed by interest in total consumption (over time, comparisons)

New „feeling“ when consuming electricity

No conservation effects

Higher use of EMP than i-App or the bills

Additional features requested (non-energy related, eg. security)

Automated Load

Management

“For half an hour I have turned on as many appliances as possible. I was impressed by 7000 W and no shortage ;-). It’s like a game.”

“This load curve has changed my attitudes. This morning for example I turned it off, because I knew my roommate was still asleep and I thought it doesn’t have to run for another hour without need.”

“Every time before leaving the smart home I quickly look the display next to the door to double-check if all lights are really turned off.”

Use of feedback

Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling”

Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling”

Dynamic Pricing

Feedback

High interest and use of EMP

Supply of solar power more motivational than low electricity prices

However metered data does not show a direct relationship between consumption and solar supply (self-consumption rate ~ 34%)

Generally more awareness for renewable ressources

Feeling of being independent from local utility

Rebound effect?

Automated Load

Management

“Yesterday I was at home early in the afternoon and washed my clothes, used the tumble dryer and even hoovered the car. You’ll probably see that the consumption was high, but the solar panels produced a lot of electricity, so that’s ok then.“

Interest in PV-power

The test-residents were particularly interested in and motivated by the PV system

Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling”

Dynamic Pricing

Feedback

Automated Load

Management

Load-shifting effects of dynamic pricing can be indicated, especially in the evening hours, …

Overall effect

Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling”

Dynamic Pricing

Feedback

Some familarization time (about 3 weeks) needed, then fun trying to cope with prices

More interest in general price level (low, medium, high) than in specific price spread

Day / Night tariff easiest to integrate in daily household behaviour on the long run

Five-level tariff was rated as the most interesting one and was most effective (~ 50% consumption in green zone)

Cost saving (bonus gathering) main reason for shifting loads

Automated Load

Management

“So far it was like a great game here, but when I think about it I believe that a real objective only comes into play if the feedback is backed up by a financial benefit.”

“To me it is difficult to estimate what 7, 22 or 37 cent mean. The price differences are not very big.”

“I liked the tariff with five levels most, because it was good fun. There were simply more possibilities to use the appliances in between.”

Evaluation of usability

… and is affirmed by the perception of the test-residents

Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling”

Dynamic Pricing

Feedback Coping strategy: use of clock-timers

Dish-washer and tumble dryer were mainly shifted

Washing machine was too noisy to run at nights

Best use of low-price zones on Sundays

Worst use on Fridays and Saturdays comfort and entertaining services on leisure days

Automated Load

Management

“I think that we manage to use the night tariff pretty good. We try to wait until 8 p.m. to use the dish washer and the tumbler.”

“Especially activities like cooking are very difficult to shift. We have seen that the tariff was red, but still used the stove or the other kitchen appliances, because it was more important to us than the electricity price”

Use of appliances

Mainly dishwasher and tumble dryer were shifted to low-price time zones

Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling”

Dynamic Pricing

Feedback

Automated Load

Management

Shifting effects were diminshed by a remarkable amount of demand at high-price times

Use of appliances

Appliances with time-independent use suitable for load-shifting

Appliances in immediate use are not controllable

E-Scooters have a low share

Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling”

Dynamic Pricing

Feedback Few days of time for familiarizing –

daily habit with clock timers and distrust

New use of EMP (from an information and feedback source to a point of interaction)

Slight increase in load-shifting appliances with smart functionalities were the same as those already shifted manually before

However the EMS provided more convenience in shifting loads

Potential for freezer / fridge

Automated Load

Management

“Now that the automated EMS is activated, it is getting more interesting. I’m looking wide-eyed at the appliances when they just start-off.”

“I guess I have not used the smart appliances in the inventor’s intention. First I have always checked the price projection and only then set the time frame accordingly on the touch-screen display.”

Use of full “smartness”

Although the test-residents had demanded for a “smart” system, they needed time to adopt it

Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling”

Dynamic Pricing

Feedback

Automated Load

Management

The response to dynamic pricing was slightly better and especially more convenient

Optimized Consumption

Parameter Exemplary TOU (time-of-use pricing)

Exemplary CPP (critical-peak pricing)

Exemplary RTP (real-time pricing)

Exemplary RTP with load-limit

Exemplary „extreme“ RTP

Number of price levels

Two One Three Three Infinite

Time scheme Each level valid twelve hours with fix scheme (prices apply at same times every day)

Flate price applies everyday (fix scheme)

Each level valid at for one hour with dynamic scheme (structure changes daily)

Each level valid at for one hour with dynamic scheme (structure changes daily)

High dynamics, as consumer prices follow market prices

Load-limit / / / 3 kW /

Critical peak event

/ 6 times per year / / /

Electricity price

15 – 25 Ct/kW 20 Ct/kWh; additional penalty (+15 Ct/kWh) when CP-event is called

15 – 20 – 25 Ct/kWh 15 – 20 – 25 Ct/kWh; additional penalty (+ 5 Ct/kWh) when passing load-limit

Can adopt any price between 10 Ct/kWh and 35 Ct/kWh

Noon MidnightMidnight

Rat

e (c

t/kW

h)

Peak TOU Rate 25ct/kWh

Off-peak Rate 15ct/kWh

Noon MidnightMidnight

Rat

e (c

t/kW

h)

CPP Rate 35ct/kWh (6 days)

Flat Rate 20ct/kWh

Noon MidnightMidnight

Rat

e (c

t/kW

h)

Approximate Hourly Prices

Noon MidnightMidnight

Rat

e (c

t/kW

h)

Approximate Hourly Prices

Load-limit

Noon MidnightMidnight

Rat

e (c

t/kW

h)

Approximate Hourly Prices

Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling”

Dynamic Pricing

Feedback

Automated Load

Management

Adding load-limits to the pricing scheme was not accepted very well

Load-limit/threshold

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Concluding

ICT can help to adapt to daily routines if support is provided

High interest on household consumption and intensive study of data (but information can become complex) play instinct

Direct feedback more effective than indirect feedback similar to other research

No conservation or load-shifting effects by feedback itself Monetary benefits are a precondition to shift (at least some) loads

Shifting loads is limited by various reasons

Not all daily activities are technically not shiftable

Some activites are not shifted due to their entertaining and comforting services

The technical equipment itself can be a barrier

Long-term motivation and involvement

For a long-term change in daily household routines more than just “transparency“ and “prices” required

Wish for an automated energy management system – still there are barriers using it stick to „easy“ solutions (clock timer)

Lessons Learned

Limited willingness to adapt daily behavior

Monetary and environmental benefits have to be perceivable

Need for transparent and concrete information (low trust in utilities and technical solutions)

Importance of convenience and flexibility

Customer-friendly equipment (playing instinct)

Importance of support

Value-added features (additional „convenience“ applications)

Need for integrated solutions

“Well either feedback, dynamic pricing and home automation or nothing. A singular option doesn’t help me, because I would not adapt my behavior to dynamic prices at home in the long run. All these technologies are too expensive anyway, but maybe in the future, I can consider them.”

Next time… Who is on a dynamic pricing plan? Who has a smart meter installed at home? Who owns a feedback device? Who has smart household appliances?

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www.efficiency-from-germany.info

Thank you for your kind attention!

Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz Prof. Dr. Wolf FichtnerSenior Researcher DirectorEnergy Economics Chair of Energy Economics+49 721 608-44669 +49 721 608-44460alexandra-gwyn.paetz@kit.edu wolf.fichtner@kit.edu

Parameter Exemplary TOU (time-of-use pricing)

Exemplary CPP (critical-peak pricing)

Exemplary RTP (real-time pricing)

Exemplary RTP with load-limit

Exemplary „extreme“ RTP

Number of price levels

Two One Three Three Infinite

Time scheme

Each level valid twelve hours with fix scheme (prices apply at same times every day)

Flate price applies everyday (fix scheme)

Each level valid at for one hour with dynamic scheme (structure changes daily)

Each level valid at for one hour with dynamic scheme (structure changes daily)

High dynamics, as consumer prices follow market prices

Load-limit / / / 3 kW /

Critical peak event

/ 6 times per year / / /

Electricity price

15 – 25 Ct/kW 20 Ct/kWh; additional penalty (+15 Ct/kWh) when CP-event is called

15 – 20 – 25 Ct/kWh 15 – 20 – 25 Ct/kWh; additional penalty (+ 5 Ct/kWh) when passing load-limit

Can adopt any price between 10 Ct/kWh and 35 Ct/kWh

Noon MidnightMidnight

Rat

e (c

t/kW

h)

Peak TOU Rate 25ct/kWh

Off-peak Rate 15ct/kWh

Noon MidnightMidnight

Rat

e (c

t/kW

h)

CPP Rate 35ct/kWh (6 days)

Flat Rate 20ct/kWh

Noon MidnightMidnight

Rat

e (c

t/kW

h)

Approximate Hourly Prices

Noon MidnightMidnight

Rat

e (c

t/kW

h)

Approximate Hourly Prices

Load-limit

Noon MidnightMidnight

Rat

e (c

t/kW

h)

Approximate Hourly Prices