Episode 104 | Residential Reliability | Schneider Electric
In Episode 85 we discussed energy usage trends during the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even then data suggested residential energy usage remains even from breakfast to suppertime.
In December 2020 Schneider Electric released the results of a survey on residential energy trends. One of the findings shows that respondents are unaware of the share of energy usage in this country.
Richard Korthauer is VP of the Home and Distribution business for Schneider. "The workplace has shifted," he says. "What's happened is power consumption, once was being consumed in an office building, now homeowners are waking up, and literally spending the next 8-10 hours doing their work from home."
For Schneider, this creates a unique opportunity, since approximately 40% of service entrance equipment (i.e. breaker boxes) in homes is theirs. At the same time, Rich believes businesses are rethinking their office plans.
"Quite honestly, their bottom line has probably been improved not having to heat and cool and keep their lights on."
Other findings from the study include:
- Baby Boomers are more likely to practice energy-saving behaviors, while Millennials are more likely to invest in energy-saving devices
- Boomers are happiest with smart devices
- Half believe smart devices should be standard in new homes
- Over half of all surveyed say privacy is a barrier to adding more smart devices
When asked, Rich says the one thing he would recommend in all homes is a real-time energy monitor. He says one in his own home revealed an old refrigerator was consuming twice the power of his new one.
As for the future, Rich says the shift to more residential energy usage means home should adopt a variety of tools. "I think solar, alternative energy sources, and storage are going to be part of a multi-pronged solution," he says.
"I’ve spent 30 years in this industry, and we’re not done electrifying and becoming sustainable," he says. "I definitely think microgrids and storage will continue to grow. For Schneider, that’s right in our wheelhouse."
Useful Links: