Sustainability: business, life, environment

Growing demand in the world’s largest consuming nation, US electric providers are looking to the sustainability concept of energy efficiency to create capacity.  A proposed solution to address these capacity concerns is the idea of a Smart Grid.  This technology upgrade has consumers exploring the potential benefits.

When you consider the aging infrastructure and growing losses due to electric transmission, there is a huge capacity opportunity in updating and improving technology. Proposed as an automated, widely distributed energy delivery network, the Smart Grid will be characterized by a two-way flow of electricity and information and will be capable of monitoring everything from power plants to customer preferences to individual appliances. 

This is an upgrade from a centralized, producer-controlled network to one that is less centralized and more consumer-interactive.  It is a shift that will change the industry’s entire business model and its relationship with all stakeholders, by involving and affecting utilities, regulators, energy service providers, technology and automation vendors and all consumers of electric power.

Transforming the nation’s grid will be a significant undertaking and cost to the consumer.  According to the ‘2009 Green Power Progress Survey’, consumers are ready to pay for electrical grid upgrades in return for long-term benefits:

•    Reliability to degrees never before possible.
•    Maintaining electricity affordability.
•    Fully accommodating renewable and traditional energy sources.
•    Potentially reducing our carbon footprint.
•    Introducing advancements and efficiencies yet to be envisioned.

As an energy consultant working with individuals and small businesses, Taiga Company is intrigued by the sustainable benefits of a Smart Grid.  The pursuit of business sustainability or a more desired sustainable lifestyle includes the ability to make smarter choices.  Smart Grid will provide greater insights into consumption and potentially enable consumers to take action on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.