Living in a Smart Home

1. Living in a Smart Home Experiences from KIT’s Smart Home Energy Lab Dublin, 27th March 2012 Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

2. 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? • ???

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

4. Finding a suitable methodology

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

6. The Smart Home integrates generation, storage and consumption, … • Generation • PV-Panels (electricity) • CHP (warm water + electricity) • Consumption • Power socketsarecontrolable (on / off) • Smart appliances in thekitchen (receivesignals, provideinformation on theiroperatingstate) • Storage • Batterie ElectricalVehicle (BEV): Opel MeRegio Meriva

7. … collects the data in a central controller box… • Energy Management System (EMS = centralcontroller box) • Smart appliancesconnectedbycentralcommunicationgateway • Additional relaysandmeasurementequipmentforintegration of standardappliances • Real-time monitoring of eachelectricalconsumerand power socket • Based on electricitypriceinformationthe EMS schedulesthe smart applianceswithincertainlimits, thataresetbythe resident

8. … and interacts with the residents through Energy Management Panels (EMP) • Visualization of information • Electricityprices • Load (overall / eachappliance) • PV-generation • Interaction • Preferences (Degree of freedom) foreachappliance • Genericsoftware

9. Conducting the test-living phases

10. To analyze behavior and perception we have evaluated quantitative and qualitative data 1 Metereddata 2 Interview material Online Blog In-depth Interview I In-depth Interview II Screening Questionnaire Pre-questionnaire Post-questionnaire

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

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

13. Looking at the results

14. 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” Feedback • Fun exploitingmythsandchecking all theappliances • Initial interest in singleappliancesisoutweighedbyinterest in total consumption (over time, comparisons) • New „feeling“ whenconsumingelectricity • Noconservationeffects • Higher use of EMP than i-App orthebills • Additional featuresrequested (non-energyrelated, eg. security) “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.” Dynamic Pricing AutomatedLoad Management

15. 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” Feedback • High interestanduseof EMP • Supplyof solar power more motivational thanlowelectricityprices • Howevermetereddatadoes not show a directrelationshipbetweenconsumptionand solar supply (self-consumption rate ~ 34%) • Generally moreawarenessforrenewableressources • Feeling ofbeingindependentfromlocalutility • Rebound effect? “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.“ Dynamic Pricing AutomatedLoad Management

16. Overall effect Load-shifting effects of dynamic pricing can be indicated, especially in the evening hours, … Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling” Feedback Dynamic Pricing AutomatedLoad Management

17. 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” Feedback • Somefamilarization time (about 3 weeks) needed, thenfuntryingtocopewithprices • More interest in generalpricelevel (low, medium, high) than in specificpricespread • Day / Nighttariffeasiesttointegrate in dailyhouseholdbehaviour on thelongrun • Five-level tariff was ratedasthemostinterestingoneand was mosteffective (~ 50% consumption in greenzone) • Costsaving (bonusgathering) mainreasonforshiftingloads “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.” Dynamic Pricing AutomatedLoad Management

18. 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” Feedback • Copingstrategy: useofclock-timers • Dish-washerandtumbledryerweremainlyshifted • Washingmachine was toonoisytorunatnights • Best useoflow-pricezones on Sundays • Worstuse on FridaysandSaturdays comfortandentertainingservices on leisuredays “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” Dynamic Pricing AutomatedLoad Management

19. Use of appliances Shifting effects were diminshed by a remarkable amount of demand at high-price times Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling” Feedback Dynamic Pricing • Appliances with time-independent use suitable for load-shifting • Appliances in immediate use are not controllable • E-Scooters have a low share AutomatedLoad Management

20. 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” Feedback • Fewdays of time forfamiliarizing – dailyhabitwithclocktimersanddistrust • New use of EMP (from an informationandfeedbacksourceto 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 “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.” Dynamic Pricing AutomatedLoad Management

21. Optimized Consumption The response to dynamic pricing was slightly better and especially more convenient Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling” Feedback Dynamic Pricing AutomatedLoad Management

22. Load-limit Approximate Hourly Prices Approximate Hourly Prices Rate (ct/kWh) Rate (ct/kWh) CPP Rate 35ct/kWh (6 days) Approximate Hourly Prices Peak TOU Rate 25ct/kWh Rate (ct/kWh) Flat Rate 20ct/kWh Off-peak Rate 15ct/kWh Rate (ct/kWh) Rate (ct/kWh) Noon Noon Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Noon Midnight Noon Midnight Midnight Noon Midnight Midnight

23. Load-limit/threshold Adding load-limits to the pricing scheme was not accepted very well Feedback itself had no conserving or shifting effects, but was fun and brought a new “feeling” Feedback Dynamic Pricing AutomatedLoad Management

24. Concluding

25. 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)

26. Lessons Learned • Limited willingness to adapt daily behavior • Monetary and environmental benefits have to be perceivable • Need for transparent andconcreteinformation (lowtrust in utilities andtechnicalsolutions) • Importance of convenienceandflexibility • Customer-friendlyequipment (playinginstinct) • Importanceofsupport • Value-addedfeatures (additional „convenience“ applications) • Need forintegratedsolutions “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.”

27. Next time… Who is on a dynamicpricing plan? Who has a smart meterinstalledathome? Who owns a feedbackdevice? Who hassmart householdappliances?

28. 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.eduwolf.fichtner@kit.edu

29. Load-limit Approximate Hourly Prices Approximate Hourly Prices Rate (ct/kWh) Rate (ct/kWh) CPP Rate 35ct/kWh (6 days) Approximate Hourly Prices Peak TOU Rate 25ct/kWh Flat Rate 20ct/kWh Noon Noon Midnight Midnight Midnight Midnight Off-peak Rate 15ct/kWh Rate (ct/kWh) Rate (ct/kWh) Rate (ct/kWh) Midnight Noon Midnight Midnight Noon Midnight Midnight Noon Midnight