Having a solid understanding of your energy usage is an important step in reducing your carbon footprint. With the innovation of smart meters, you can start to have a real influence on your energy use, and more importantly, monitor your progress as you work to become more energy efficient.
Although there are several smart meters on the market right now, being able to tell one from another can be quite confusing. By following this simple guide, you can steer clear of poor quality ones and get a meter that will help you actively reduce your energy use.
One of the indicators to look for is to see if it meets the globally recognized Z-Wave standard, approved by the Z-Wave Alliance. Z-Wave technology is a form of wireless communication that uses a low power radio frequency signal to automate devices. The Z-Wave Alliance is a union of more than 160 technology manufacturers, including Intel and Universal Electronics, committed to creating wireless products based on the designated Z-Wave standard.
Z-Wave technologies are energy efficient, and because they operate outside of the 2.4 GHz frequency range, the devices do not interfere with cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, or Wi-Fi Internet, making them extremely compatible on the go. home.
Good smart meters will be built to Z-Wave specifications, allowing you to regulate your energy usage automatically. Normal smart meters, for example, will give you information based on how much energy you are consuming. A Z-Wave smart meter will be able to take that information and automatically act on it according to your specifications. With Z-Wave meters you can tell it to automatically turn off the heating if you consume a certain amount of gas or to disconnect all electricity if you are on vacation, thus regulating the amount of energy you consume.
Smart meters of any kind should help you improve your energy awareness, which is a welcome step. However, Z-Wave standard approved smart meters can take things to the next level, acting on that awareness to curb your energy waste.