Smart Grid Tech

Think of Smart Grid technology as a power supply grid with a brain. It thinks on its own not to decide who gets power but to figure out how best to efficiently run and use power across the grid. Many governments and companies are pushing for such an investment into our own power grid that was designed over a 100 years ago with little change since.

However, with help from advanced sensors, multiple ways of communication, and distributed computing technology, it is possible to be able to move the power grid of the yesteryear into the future and in the process, save some green. Literally.

By incorporating digital meters linked to a wireless mesh network, utility companies can monitor consumption and usage in real time and reduce wasted electricity. The first use of such technology was in the Telegestore project in Italy where the utility company developed their own meters, sensors, and software. Although highly unusual for a company to do that, the project ended up saving them more than $500 million per year.

For more information, check out GE's take on Smart Grid technology and also be sure to check out Experience's Green Blogs for all stuff green related:
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