The broadband–home energy connection gets stronger

Who needs smart meters when you've got broadband? Last week saw two announcements that outlined the potential for delivering deep energy management capability via existing home broadband market channels, all while smart meters are still struggling to get up and running. If the broadband channel to home energy takes off — a very big if, to be sure — smart meter–dependent home energy startups could be left in the dust.

The first announcement came from startup EcoFactor. EcoFactor uses broadband to link smart thermostats to cloud-based software that crunches thousands of data points, such as weather reports, building permit info, demographic data and ongoing thermostat data. From there, EcoFactor adjusts thermostats to save energy while keeping temperatures in comfortable ranges; it could, for example, precool houses to let ACs idle through peak power periods.

Last week’s other significant home broadband–energy management connection: Comcast’s new Xfinity Home Security service. Sure, the launch was centered on security, not energy. But iControl, the startup Comcast has invested in and partnered with on its home security offering, can also manage home energy use. After all, security-minded capabilities like turning lights on and off can deliver direct energy-saving capabilities, while networked door locks or video cameras can help home automation systems turn off light and heat in unoccupied rooms and perform other energy-related functions. Broadband providers like Comcast and rival Verizon are busy offering home security add-ons to lure more customers, usually with some kind of basic smart thermostat–centered energy management freebie thrown in as well.