In the early days of the green energy revolution, most homeowners were reluctant to make the transition to sustainable energy. Compared to the conventional sources, green energy was more expensive, more complicated, and less reliable.
Today, however, advancements in technology are helping green energy alternatives to be more affordable, simple, and stable, which is making them more attractive to homeowners. One of the key advances facilitating the shift is smart home technology.
“The innovative and holistic smart home energy management and storage solutions emerging today allow homes to operate as self-reliant microgrids,” explains Vincent Ambrose, CCO of FranklinWH. “They maximize the potential of renewable energy sources, maintain whole-home backup power when the grid goes down, and enable 100 percent energy freedom.”
Ambrose, who has spent over two decades leading businesses in the technology and renewable energy sectors, is an expert on smart home energy management systems and the ways they can be used to empower energy freedom. FranklinWH is a key player in the green energy revolution, developing and delivering innovative energy solutions for homeowners and businesses that integrate solar, battery, grid, generator, and EV power sources, and then manage them efficiently and intelligently.
“Today’s homeowners face soaring energy costs, climate uncertainty, and aging grid infrastructure,” Ambrose says. “As they strive to secure reliable energy for their modern homes, they are no longer content with basic energy solutions. They want systems that support a more intelligent, democratic, and versatile home energy ecosystem.”
Fixing green energy’s intermittency problem
As residential solar power panels have become more affordable, home solar energy has become a more viable option. However, solar power’s intermittency issue — only being available when the sun is shining — has kept many homeowners from investing in it.
Smart home energy systems address intermittency by facilitating an ecosystem where multiple energy sources can be leveraged seamlessly to ensure the lights stay on when the sun goes down, with less reliance on the grid. One of the more promising designs for home solar energy combines residential solar power panels with home energy storage. Systems integrating the two allow solar energy to be used simultaneously to power homes and charge batteries during the day, providing a stored source of green energy that can be used at night or when weather conditions block the sun.
“Without a storage solution, excess energy generated by solar panels simply vanishes, leaving homeowners reliant on the grid at night or during other times of low solar production,” Ambrose says. “Home energy storage fixes that, allowing homeowners to fully capitalize on their solar energy investment. When a smart energy management system is added to the mix, homeowners are ensured a convenient, intelligent, and uninterrupted power supply.”
Optimizing green energy for disaster-prone regions
Safe and reliable home energy storage solutions are especially critical in regions where weather-driven disasters such as hurricanes may render electric grids inoperable for long periods of time. However, conventional gasoline-powered generators, a common option for residential power backup in those areas, have proven to be a dangerous alternative. Additionally, the conditions needed to operate gasoline generators typically mean homeowners must wait until after a storm to use them, which can leave people without power for more extended periods of time.
Smart systems that facilitate automatic switching from solar panels to home energy storage ensure critical systems in the home are kept up and running when storms roll in. Batteries can even be used as a storage solution in homes without solar panels, charging with energy from the grid and using that energy when storms cause power outages.
“Hurricane season elevates the risk of power outages in Florida and other states in the Southeastern US,” Ambrose warns. “The wind and flooding caused by storms can lead to blackouts that last for hours, or even days. Energy storage solutions provide a reliable backup, providing power to refrigerators and other essential appliances. Smart home energy management systems also ensure the switch to battery power from solar or grid is seamless and safe, providing peace of mind for homeowners in challenging times.”
Convenience is a key factor that has kept most households reliant on conventional, grid-delivered home energy. The complexity that alternative sources bring to the mix has been a deterrent, despite the cost savings, increased reliability, and positive environmental impact that those sources can deliver. But smart home energy management systems are doing away with the complexity, making it much easier for homeowners to join the green energy revolution.
“Today’s leading smart energy management systems address the pain points of traditional switching equipment, leveraging cutting-edge technology to become strategic home energy command centers,” Ambrose says. “They are intelligent tools that empower homeowners to optimize energy safety, efficiency, and reliability.”
