Introduction:

BuLogics and 4Home Media re not the only players in the increasingly-crowded residential energy management market but they are good examples of the stampede of manufacturers and developers pursuing opportunities in smart building, smart metering, and peak load management systems that will work with the Smart Grid. During these early days of the Smart Grid revolution there are very few certainties – even whether we’ll actually see it deployed within our lifetimes. The standards for the Smart Grid are in development and making good progress, but in the meanwhile, the standards, functions and interoperability requirements for consumer-side equipment will remain in flux for at least the next year or so. Despite the uncertainties, companies like 4Home and BuLogics have come up with some interesting strategies to offer products that will adapt to evolving standards and perhaps even help accelerate mass adoption of Smart Grid technology.

I’ve posted reviews of these two products because they are very representative of the promise, and relative immaturity of this emerging technology, and the market that’s emerging to support it.

BuLogics Smart Grid Home Controller

BuLogics’ recently-introduced Smart Grid-capable home controller is a natural evolution of their home automation business which has been involved with the wireless control systems (most notably Z-Wave) for six years. According to BuLogics, the system will be able to communicate directly with smart grid via radio module to receive pricing, load control and demand response events. It also provides a home energy monitor function via a GUI that can be accessed either over a home network or over the WAN. Since it’s not clear which wireless protocol(s) will be adopted by utilities and Smart Meter manufacturers, the BuLogics unit has provisions to accept snap-in radio modules based on the U-SNAP (Utility Smart Network Access Port) standard. This will allow it to support FlexNet, ZigBee/802.15, or any other wireless protocol a utility chooses to us for its smart meter interface. Using the U-SNAP open standard also makes it easy for 3^rd-party suppliers to supply smart grid radios for the controller if necessary.

Regardless of whether it’s connected to the Smart Grid, it’s useful for controlling lighting heating, cooling, and consumer products using its embedded Z-Wave wireless networking capability. The controller uses the Bonjour protocol, developed originally by HP to simplify setup of their printers on home networks, to communicate with its own power control modules and any appliance that supports the protocol. The Z-Wave wireless standard has been around for a while and, according to Bulogic, enjoys significant popularity with consumer product manufacturers because of its relatively low cost (compared to ZigBee solutions) and simple command structure that’s been tailored to controlling appliances and consumer electronics. I suspect that the 900 MHz operating frequency also helps improve performance in the unpredictable home environment.

It’s no wonder then why there are already lots of 3^rd-party products that the BuLogic controller can talk to. GE has recently introduced a series of light switches, plug-in power switch modules, and other compatible products. Likewise, Trane has Z-Wave-enabled thermostat, and both lock makers Schlage and Quickset are offering wireless door lock systems that can be programmed (and monitored via the BuLogics unit. There are quite a few other manufacturers with Z-Wave-compliant products, including powered window shades, garage doors, and security sensors. See Z-Wave Alliance’s web site for as list of compatible products to get an idea of what’s already available. BuLogic also has several products that work with the controller – including a surge-protected power strip that both controls and monitors. 2 banks of outlets (retail $80) – not much more that a good surge protector.

Access to the home controller’s controls and energy monitoring functions can be accessed locally although BuLogics was not clear whether this was via an Ethernet or some other kind of connection. For security reasons (who wants a hacker messing with your lights or refrigerator?) remote access is accomplished by subscribing to BuLogic’s remote access server which establishes a secure tunnel to the controller and then allows password-protected access to a web page that gives you full insight and control of any system connected to the controller. Users can access the controller via either a full web page or a lightweight one designed for smaller mobile interfaces. Another alternative is to use BuLogic’s USB plug-in stick that can serve as a wireless computer shut-off but also doubles as a wireless link to the controller. This allows the computer to query the controller box about its status and the energy consumption information it’s receiving from the smart meter. Since this wireless capability is open and available, I really wish that Blue Line Innovations would work on adding a Z-Wave chip to their clever little Power Cost Monitor. Since the BlueLine system includes a way to read “dumb” power meters, it would allow the BuLogics system to monitor a home’s total power consumption regardless of whether it was equipped with a Smart meter. It also would allow the data collected by the Blue Line system to be displayed on a  computer, rather than being held captive inside its stand-alone LCD display.

If you are interested in an inexpensive way to start automating your home and getting it ready for working with a Smart Grid My BuLogics’s products look like a good choice. BuLogics estimates that their controller should help; homeowners save 15%-20% on their energy bills (mostly HVAC) using power and heating fuel only where and when it’s really necessary. My only concerns are not with the controller itself but with the fact that, to date, there are no HVAC systems, water heaters, or large appliances that are compatible with this controller scheme. This may be in good part due to the 5 yr cycle that most home appliance makers have between an initial concept and a product coming off the assembly line. I’m also sure that part of the problem is that the Smart Grid standards are still not well defined enough to allow many risk-averse manufacturers to commit to supporting them. Hopefully, multi-standard-capable products like the BuLogics controller (and its companion (Z–wave/ZigBee bridge) will help encourage appliance and HVAC equipment manufacturers to accelerate their plans for making  their products compatible with Smart Home systems.

The BuLogics Smart Grid Home Controller is available now for OEM applications. It will be available as a retail product during the second quarter of 2010 with a suggested retail price of  $250. Click here for more information on the BuLogics Smart Grid Home Controller.