Studies have shown that an informed consumer is an energy smart consumer; and CustomerIQ is a simple, easy-to-use way to stay informed and on top of your energy usage. And few people are as aware of their energy consumption as Jonathan Gay, whose home is entirely self-powered. His home provided a healthy dose of inspiration, as his limited power supply meant he had to be acutely aware of how much power he had used at any given point. The brilliance of CustomerIQ is not only that it gives you the information about your power usage, but that it also gives you the power to control it.
The group first put the Greenbox to the test in 2008 through a partnership with the Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company. Of the forty testers, all reported an improvement in their energy efficiency by at least ten percent. That success led to the installation of the Greenbox in over forty thousand homes, and the group’s acquisition by Silver Spring Networks in 2010. Since then, the initial design has been expanded. Energy consumption reports are now more detailed, and the system supports older style, “legacy” meters.
Such changes are not the endpoint of the system; and as it becomes more and more refined, it will enable more customers than ever before to take charge of their energy usage.